Everyone insists on how important a pitch is. But as for myself, I think every writer needs four different and necessary pitches. First is the install pitch, the initial appeal of a conflicting contrast, a fresh situation around someone in relation with...

In a movie, the revelation of the backstory can be mind blowing or a miserable burden in the telling : how much, when, what for, from whose point of view, at what progressing rythm (Chinatown) or unique intensity (Runaway Jury, Psycho) is the ultimate...

Let's be clear : while the message of stories and even our intention as writers are most of the time noble and sincere, the « craft » is mainly about trickery, cheat, duplicity. And it's fun ! For instance, when the story begins the goal of your character...