Advanced Screenwriting Tips: The Art of Non-linear Storytelling
Since four publications, we have been a screenwriting roll that has not yet ended. However, while our previous posts have been meant for beginners in the screenwriting field, feedback has pushed us to tune it up a bit by sharing other tips for professionals as well. As you know that at Quilltowers, your satisfaction is what fuels us. Hence, we are here to double down on our previous post that guided beginner writers on the step by step guide of writing their first script. This time, we are helping professionals decide which narrative style to choose by specifically discussing one of them – the non-linear style.
Storytellers know all they can about linear narration; tell a story from the beginning, go to the conflict, push it to a climax, have your resolution and roll the credits. Easy day at work. It is in the nature of humans to be bored of normalcy, however. That is the whole need for the entertainment industry. To prevent this monotonous storytelling technique, a few differences were made. One of these is the art of telling a story non-chronologically. The events in the movie are narrated from either the end, the middle or in a way that is not straightforward.
A non-linear story can be chosen for several reasons. The Director may choose one for its emotional rollercoaster, a thriller film may use it to create a crazy amount of suspense, it can be chosen as a way to break away from the conventional, or a horror film may use it to make the shock more… Significant.
When we talk about non-linear storytelling, we need you to think about Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, Christopher Nolan’s Memento, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer (are you noticing a theme here), Rian Johnson’s Knives Out and so on and so on.
As you will notice, all the movies mentioned here amplified their suspense, kept the audience guessing until the end, connected emotionally and philosophically with the audience while creating an entire wholesome cinematic experience. That is what a good use of non-linear storytelling does for you.
Detractors will tell you that it is risky because if it is not done well, it will only lead to a super confused audience – like what Nolan did with Tenet. Keep the confusion minimal, however, and you will have a cheering cinema when the credits roll.
Tips for Non-linear Storytelling
As the fans of your success that we are, here are some tips to ensure your non-linear storytelling goes the way we all want it to;
- Decide on A Model: Before you start your non-linear narration, you need to choose what type of story you want to tell and how you want to tell it. In that case, you want to decide whether to choose the Fractured Timeline Model where the films’ events are placed out of order to discuss issues like grief (see 21 Grams). Perhaps you want to try Parallel Timeline Model where you run two different stories in the film then join them together towards the end for the biggest “oooooohh” in the cinema hall (see The Prestige). If you want a cyclical story that ends where it begins, choose the Circular Timeline Model (see The Arrival). There are several others to choose from or you can just make your own up. Art should not conform.
- Emotion Coherence: While every other thing in the story may change, the emotion in the story is what the audience keeps up with while the actions and the story unfolds. Whether you go with guilt, revenge or obsession, the emotion needs to be clear and constant else the audience will lose contact with the action on stage.
- Content, not Decoration: Your use of non-linear narration needs to be essential to the story and should not be for mere decoration. While non-linear storytelling can elevate a story, a weak one will still not be saleable to the audience.
- Write the Linear: Before writing the non-linear version of your script, write the linear version first. This will prevent you from making avoidable errors, keep you informed about the right structure and will assist you when you need to pitch the story to producers. People rarely invest in what they do not understand, as you know.
- Underlines: NEVER UNDERLINE. This means you should never over-explain your story to the audience. Have a little faith by leaving your non-linear narration in contexts that the readers can decode on their own.
These five tips will add to your arsenal of tricks when working on your non-linear screenplays. Like all things, they will require several practice runs before you get them right. What is more, you can always contact us if you run into a snag. For you, we are always here.
