A good story isn’t made from a single ingredient, just as a good meal isn’t composed of one ingredient. Four pieces of bacon might be my breakfast, but I wouldn’t call that a meal.
If there is one element that makes every story better it’s change.
There are few things people enjoy more in a story than watching the transformation of someone.
This is why Groundhog Day is one of my favorite movies.
Phil transforms from selfish to depressed to happy and caring.
It’s also why The Way Way Back is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year.
The entire movie is about the slow transformation of one teenager.
This even works in the opposite direction.
It’s why Breaking Bad is the best show currently on TV. The journey from passive chemistry teacher to drug kingpin is amazing to watch.
It’s why Requiem for a Dream is one of the most depressing and emotionally draining movies I’ve seen.
A good story is about transformation.
We like seeing transformation in others because it makes us believe we can also change.
Could I learn to dance?
Maybe. The video would be more inspiring (to me) if she was a pale Scandinavian, but it’s still great because it’s all about transformation.
The most popular video I’ve created so far has the element of change and I didn’t even realize it while making it. My dog goes from sad to wide eyed and happy. There’s a change of emotion from the start to the end, which makes watching it more interesting and memorable.