The problem with a complicated story is definitely keeping interest, as you said. Telling a story is like telling a joke: You need your audience to care enough to listen to your punchline and think about it. You want to give your audience hints and promises that they are buying in to see fulfilled. With a complex story, you audience feels smart and involved because they can see how the twisted machinery is all fitting together. In a complicated story, they will get bogged down and bored because things just keep happening without any anticipation or payoff. Because there's no linear connection to follow, the story could be over in the next moment or continue on forever. Even if you have a complex linear connection in your head, you have to be sure your audience can follow that direction in an engaging way. A good example of a complicated film is Enthiran (from India). A good example of a complex film is Inception. Inception feels smarter than it is because it has levels but has been presented in a way most of the audience can follow.
This helped allot I’m currently writing a space odyssey type movie there’s allot of complex concepts about space travel I know what the character wants I am not sure if I’m focused enough on the main character now
The logline exercise is, to me, the best way to tell if a premise is too complicated. If you can't express your hero's goal -- and principal obstacle -- in one sentence or, at most, two, it will be exponentially more difficult to write and even more difficult to sell.
Page count is 100% a result of structure. If you don't have enough pages, it's because the structure isn't there or is broken in a significant way. Sorry if that's harsh, but in my experience teaching writing, that is always the case.
Keep it simple. Be clear on who your protagonist is. Give your protagonist a clear, singular goal. Only include characters, locations, dialogue and scenes which are necessary. Don't include any unnecessary backstory. Begin the story as late as possible and finish it as early as possible. Like you said, stories should be simple. A story is simply the telling of a character's struggle in pursuit of a goal.
Personally, I hate flashbacks as entire stories. I'm like, "Why did you just waste my time?" If the whole story is a flashback, then just set it in the past. And yes, I realize Saving Private Ryan is a good movie and employs this technique... so there are always exceptions... But SPR is a couple of scenes, so it's easier to forgive. Plus, the modern day scene at the end adds meaning to the story.
Their want must be tangible and measurable. Their lifedream CAN BE tangible and measurable, or it can be a bit more nebulous. But the want? We have to know if the character gets it or not... and the want is just what the character thinks is going to get them closer to their lifedream. Hope that helps a little.
Your example of a "complicated" story was hilarious 🤣 great example.
The difference between your simple story and the complicated one sounds like the difference between a single movie and a TV series.
Well... a bad TV series or a bad movie maybe. :-)
The problem with a complicated story is definitely keeping interest, as you said.
Telling a story is like telling a joke: You need your audience to care enough to listen to your punchline and think about it.
You want to give your audience hints and promises that they are buying in to see fulfilled.
With a complex story, you audience feels smart and involved because they can see how the twisted machinery is all fitting together.
In a complicated story, they will get bogged down and bored because things just keep happening without any anticipation or payoff. Because there's no linear connection to follow, the story could be over in the next moment or continue on forever.
Even if you have a complex linear connection in your head, you have to be sure your audience can follow that direction in an engaging way.
A good example of a complicated film is Enthiran (from India). A good example of a complex film is Inception. Inception feels smarter than it is because it has levels but has been presented in a way most of the audience can follow.
Great as always Jake! Always learning something new. :)
you do bring the clarity thx
This helped allot I’m currently writing a space odyssey type movie there’s allot of complex concepts about space travel I know what the character wants I am not sure if I’m focused enough on the main character now
The logline exercise is, to me, the best way to tell if a premise is too complicated. If you can't express your hero's goal -- and principal obstacle -- in one sentence or, at most, two, it will be exponentially more difficult to write and even more difficult to sell.
100% true. And a good exercise to figure out if you even have a compelling story idea... you do have to know how to craft a solid logline, though. :-)
Could you make a video about how to get more pages? I only get around 30 but I need 90
Page count is 100% a result of structure. If you don't have enough pages, it's because the structure isn't there or is broken in a significant way. Sorry if that's harsh, but in my experience teaching writing, that is always the case.
Keep it simple. Be clear on who your protagonist is. Give your protagonist a clear, singular goal. Only include characters, locations, dialogue and scenes which are necessary. Don't include any unnecessary backstory. Begin the story as late as possible and finish it as early as possible.
Like you said, stories should be simple. A story is simply the telling of a character's struggle in pursuit of a goal.
THANK YOU!!! You just cracked a code for me that Stephen King & John Truby didn't.
Question: What's your opinion on making a general flashback as the story?
Personally, I hate flashbacks as entire stories. I'm like, "Why did you just waste my time?" If the whole story is a flashback, then just set it in the past. And yes, I realize Saving Private Ryan is a good movie and employs this technique... so there are always exceptions... But SPR is a couple of scenes, so it's easier to forgive. Plus, the modern day scene at the end adds meaning to the story.
Screenwriting 101: Make the complicated, simple...
Unless your brother is Christopher Nolan, then complicate away!
Christopher Nolans stories aren‘t complicated. They are complex
And unnecessarily confusing
The complicated story is Avatard right?
Mutiple protangonists might as well be in differant time zone? Believe it or not, I may, Im not sure, have accomplished both
I remember you said that the characters lifedream must be tangible and measurable. Is redemption a good lifedream? Or should it be more specific?
Their want must be tangible and measurable. Their lifedream CAN BE tangible and measurable, or it can be a bit more nebulous. But the want? We have to know if the character gets it or not... and the want is just what the character thinks is going to get them closer to their lifedream. Hope that helps a little.
@@BigRedStripe awesome, thanks so much!
Ones too simple, the other too complicated.
👍