Christopher Nolan's Top 5 Storytelling Tips

Today a nuclear bomb will be dropped.

No, I’m not talking about Russia and Ukraine (at least I hope not).

The theatrical release of Christopher Nolan’s movie, Oppenheimer, is today.

And I’ve been waiting a whole year to watch it on IMAX.

So to celebrate another masterpiece by Nolan, I figure there’s no better way than to review some of his best writing and storytelling tips.

Because if you’re an entrepreneur or creator, stories are an essential part of your growth.

Not just for growing on social media, but making money too.

If you can write compelling stories, you create a visualization inside of your audience.

It feels real.

And the more real a story feels, the more emotions you trigger.

And if you can trigger emotions, you can persuade people to take a specific action.

So, my friend, here are some storytelling tips I broke down of the world’s best storyteller:

1. Use Non-linear Narration

Non-linear narration tells the story out of chronological order.

This approach creates curiosity and suspense as the full storyline gradually takes shape.

Instead of following a chronological structure of: A-B-C

Try: B-A-C

Map out your story in a linear timeline first. Then think about how you can make it more interesting by revealing certain events out of order.

In the movie “Momento” Nolan bounced between 2 timelines.

Timeline 1 was chronological (in black and white).

Timeline 2 was reverse chronological (in colour).

2. Create Complex Characters

Characters with depth feel more relatable, helping engage your audience emotionally.

Create characters with:

• Fears

• Desires

• Strengths

• Weaknesses

Try this

1. Give your characters a backstory that shapes their personality

2. Based on that, give them desires + goals

3. Creates obstacles they’ll face and consider how they’d react

Characters are the backbone of your story.

In the movie, The Dark Knight, The Joker isn’t simply “bad.” He has a complex personality with goals that break the pattern of traditional antagonists.

3. Make The Ending Ambiguous

Leaving the ending up to interpretation creates thought and discussion long after the story ends, making it more memorable.

Introduce elements into your story, such as a mysterious character, symbolic event, or unresolved plot point, that aren’t explicitly explained.

Inception: is Cobb dreaming?

Interstellar: will Dr. Brand be saved?

The Prestige: is the real Angier alive?

4. Hook Them Right Away

In-Media-Res is a narrative technique where the story starts in the middle of the action.

This immediately pulls your audience into the story, making them curious to know what’s going on and what led to this point.

You can start your story at a point of high tension or action.

Use flashbacks or exposition to fill in the backstory.

Think of the Dark Knight’s bank heist scene. Right away, we’re drawn into the action and it sets the tone for the rest of the story.

5. Plot Twists

Plot twists surprise make your audience interpret all the events beforehand in a new way.

To create a good plot twist:

1. Use foreshadowing (it shouldn’t feel out of the blue)

2. Ensure it’s consistent with the story

3. Lead the audience to certain assumptions, then break them

4. Don’t overdo them

This is one of the best ways to make your story unforgettable.

Throughout the movie, The Prestige, we’re given breadcrumb clues to the big plot twist.

But it’s not until the plot twist is revealed that we see them and think, “Ohhhhh shiiiiiiiit, it was right in front of us the whole time.”

So there you have it, my friend.

I hope these serve you well and you tell some kickass stories.

And I hope y’all booked your tickets for Oppenheimer tonight.

I’M HYPED.

Dakota “Nolan Fanboy” Robertson