Ever binged a thrilling Netflix series only to get to the end and realize they had a completely different ending in mind than you would have liked? Do you find yourself imagining other scenarios for the ending or taking your favorite characters on a new set of adventures? Congratulations! You’ve just uncovered a goldmine of inspiration for your writing! Movies and TV shows aren’t just sources of entertainment and relaxation—you can find writing inspiration from movies and TV shows for your next best-selling novel.
Today, dear happy writer, we’re diving into how movies and TV series can help you create unforgettable characters and plots! Let’s discover together how we can find writing inspiration from movies.
If you prefer the video version, check out the YouTube video below to discover how to get writing inspiration from movies and TV shows.
Writing inspiration from movies and TV shows
If you’re stuck in your writing, watching movies and TV shows is one of the best ways to find inspiration. And you’re having fun and relaxing at the same time!
Who said watching TV is just a waste of time? Well, it might be if you do nothing else and forget why you started watching in the first place. But, in moderation, movies and TV shows can inspire your writing through their captivating characters, engaging plots, and breathtaking worlds. Today we’re covering characters and plots, and next time we’ll talk about world-building.
Improving your character arcs
Learn from the character arcs of your favorite characters
One of the best character arcs I’ve seen in a TV show is that of Murphy from The 100, with Octavia’s character development from the same series coming as a close second. It’s complex characters like these that provide the best opportunities for learning character development, and they can help us level up our writing.
Analyze your favorite characters. What flaws did they have in the beginning? What kind of challenges did they have to overcome to change? Which was the moment you went from “I hate that guy!” to “Wow, I can’t believe it’s the same person”? Think about that transformation. That is pure storytelling magic. That’s what the readers want to see, and that’s what the characters need so they will forever remain in the reader’s mind.
By studying these well-crafted character arcs, we learn how to shape our own characters’ journeys. We discover what flaws and wounds to give them to provide them the best opportunities for growth as the book progresses. We also learn what kind of battles they need to fight, whether with others or with themselves, so they can overcome those flaws. And most importantly, we see how to guide them through those battles so they can emerge as the heroes they were always meant to be.
Create characters based on your favorite characters
Here’s a fun exercise: Imagine bringing your favorite character from a movie or TV show into the world of your story. How would they act? Would they thrive or would they struggle in your world? How would they grow?
One of my favorite characters from a TV show is actually the inspiration for a very important character in my book series. I’m keeping quiet on who it is for now (no spoilers!), but trust me—a character you love can have a massive influence on your own writing.
Is there a character you love so much and wish their story could go on forever? Let me know in the comments which character that is and which movie or series they’re from. Maybe that character could inspire one of your own characters. They will be different, of course, but the similar character traits keep the essence of your favorite character alive in your imagination. And it’s your stories that will keep them alive in your readers’ hearts.
Improving plot and plot twists
Mastering plot by watching your genre
Whether you’re a beginner writer, like myself, or have been writing for many years, there’s always something new to learn. A good movie or TV show can teach us how to improve story structure, add plot twists that will stun your readers, and leave readers hanging on the edge of their seats with killer cliffhangers.
One of my favorite ways to learn story structure is to match the story beats I see in a movie to those from Save the Cat Writes a Novel (and if you’re writing Young Adult novels, I highly recommend Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, both of them by Jessica Brody. And for even more depth, check out Jessica’s courses at the Writing Mastery Academy).
By doing this analysis, you see how good storytelling is done, and gain some insights into how to implement the same techniques in your own novel. Try it next time you watch a movie. Write down each Save the Cat beat as you spot it and use it to improve your own story structure. Make sure to also note the plot twists you see, how they were skillfully done, and which beat they appeared in. Use that as a guide that shows you the perfect spots to add suspense and surprise in your own novel. The more movies you analyze like this, the more familiar you’ll become with story structure and the easier it will be for you to implement it in your own writing.
Writing Inspiration for Your Book Series
If you’re writing a series, then TV shows are your secret weapon. When writing a series, we want readers to buy the next book in the series. Then you need to make them really, really curious. That means having an awesome cliffhanger at the end of your book. If you want to master cliffhangers, pay close attention to how your favorite series end each season. The best ones leave you gasping, desperate to know what happens next, and you keep Googling the release date for the next season.
That’s me with Silo. I’m DYING to see the next season! That’s the reaction you want from your readers at the end of each book in your series. Except the last one, of course. Don’t leave them hanging because they’ll hate you for it.
Explore new ideas with genre hopping
We can absolutely level up our writing by studying stories in our own genre. But you can also learn a lot by exploring genres that are completely different from what you usually write. You never know which random movie might spark the idea for your next bestselling novel.
Incorporating elements from other genres in your novels
First, you can use elements from other genres in your own novels. Sometimes, just watching a movie outside your usual comfort zone can light up your creative brain.
Maybe you write sweet romance, but you just finished watching The Last Ship and can’t stop thinking about it and wish you could incorporate some of those aspects in your novel. You don’t have to suddenly turn your sweet romance story into a full-blown post-apocalyptic naval saga. And you certainly don’t need to wipe out eighty percent of the human population just to make the meet-cute more exciting. But what you could do is set your romance on a ship, with a hero who’s got the same rock-solid integrity as Tom Chandler, one of my favorite characters ever. Who knows, maybe I’ll write this story…
Besides inspiring memorable characters, watching movies and TV shows in other genres can also teach you about conflict, moral dilemmas, tension, romance, and even comedy. A bit of comedy is always welcome in any genre, and can defuse a super-tense scene. So go ahead—step outside your usual genre for a fresh perspective and new creative ideas for your novels.
Exploring new ideas with genre mashups
Second, the brave ones can even venture into the wild world of genre mashups. I know, I know—people say readers prefer one genre, and we’re told to “stick to our lane.” But if it’s something you’re truly passionate about, don’t let others’ narrow views extinguish your passion. It’s your story. You decide what to do with it, and you should have fun writing it.
If you usually write alien Sci-Fi but you’d love to mix in some historical romance, why not? Have your alien ship travel through time, land in the era you want to explore, and let your alien hero fall head-over-heels for a princess. Think of movies like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. If there are viewers who enjoy those kinds of movies, there are readers out there who will adore your genre mashup too.
Now that you know how you can get writing inspiration from movies and TV shows for your characters and plot, go ahead. Take a guilt-free break to binge-watch a few episodes of your favorite series. You’ll return to your manuscript with fresh ideas for creating more compelling characters, more intriguing plot twists, and even new, exciting scenarios for your future novels.
This post was all about finding writing inspiration from movies and TV shows for your characters and plot. If you enjoyed it, you might also enjoy this post:
How to Get Book Ideas—Where Do Authors Get Their Creative Inspiration
Now it’s your turn. Let me know in the comments which is the character from a movie or TV show that most influenced the creation of one of your own characters.
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