The Craft of Screenwriting – The Power of Place: How Setting Shapes Story, Character, and Conflict
If your story could happen anywhere, it will feel like it belongs nowhere. Every story happens somewhere. That may sound obvious, but many writers still treat setting as an afterth
The Craft of Writing: Story Ideas — Where Great Stories Begin
Every writer wants a great idea, but most writers misunderstand what that actually means. A great idea is not simply something that sounds interesting. It is something that can sus
The Craft of Screenwriting: Genres
Not long ago, genre films were often dismissed as B-movies—low-budget, formula-driven stories designed to fill space on a studio’s release schedule. That perception is long gon
The Craft of Writing: Theme — The Meaning of Your Story
Theme is often misunderstood because writers try to define it too quickly. They look for a sentence. A message. A statement that explains what the story “means.” But theme is n
The Craft of Screenwriting : Suspense and Tension
Suspense and tension are not optional elements in storytelling. They are the force that pulls an audience through a scene, through a sequence, and ultimately through an entire stor
The Craft of Writing: Why Strong Female Characters Matter (And Why Most Writers Still Get Them Wrong)
Strong female characters should be well- rounded with the same hopes and desires that you would expect from male characters
John Risner
John Morgan Risner is a screenwriter, novelist, and story analyst, and the founder of Screen Writer Ink. With over a decade of experience teaching screenwriting and filmmaking at the university level, he has helped writers develop stronger stories through a focus on character, structure, and cinematic storytelling. His work spans multiple genres, including thriller, horror, and mystery, with an emphasis on character-driven narratives. He is also a film historian with a deep knowledge of classic and modern cinema, including the James Bond films and novels. Through Screen Writer Ink, he provides writers with practical, experience-based insight into the craft of storytelling—helping them move beyond theory and write with clarity, purpose, and control.
