What Hollywood Can Teach You About Writing

I admit, people working in Hollywood are not famous for writing literature (I wonder if they even know what a book is?), but they do know a thing or two about generating excitement. Most Hollywood movies tend to follow this kind of structure:

• Beginning: things happen, people die, a story reveals itself. In short, people get excited.
• Middle: the same basic stuff they always show. Some guy gets into trouble, then manages to get out of it, and then...
• End: just like the beginning. Everybody gets excited and decides this was the best movie they've ever seen.

Why do you think most movies follow this pattern? Because scriptwriters know that the average viewer won't remember the whole movie, but they will remember the beginning and the end. What can this teach you about writing?

For one thing, always try to generate excitement at the beginning and at the end. Make promises, and then fulfill them. Readers will forgive a lot in the middle if the beginning and the end are really good. (That's no excuse for a weak middle, though!)

For ideas on opening strongly, see how to start writing: 3 great ways to open any piece.