This way or that way?

 

This lovely photo from my friend Marc Mordey summarises the essence of storytelling.  In every story there has to be at least one "This way / That way" moment,  and preferably more.  This is true in stories for both adults and children.......

I remember listening, fascinated, once upon a time, to an Irish master storyteller in full flow, and almost every story contained  these moments of crucial decision-making:  "When he got there, he should have gone left, but he went right, and look what happened to him then!"  Or  "When he got there, he should have went home -- but he did not, and went on, and ended up in a terrible pickle....."  Monsters, fateful females, natural catastrophes, and no end of appalling things befall him who makes the wrong choice.

It's one of the cardinal rules of screenplay writing that you should have these crucial choice situations at intervals in the script.  Suspense and decision-making go hand in hand.  At the 25%, 50% and 75% points in the drama, you need turning points, linked to changes of plans, points of no return, or major setbacks -- preferably linked to decisions made by the hero or heroine.  To make matters more complex and more interesting, some crucial decisions can be made by other key characters as well.  Some famous actors are reputed to choose their film appearances on the basis of what the scripts offer in terms of crucial decision-making.  It is reputed that Dustin Hoffman refuses to do any film unless he personally has at least a dozen key decisions to make.  This way or that way?  That is the question..........