There are certain signs that tell you you’re learning how to write a story. The most distinctive sign is when you know what’s going to happen next in other people’s stories. It can get bad, really bad, but the worse it gets, the better you will be at constructing your own story. You learn to see into the future in this fashion by learning to recognise a set-up when you see one. Personally, I can’t watch trailers anymore. Not since I watched one for the mystery thriller The Sentinel and figured out whodunnit. I figured out Lost half way through ’06
See below for the solution as I see it (monster spoiler warning).
Lost Explained
The island travels between dimensions.
That’s why the Others already know the people on the plane, they’ve already met them in another dimension. In the last series, it became even more obvious. A new arrival turns up with technology that is unfamiliar (because it’s from another dimension). The plane, in this dimension, sank to the bottom of the sea and everyone died. This told me they were going to get off the island in this dimension, because things had been set-up so that they could take over the lives of their parallel selves. But this world is not their world, as emphasised by the fact that Jack’s dad is still alive here.
As for the invisible man who is supposed to be giving orders to the Others, his orders have not been followed in a long time. Ben pretends to follow his orders while dispensing his own. Locke is a threat to this, which is why Ben tried to kill him. All of the Others are on an important mission for the invisible man, which is . . .
Well, I have to leave some mystery for you, don’t I?
When you can spot such set ups instantly, you will know how to write a story.
I’ve just been informed of the Parallel Dimension Theory on Lostpedia.
So I guess I’m not the only one who thinks this.
-Benet Simon & Mike Mindel
Technorati Tags: get lost, how to write a story, write a story, lost explained, lost, lost solution, spoiler warning, lostpedia, parallel dimension theory
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I just wanted to mention that while I don’t follow lost, let’s see if your “spoiler” pans out! I have much respect for foresight and calling things ahead of time so you don’t have to go “I told you so!”, but all things considered, this is pretty bold. Hehe. 🙂
I recently found out about this blog from http://popurls.com I think it was, and I’ve been hoping to do more writing lately. So here’s me saying hi and feeling inspired because of your posts, keep it up!
Great piece, Benet and Mike. I remember telling my daughter very early in Lost that this had something to do with parallel universes. Just as Michael Crichton had handled that concept so well in Timeline. I actually followed David Deutsch’s forums for a while after reading Timeline..fascinating physicist working in this area.
I’m currently working on a nine book series and you are SO correct that its all about ‘setting’ things up for future situations..great fun!
Keep the posts coming…love them
Cheers,
Ellen
I’ve seen a total of 5 episodes of LOST. I thought maybe the plane was crashed on purpose for the gov’t to experiment on the people who come to the island (since it has special properties on human bodies). I guess I missed one too many episodes.
Very sound advice. I find myself throwing out maps quite often in order to think of interesting ideas.
I have to agree with you, and I also have to be depressed by it because I feel I have a long way to go (is that knowing how a story turns out? Because I know I have a long way to go? Am I ready yet?)
Great info. To lose oneself, is to find oneself.
Thank you for the post!
I used to write stories. I got tired of getting rejection notices so i quit. I tried to write once recently based on an epic dream and it just didn’t happen.
I don’t really speand a lot of time writing but when i do i get lost in my story is this good ?
This is really a stupid article. Have you ever heard of using your imagination to read a book, watch a TV show, it is not real people! You watch a TV show like LOST so you can get lost in the writer’s imagination. It is not a puzzle for you to solve. Go do a crossword or soduku crap and try to use your brain for that. And you you are so smart, I don’t see your name on the credits!
Great piece. I have never watched a full episode of Lost. Now I am glad I didn’t. I agree with the piece in every which way. I write and use various media, mainly t.v to shut off my brain.
I have just come back to writing and am finding it exhilarating. I used to throw away stories I had written but every thing gets put in a special place and I try and spend time on them every day.
Not a bad idea.. however it hasn’t quite panned out like that huh 🙂
I see what you mean about lost but since watching series 4 it seems your theory isn’t correct. I might be wrong but It is still impressive how you can work things like that out.
This is, indeed, the curse of the novelist. Whenever I’m reading or watching anything I’m working out the plot twists – I used to presume that everybody did it, but I’ve discovered to my cost (when I share my thoughts!) that it’s not normal behaviour.
I gave up on Lost after the first series, largely because they seemed to be making it up as they went along. Now I look forward to discovering if you’re right.
I’m not sure I will ever continue watching Lost…it mostly fizzled out for me after the second season.
Next season of lost is season 5 to be aired jan 2009
I have never watched the series Lost. It is interesting how you use what you perceive to be clues through out the storyline in order to neatly fold and tuck away the plot. My initial reaction is that you are trying to solve a riddle using writing techniques you have learned over the years, but the riddle you are trying to solve has been devised by some very talented and experienced writers who are aware of your presence out their in the audience. At some point, as writers we need to let go of our own preconceptions and let a good story play itself out. A few things happen when you do this as a writer; you get out of your own way and trust that you will learn something, you remember what its like to be the audience, you grow. It’s ok to trust the writers of the story to entertain you. And if you’re any good, you can easily learn after the fact.
It doesn’t make alot of sense to solve a puzzle that is really designed not to be a puzzle but to ignite imagination. Like any good peice of art, the message, the voice behind the message is up for interpretation. I don’t believe you need to “figure out” Lost in order to know how to craft a compelling story. I don’t think anyone should indite an amateur writer of mediocrity because they haven’t unraveled Lost or any other story for that matter. If Hollywood has taught us anything, it is that formulas typically generate a pedestrian story leaving most in the audience a little worse for wear. After all, a good neurosurgeon should not be expected to know how to set a fractured bone yet they are both in the medical field. Being able to solve another writers story line does not make someone a good writer, and not being able to solve antoher writers story line does not make someone a bad writer. One does not depend on the other, they are not mutually exclusive.
Nonethless, I truly enjoy your blog and hope you continue because I feel you are only trying to add to our craft and that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Thanks
Great article. And I can relate to what you’re saying.
Truthfully I’ve never gotten my fantasy to write fiction off the ground – I make a living as a writer but it’s all nonfiction. However the more I watch DVDs, both movies and television boxed sets, the more obvious I find the plot structure.
I’m amazed by the stuff I missed before. It has a lot to do with general awareness I think, and most people drift through life barely aware of their own life force, much less anything else going on nearby.
Anyway very cool blog. I’ll be back for more. :o)
Awesome many thanks
Looked like an interesting blog. Too bad you stopped writing. I will read the old posts as I get a chance.
I completely relate to what you are saying about knowing what happens next in a story. I discovered this gift when I saw “Hunt for the Red October”. There was but one shot of the old cook in the beginning of the movie, but in an instant, I knew he was the inside man. I trudged through the entire movie waiting for them to tell everyone else what was so obvious to me. To this date, it remains one of my least favorite movies. On the other hand, “The Sixth Sense” rocked my world as far as movies go.
Another writer friend and myself have a lot of fun watching movies together and trying to guess the endings. The first one to get it right wins.
I should definitively start writing 🙂
Great advice!
If you start to figure out what’s going to happen. Couldn’t it mean you have started thinking like everyone. Just a thought.
Hi, very good post 🙂 Looking forward for More
wait… he’s wrong? i still think he’s got it right…
I have a hard time watching TV shows and movies, because I’m always guessing what’s going to happen…and more often than not, I’m right.
That’s an interesting way to judge your progress I hadnt thought of.
As for lost. I m trying to get through the first season (being pushed by a friend), but the over-drama is putting me off.
Mate, I’ve got the same issue.
Creativity lies in the darkest recesses of our mind but are bright enough to light up even the crevices of our brain.
Regards
Sij
That’s… actually quite freakin’ clever. I might watch Lost now… I might.
thanks for the tips, really enjoyed this one
Hello,
Well, you know when you read a lot, then over a period of time you feel the itch to write.That is absolutely natural.
People who have been voracious readers have always felt this itch sometime in their lives.
Thanks.
jitendra
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All due respect to Bob Turner, everyone likes to experience tv shows like Lost in different ways. Some like to get lost in the writer’s imagination, some get absorbed in character development and relate it to life, while others (myself included) see it as a puzzle to be solved. It just depends on how you choose to enjoy it.
Honestly, to call this article stupid simply because you like to watch tv differently is very narrow-minded.