Whether we are looking at our favourite books, games, and – of course – TV shows, it is obvious that storytelling helps to guide us through many different types of content. Why is storytelling such an important concept? Let’s take a closer look at some of the things it does.
Hooking Us In
One of the first things that a good story will always do is hook us in. A new television show might open with an explosive scene that leaves us wanting to know more about what will happen in the future. The tutorial level of a video game should lay out more of what to expect from the main game itself, in addition to teaching the player the controls and how best to play.
The hook is one of the most important parts of storytelling – meaning that it can also be very difficult to get right. However, a skilled storyteller should be able to deliver a top hook that will capture the attention of whoever is viewing the content. No matter what the inciting incident might be, the hook needs to be able to catch our attention.
Keeping Us Engaged
The hook often isn’t enough to keep our attention on the story itself. Beyond that, we need to make sure that we have a good story that will keep the player engaged and wanting to find out more.
This can be seen even in places where you would not necessarily expect to see a story, such as in one of the many slots games that can be found around the internet. Though the story might not be an integral part of the game, threading it through the bonus features and other aspects of the slot can help to keep players focused and waiting for more.
Delivering Satisfaction
Finally, one of the most important parts of any story is being able to deliver a satisfying ending. This does not always mean that it has to be a happy ending – but it should be one that ties up the story in a satisfying way.
This can often be seen with poorly defined twists. A storyteller will often try to thread a twist into their TV show or book in an attempt to misdirect the viewer. However, the twist does need to make sense. It can’t appear to come out of left-field and, when looking back through the rest of the show, it should appear to make sense overall. Having a twist that is shocking simply for the sake of it will never deliver satisfying results.
Storytelling is very much an art, and it can deliver some amazing journeys to readers when in the hands of a master. Crafting a believable story is just as important as populating the world with characters that feel real, and giving the story everything it needs to survive. Without a good story behind it, a game or a novel can feel very flat and lifeless. Pay close attention to a piece of the media’s story next time you encounter it, and see what you could learn from it!