1148: You Know How This Ends

Here's a weird storytelling truth that no one really talks about. In a lot of cases, we CONSUME STORIES FOR THE MIDDLE, not the end. Because we so often KNOW THE END. Sherlock will crack the case Harry will triumph over Voldemort Ross will end up with Rachel Once we know what we're watching, we usually understand what's going to happen. To demonstrate this, let's do a quick test. Here's a 3-stage outline of a movie: • boy meets girl • boy and girl annoy each other • (what happens here?) I'm guessing it took you less than 5 minutes to guess the end of Harry Met Sally, but you watched it anyway along with millions of others. How many hours have you spent watching movies and TV shows where – broadly speaking – you knew what's going to happen? And yet, been entranced. In Sherlock - who's statue I just walked past - we aren't so interested in the final outcome as we are in the how and why. Why did the murder happen? How will Sherlock's brilliant brain solve the case? (Especially if he does it "without leaving the flat".*) Once you understand how often we consume FOR THE MIDDLE, you can see it everywhere. Let's imagine I was writing a headline for the Sylvester Stallone/Rocky post I did the other day. Which of these is more likely to peak your interest? 1) Unknown actor writes script Or 2) Unknown Actor Writes Script That Wins An Oscar Exactly. Nick --- This is one of 30 riffs on #*Business #Storytelling*. Follow me to get the series. *My 2nd favourite line of the show.