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S5_E11. Short Film, Big Story: What You Must Keep—And What You Can Drop

By: Zena Dell Lowe Published on: 06/12/2025

Writing a short film? Wondering what to keep—and what to ditch? In this episode of Open Season, Zena breaks down what really matters in a 10-minute story.

Season 5

S5_E11. Short Film, Big Story: What You Must Keep—And What You Can Drop

S5_E10. Are Your Story Beats Driving Change—or Dulling Impact?

By: Zena Dell Lowe Published on: 05/29/2025

Learn how to craft powerful story beats that create real change. In this episode, Zena Dell Lowe reveals how to move your story forward with scenes that matter—emotionally, structurally, and dramatically.

Season 5

S5_E10. Are Your Story Beats Driving Change—or Dulling Impact?

S5_E09. How to Ditch Contrived Dialogue for Good

By: Zena Dell Lowe Published on: 05/15/2025

Does your dialogue sounds stiff, forced, or like it's written by AI? In this episode, we break down how to make your dialogue flow naturally, stay true to your characters, and keep your readers immersed from page one.

Season 5

S5_E09. How to Ditch Contrived Dialogue for Good

S5_E08. Goal Diggers: Characters Who Actually Do Stuff

By: Zena Dell Lowe Published on: 05/08/2025

An abstract goal makes for a passive plot. Let’s fix that. In this episode, we’re breaking down the difference between passive characters and true goal diggers — and how to write the kind of protagonist who moves the plot, not just reacts to it.

Season 5