Story loops

Story loops in books, movies, tv shows, plays etc are when a question is raised within the story, then resolved.

They come in all sizes – the movie itself is a big story loop, but there are also lots of smaller ones throughout. It’s what keeps us turning pages and tuning in next week.

Eg, opening a loop might look like:

• What happens when the Delorean hits 88mph?
• Will Indiana Jones outrun the huge boulder?
• Daniel (Karate Kid) has assumed the Crane position – will it work?

Then the loop is closed when it’s resolved:

• Cool, he travelled through time!
• He’s clear, nice jump Indy!
• It worked! He landed the Crane and won the whole thing!

Sometimes, storytellers forget to close loops, which is when a show ends and you think “Hey, what happened with that dog in the car!?”.

The biggest loop that we’ll never see closed is whether all the work to curb climate change will actually pay off.

Our kids might see it, or maybe their kids will. But we have to accept that we’re gonna live through an open story loop that we just have to hope doesn’t end in a cliffhanger.

Well… Hope… or do what we can to help close it.