Why story structure is important in writing
I can’t believe I’m writing this post. I mean, I used to hate structure. Even now, I’m not the biggest fan. What I disliked about structure is the fact that it turns stories into formulaic gimmicks. Stories become predictable, boring and less likely to challenge them or be groundbreaking. But I am now understanding the […]
How to create unique compelling characters
There are many ways to create unique, compelling characters. One of them is to create a character’s profile or what I call a chara-design. In order to define your character you needed to write a detailed description or who they are. But before we do that, we need to find out and understand who they […]
Improve your writing vocabulary
There’s nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of a writing session and realizing that you’ve used the word said 5 times already. Or looking for a synonym for “house” that doesn’t make you sound like you’re repeating yourself because you’re not wordy enough. It’s easy to remember a good chunk of the many […]
5 techniques to become better at Storytelling: The Ultimate Guide
Everyone talks about storytelling but what is the definition exactly? According to Oxford Languages, storytelling is the activity of telling or writing stories. In other words, storytelling is the way a story is shared, whether it is by writing, orally or using images. Storytelling has multiple forms: oral, written, visual. Storytelling is the way we […]
The problem with rape culture in Shojo Manga
« When a girl says no, her heart is actually saying ok » Hot Gimmick, Vol. 2 This sentence alone is the best reason why I gave up finishing Hot Gimmick back in 2007. The male lead Ryoki constant abuse of the main character, Hatsumi’s as well as her stupidity which is truly out of this […]
Cannes et la représentation des personnes noires à l’écran
Il faut savoir que l’industrie du cinéma français est un mastodonte qui refuse de mourir et par la même occasion, de se régénérer. Il continue d’attendre que les jours glorieux de la nouvelle vague revienne et s’embourber dans la production des mêmes films sur la misère existentielle de bourgeois parisiennes trentenaires qui s’aiment et de trompe et fument des Marlboro en contemplant le beau ciel de Paris…films qui continuent d’être emplis de stéréotypes racistes d’un autre temps. Le film français est si profondément ancré dans sa branlette intellectuelle qu’il a des difficultés à s’exporter à l’étranger. Même le blockbuster Les Intouchables avec Omar Sy qui incarne une variation du « magical negro » ou le nègre magique, à la main verte qui est la pour sauver une personne blanche en lui montrant pourquoi la vie vaut la peine d’être vécue, a fait un flop au box office. Le racisme et validisme dans le film le fait avoir l’air tout droit sorti des années 80.
Le reste du monde évolue. Mais pas le cinéma français.
Dennis Villeneuve and the quiet erasure of POCs in Film
Dennis Villeneuve’s stunning films tell incredibly humane, compelling stories…but why do they always whitewash their non white characters?
Why I wrote Me Too
When I was 14, construction works started in my middle school, to build a new gym. In the meantime, me and the other girls had to change in a temporary building adjacent to the construction site. One day, one of the teachers walked in and told us that the construction workers were peeping at us through the windows, and we had to be careful. That was it.
Etre une auteure noire et billingue: une nécéssité.
Auteure est un des métiers les plus complexes et ingrats: on recherche désespérément l’attention du public et de nos pairs tout en sachant qu’une grande partie de notre travail consiste à créer des oeuvres pour lesquels nous ne recevrons aucun laurier.
Il est difficile, masochiste même de décider de s’exposer au rejet constant d’une cruelle industrie qui privilégie rarement le talent. Et c’est difficulté deviennent pire quand on y ajoute les discriminations liées à la race et au sexe.
How NOT to write rape scenes
Men have read my script and told me that « Using rape has a plot device is really good. You should insert flashbacks as well. And don’t forget to make the audience needs to relate to the perpretrator. »