Story Structure

Reading Summary

Abel’s article explained the creative process in developing a story based on interviews with storytellers. This process differs based on every author but overall strategy is similar. Stories are usually thought of in pieces and not all at once. The order in which the story is told is based on how the author puts it together and not always by how it occurred or rather the order it was thought of in. Taste is important for both the author and the receiver. Abel emphasizes the importance of having interesting taste so that the story can connect with another person and be understood. A lot of authors use “brain dump” to get their ideas out and see if it attracts the attention of another person. It’s important to create a scene that’s visual and captivating. Ultimately it is important to understand that there isn’t really any rules when it comes creating a story which makes them unique and different.

Outside Connection

This idea of personal creativity without boundaries reminded me of Tarantino’s films. Tarantino is an American filmmaker famous for his nonlinear narratives. When I first watched one of his films I had no idea what I was getting myself into. This past summer I agreed to watch “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” unaware that it was a Tarantino film or what a Tarantino film encompassed. I remember watching the movie trailer and thinking it was an old western rom com type film and although it included these ideas it was not at all the main focus of the film. Additionally, I remember watching the movie thinking that I had no idea what was going on or what the plot was. The amount of plot twists and strangely unique scenes were all unexpected and a complete surprise. Even when the film was over I knew I could not have summarized what I had just watched and explain it to someone. But the movie left an impression on me; I was captivated by the unanticipated plot and action. I came to the conclusion that I enjoyed what I had watched and after a while had a grasp on the summary.

Connection to Reading

I think the way Tarantino creatively writes his films and the effect it had on me is what Abel was trying to explain in the article. Every author has a different strategy and way about writing. There is not always a concise beginning, middle, or end to a story and nor does there need to be. Scenes is just a word; there should be no rules to how a story is formed. The important thing is how it effects the individual receiving the message. In my case it left a lasting impression and captivated me. It made me curious and want to experience more of his films. This movie was unlike anything I had seen before and it didn’t matter that I felt confused by what was happening. The important thing was it left me reminiscing and enjoying the content.