Introduction
In a world filled with countless stories, what makes some narratives captivate us while others fall flat? Lisa Cron's "Wired for Story" delves into this question by exploring the fascinating intersection of storytelling and neuroscience. This book offers aspiring writers a unique perspective on crafting compelling narratives by understanding how the human brain processes and responds to stories.
Cron's work is not just another writing guide; it's a deep dive into the science behind our love for stories and how writers can use this knowledge to create more engaging and impactful narratives. By combining insights from neuroscience with practical writing advice, "Wired for Story" provides a fresh approach to the art of storytelling.
The Evolutionary Roots of Storytelling
One of the most intriguing aspects of Cron's book is her exploration of why humans are so drawn to stories in the first place. She argues that our love for narratives is not just a cultural phenomenon but a deeply ingrained evolutionary trait.
Stories as Survival Tools
In our ancestral past, stories served as crucial tools for survival. They were the primary means of transferring life-saving information from one person to another. Cron illustrates this with a vivid example: imagine a Stone Age man in his cave, listening to a friend's tale about how his daughter nearly died after eating some red berries. This story would have provided vital information about potential dangers, helping our ancestors avoid similar risks.
The Brain's Response to Stories
Modern neuroscience has revealed that when we listen to or read a story, our brains process the information in much the same way as they would process real-life experiences. This suggests that stories evolved as a form of simulated learning experience, allowing us to understand and prepare for potential dangers without actually facing them directly.
The Role of Dopamine
When we're engrossed in a good story, our brains release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This chemical reaction heightens our concentration and interest, explaining why we can become so absorbed in a compelling narrative.
The Importance of Focus in Storytelling
While our brains are wired to love stories, not all narratives are created equal. Cron emphasizes the critical role of focus in crafting an engaging story.
The Three Key Factors of Focus
The Protagonist's Issue: This is the main character's desire or goal that drives the story forward. In Shakespeare's "Hamlet," for instance, the protagonist's issue is his father's murder and his quest to uncover the truth.
The Theme: This is the underlying message or insight about the human condition that the story conveys. In "Hamlet," themes include sanity, madness, and depression.
The Plot: This is the sequence of events that unfold as the protagonist pursues their goal. In "Hamlet," it's the series of unexpected events leading up to the titular character's death.
Why Focus Matters
Our brains are constantly bombarded with sensory information - about 11 million pieces every second. However, we can only consciously process between five and seven pieces of this information at any given time. A well-focused story helps our brains filter out irrelevant details and concentrate on what's important, maintaining our interest and engagement.
The Power of Emotion in Storytelling
Contrary to popular belief, emotions play a crucial role in decision-making and rational thought. Cron cites neuroscientist Antonio Damasio's study of a man with a brain tumor that left him incapable of experiencing emotions. Despite high scores on IQ tests, this man struggled with even simple decision-making tasks, highlighting the importance of emotions in cognitive processes.
Engaging Readers' Emotions
For writers, this means that engaging readers' emotions is not just about creating an enjoyable experience - it's essential for helping readers process and understand the story. Cron suggests several techniques for achieving this:
Describing Physical Reactions: Show how characters physically respond to emotions, like anxiously pacing or turning pale.
Creating Dramatic Irony: Reveal information to the audience that the characters don't know, allowing readers to anticipate emotional reactions.
Using Narration: Employ a narrator to directly convey characters' thoughts and feelings.
The Crucial Role of the Protagonist's Goal
A compelling story needs a protagonist with a clear, defined goal. This is because of mirror neurons in our brains, which activate when we observe or imagine an action as if we were performing it ourselves.
Internal vs. External Goals
Cron distinguishes between two types of goals:
Internal Goals: These are the personal, emotional objectives that drive the protagonist's character development.
External Goals: These are the tangible, real-world objectives that the protagonist must achieve.
While both are important, Cron argues that internal goals are more crucial as they're what readers can most easily relate to. For example, in the movie "Die Hard," John McClane's external goal is to stop terrorists, but his internal goal of reconciling with his ex-wife is what truly resonates with the audience.
The Importance of Specific Details
Abstract concepts and generalizations can make a story feel distant and unengaging. Cron emphasizes the importance of using specific, vivid details to draw readers into the narrative world.
The Brain's Image-Making Capacity
Our brains have evolved with an extraordinary ability to create mental images. In fact, neuroscientist Antonio Damasio asserts that our entire consciousness is formed with images. Even abstract thinkers like scientists often use imagery and metaphors to conceptualize complex ideas.
Avoiding Generalities
When a story relies too heavily on generalities, readers' brains struggle to create concrete mental images, leading to decreased interest and lower dopamine levels. Cron provides a striking example comparing two descriptions of house fires:
- "Approximately 2,500 people die in house fires every year in the USA."
- "David awoke to the sound of his mother screaming as smoke filled the room. He ran to her, all the while being beaten back by the flames, only to see her trapped under the collapsed roof. 'I love you,' she called out, as he fought to try to save her."
The second example, with its specific details and vivid imagery, is far more engaging and memorable.
The Brain's Pattern-Seeking Nature
Our brains are constantly looking for patterns, even where none exist. This tendency evolved as a way to simplify our complex world and predict future events. Writers can exploit this natural inclination to create more engaging stories.
The Setup and Payoff
In storytelling, this pattern-seeking behavior manifests in our expectation that every setup will have a payoff. When James Bond is shown an array of gadgets at the beginning of a film, we expect him to use them later in the story. Cron advises that the connection between setup and payoff should be clear and not too distant in the narrative to be effective.
Breaking Patterns for Impact
While our brains crave patterns, breaking expected patterns can be a powerful tool for capturing attention. Cron cites the famous scene from "Indiana Jones" where, instead of engaging in an expected sword fight, Indy simply shoots his opponent. This unexpected turn of events leaves a lasting impression because it breaks the anticipated pattern.
The Power of Practice and Intuition
Cron emphasizes that becoming a great storyteller is not just about understanding these principles, but about internalizing them through practice. She cites Nobel laureate Herbert Simon's assertion that it takes about ten years to become an expert in a subject, during which time around 50,000 chunks of knowledge become internalized in the brain.
The Importance of Rewriting
For writers, this means that rewriting is crucial. It's through the process of revising and reworking a story that these storytelling principles become intuitive. Cron shares the example of Michael Arndt, who rewrote the screenplay for "Little Miss Sunshine" over a hundred times before it was ready.
Embracing the First Draft
Cron also offers reassurance to writers struggling with their initial drafts, quoting Hemingway's famous words: "All first drafts are shit." This reminder can help writers push through the challenging early stages of creation, knowing that improvement comes through revision and practice.
Practical Applications for Writers
Throughout "Wired for Story," Cron provides numerous practical tips for writers looking to apply these neuroscience-based insights to their work:
Craft a Clear Focus: Ensure your story has a well-defined protagonist's issue, theme, and plot.
Engage Emotions: Use various techniques to help readers connect emotionally with your characters.
Develop Strong Goals: Give your protagonist both external and internal goals, with emphasis on the internal.
Use Specific Details: Replace generalities with vivid, concrete imagery to engage readers' minds.
Create and Break Patterns: Set up expectations and occasionally subvert them for impact.
Practice and Revise: Embrace the process of rewriting to internalize storytelling principles.
Conclusion
"Wired for Story" offers a unique and insightful approach to the art of storytelling by grounding it in the science of how our brains process narratives. By understanding these neurological principles, writers can craft more engaging, memorable, and impactful stories.
Cron's work reminds us that storytelling is not just an art but also a science. It's about understanding human psychology and using that knowledge to create narratives that resonate on a deep, almost instinctual level. Whether you're a novice writer or a seasoned author, "Wired for Story" provides valuable insights that can help elevate your storytelling craft.
The book's core message is clear: great storytelling is about more than just clever plots or beautiful prose. It's about understanding how the human mind works and using that understanding to create stories that truly connect with readers. By focusing on elements like clear goals, emotional engagement, vivid details, and pattern recognition, writers can create narratives that not only entertain but also leave a lasting impact on their audience.
In a world where stories surround us in various forms - from books and movies to advertisements and social media - understanding the science behind effective storytelling is more valuable than ever. "Wired for Story" equips writers with the tools to cut through the noise and create narratives that truly resonate with the human brain.
As we move forward in an increasingly digital and story-saturated world, the principles outlined in "Wired for Story" will continue to be relevant. Whether you're crafting a novel, a screenplay, or even a business presentation, understanding how to engage the brain through storytelling is a powerful skill.
Ultimately, "Wired for Story" reminds us that at our core, humans are storytelling creatures. We use narratives to make sense of the world, to learn, to empathize, and to connect with others. By mastering the art and science of storytelling, we can tap into this fundamental aspect of human nature, creating stories that not only entertain but also enlighten, inspire, and transform.