The difference between active and passive voice lies in who performs the action in a sentence.
Active Voice

• The subject performs the action.
• The sentence structure follows: Subject → Verb → Object
• Example:
  • The manager (S) approved (V) the proposal (O). (The manager is doing the approving.)

Passive Voice

• The subject receives the action.
• The sentence structure follows: Object → Verb → Subject (optional)
• Example:
  • The proposal (O) was approved (V) by the manager (S). (The proposal is receiving the action, and the manager is optional.)

When to Use Active vs. Passive:

• Use Active Voice when clarity, impact, and directness matter (business writing, storytelling, instructions).
  
  
• Use Passive Voice when the action matters more than the doer (scientific reports, formal/legal writing, when the doer is unknown).

In filmmaking, the term "jeopardy shot" typically refers to a shot that emphasizes danger, tension, or high stakes within a scene. It’s often used to visually communicate that a character is in peril, or a situation is about to take a turn for the worse. 

In writing, the "jeopardy shot" concept translates to heightening stakes and tension in a scene that makes the reader feel the character’s danger, urgency, or emotional turmoil. 

Instead of using a camera, you achieve this with word choice, pacing, perspective, and sensory details. A "jeopardy shot" in writing is about immersing the reader in a moment of high stakes, making them feel the tension rather than just telling them it exists. 
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Ways to Apply a "Jeopardy Shot" in Writing:

1. Close point of view and internal monologue
   • Zoom in on what the character is feeling—heart pounding, breath quickening, sweat dripping.
   • Show their internal conflict, doubts, or racing thoughts.
   • Example: She gripped the doorknob, her pulse thrumming in her ears. On the other side, silence. Too much silence.
     
     
2. Sentence structure and pacing
   • Use short, punchy sentences for urgency.
   • Slow down with detailed description to build suspense.
   • Example: A shadow moved. Then another. She wasn’t alone.
     
     
3. Foreshadowing and sensory detail
   • Describe sounds, textures, and smells that hint at danger before the character fully realizes it.
   • Example: The floorboards groaned beneath her. The air was thick, stale. Had someone been here… waiting?
     
     
4. Dramatic irony and perspective
   • Let the reader know something the character doesn’t, increasing tension.
   • Example: He stepped forward, unaware of the figure lurking behind the curtain.
     
     
5. Scene framing (literary "camera work")
   • Describe the setting in a way that makes the character feel small or threatened.
   • Use metaphors and similes to emphasize danger.
   • Example: The alley yawned before her, swallowing the last of the streetlights. Shadows stretched like grasping hands.

 

Ellipses can be a useful tool in fiction writing, but they should be used sparingly and deliberately to avoid overuse or confusion. Here’s a breakdown of when and how to use them effectively:

When to Use Ellipses in Fiction:

1. Trailing Off or Hesitation
   • Indicate a character’s trailing thoughts or uncertainty.
   • Example:
     "I thought I could trust him, but ... I don’t know anymore."
     
     
2. Unfinished Dialogue
   • Show that a character has been interrupted or cannot finish their sentence.
   • Example:
     "Wait, you don’t mean…" she started, but he cut her off.
     
     
3. Time Passing or a Pause
   • Suggest a significant pause in a conversation or a break in narrative flow.
   • Example:
     "Well ... I guess that’s it, then."

Rules for Using Ellipses:

1. Stick to Three Dots
   Always use three periods ( ... ) for an ellipsis, with a space before and after if it’s in the middle of a sentence.
   • Correct: "I just don’t know ... maybe it’s not meant to be."
   • Incorrect: "I just don’t know.....maybe it’s not meant to be."
     
     
2. Avoid Overuse
   Overusing ellipses can make your writing feel disjointed or overly dramatic. Use them only when the pause or uncertainty adds value to the scene or dialogue.
   
   
3. Punctuation with Ellipses
   • If an ellipsis ends a sentence, follow it with the proper punctuation:
     "I thought it was over...."
   • If in the middle of a sentence, continue without additional punctuation:
     "It wasn’t over ... not yet."