The Craft of ScreenWriting: Why Great Villains Make Better Heroes
Walk into almost any bookstore or writing conference, and you’ll eventually hear the same discussion. Writers compare their favorite villains. Someone praises Hannibal Lecter
The Craft of Writing: Why Readers Stop Turning Pages
Writers often blame pacing when a story loses its grip on the audience. The chapters may feel too long, the middle may seem slow, or the screenplay may appear to spend too much tim
The Craft of Screenwriting: Writing Decisions, Not Events
One of the clearest differences between an amateur story and a professional one can be found in the relationship between the protagonist and the plot. In weaker stories, events hap
The Craft of Writing – The Invisible Language of Story: How Visual Motifs Shape Emotion Without Saying a Word
When writers discuss storytelling, the conversation usually centers on plot, character, dialogue, or structure. We spend countless hours debating three-act structure, character arc
The Craft of Writing: Story Momentum Is Built From Consequences
One of the most common questions writers ask is surprisingly difficult to answer in a single sentence. “How do I keep my story moving?” The answers they receive are usu
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.
