I wrote this for a community post about audience retention when telling stories. I want to share the points with you.
Two specific characteristics have made Soap Operas powerfully captivating. Both involve timing. If we steal the essence of each component, our stories will have a better chance of retaining attention.
First element – “Enter Every Scene as LATE as Possible!” Not so late as to confuse or lose the audience, but late enough so their imagination has an opportunity to ‘fill in the blanks’ concerning the setup. If the script explains too much or tells rather than showing, boredom sneaks in faster than a housefly smelling barbeque. Allowing the reader (or viewer) to put the story together for themselves instead of being told unnecessary details, dignifies them. Conversely, we can feel insulted or ‘talked down to’ if they are deprived of the opportunity to figure the situation out. So keep attention by allowing the audience to imagine any part of the backstory that they are capable of conjuring up. Even if their idea is different from the director’s idea, as long as it does not detract from the plot, engagement is enhanced.
Second element – “Exit Every Scene as EARLY as Possible.” Once the reader or the viewer gets the emotional impact of the scene, cut away to the next captivating event. Make sure to skip all unnecessary over-explaining of this portion as well.
On that note, I will exit this commentary. It’s as early as I feel I can conclude. Let me know what you think.