The Pitch Master Newsletter Let’s Talk about the AI Disruption Using or even talking about AI freaks a lot of creatives out. It’s time to get real. The genie is out of the bottle. Things are not going back to Peak TV of 2017 or the movie theaters of 1993. Ever since 1904, when fiction films became popular with audiences, entertainment has been evolving with technology. Movies did not kill live theater, and they survived the arrival of television. Movies made by and starring humans will not go...
12 days ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Here’s a worksheet to create your henchmen. 1) Pick their story job/archetype. ☐ The Dragon: Big Bad’s right hand man / #2 / chief lieutenant. ☐ The Heavy: the most active threat the hero tangles with, even if they’re not the top villain. ☐ The Gatekeeper / Threshold Guardian: blocks access to a place, person, or clue. ☐ The Tracker: keeps the hero from ever truly getting away. ☐ The Temptation engine: tries to pull the hero off the path. 2) Define their rank + reach. ☐ What’s...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Give your Big Bad a staff meeting worth attending! Supervillains, spies, and wizards rarely work alone. Even the most dramatic Big Bad needs a support system: henchmen, minions, and evil sidekicks. A great henchman is built from three ingredients: Distinct identity: We recognize them instantly. Real motivation: They’re not just evil furniture. Clear function: They have a job in the villain ecosystem. Let’s build your evil team. Make Them Pop: The No Numbers Rule Henchmen should...
26 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Last week we talked about the villain's journey. Now let's build your villain. 1) Villain or Antagonist? A villain is a malicious character who opposes the hero through selfish, immoral actions. An antagonist is anything that opposes the protagonist’s goal (person, force, idea, emotion). ☐ Is your opposing force malicious (villain), or simply in the way (antagonist)? 2) The Villain thinks he’s the Hero. Your villain wakes up thinking: “I’m justified.” “I’m correcting an injustice.”...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Your hero’s journey is the focus of your story. But plot twist, have you ever thought about your villain’s journey? In The Villain’s Journey: How to Create Villains Readers Love to Hate, Debbie Burke takes us through the bad guy’s character arc, giving a fun new way to think about stakes and conflict. Villains vs Antagonists: What’s the Difference? The villain is a malicious character who opposes the hero and drives conflict through evil, selfish, and immoral actions. The...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Every year, I pick a theme, one simple idea I can use like a compass. Not a 37-item resolution list. Not a personality transplant. Just one guiding star that helps me make better decisions when life (and inboxes) get crazy. This year’s theme: I Love Data! Before you hide under a cozy blanket with your favorite novel, hear me out. Data doesn’t have to mean spreadsheets. Data can be as friendly as a sticky note. It’s just information that helps you make smarter choices. And if you’re...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Every January 1, something delightful happens in the creative universe: Public Domain Day. It’s the moment a fresh batch of older books, films, songs, art, and characters becomes legally free to remix, adapt, and reboot. And in 2026, that means works from 1930 (plus sound recordings from 1925) are now available under U.S. law. So What is the Public Domain? In plain writer-speak: creative works that are not protected by copyright make up the public domain. You don’t need permission....
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, Wishing you a happy, prosperous, creative 2026! Here's how to set yourself up for success in 2026: How to Schedule Your Writing Year Like a Pro Do These Three Things Every Week to Grow Your Career Steal My Creative Calendar & Fill Your Feed All Year Be Easy to Find: Three Quick Things to Fix Improve Your Writing Craft with These Podcasts and Books Use These Tools to Make More Money in Your Writer Business Start Your Newsletter In Case You Missed It The Power of Underdog Stories The...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday! Christmas Movie Merriment How to Write a Hallmark Christmas Movie Diehard is a Christmas Movie Deck the Halls with Story Beats In Case You Missed It The Power of Underdog Stories The Genius of Grimm's Fairy Tales How to Schedule Your Writing Year Like a Pro Do These Three Things Every Week to Grow Your Career Steal My Creative Calendar & Fill Your Feed All Year Cheers, Lindsey Thanks for reading! You can share this article HERE
2 months ago • 1 min read