Should I use conventional narrative instead?
Parallel narrative is so exciting that writers often seize upon it for the sheer joy of playing with multiple stories. However, wrongly used, parallel narrative can be actively destructive.
I explain how, when and when not to use parallel narrative in my book The 21st Century Screenplay, which will give you charts, templates, case studies, hypotheticals and highly-detailed analysis and step-by-step help with planning.
Conventional narrative is, as I’ve said, a fine form and is brilliant for stories that suit it, following one hero on a single journey. Never underestimate it, and expect to use it frequently. It's also the basis of parallel narrative (which manipulates conventional narrative structure in order to create its various effects), so you’ll need to be very familiar with it anyway. In fact you’ll need need to understand my particular ‘take’ on conventional narrative to understand my guidelines on parallel narrative, because, while my view of conventional narrative is pretty similar to what you’ll be familiar with (and I specifically talk about the work of a number of experts with whom I’m sure you’ll be familiar), I have a number of elements and approaches that you won’t have come across elsewhere, based on personal experience and my work with other writers and producers. All my views are explained in depth in the first part of The 21st Century Screenplay, including a step by step question -and-answer guide to constructing a three act linear film, and material on core screenwriting skills like practical plotting,dialog, subtext etc.
I explain how, when and when not to use parallel narrative in my book The 21st Century Screenplay, which will give you charts, templates, case studies, hypotheticals and highly-detailed analysis and step-by-step help with planning.
Conventional narrative is, as I’ve said, a fine form and is brilliant for stories that suit it, following one hero on a single journey. Never underestimate it, and expect to use it frequently. It's also the basis of parallel narrative (which manipulates conventional narrative structure in order to create its various effects), so you’ll need to be very familiar with it anyway. In fact you’ll need need to understand my particular ‘take’ on conventional narrative to understand my guidelines on parallel narrative, because, while my view of conventional narrative is pretty similar to what you’ll be familiar with (and I specifically talk about the work of a number of experts with whom I’m sure you’ll be familiar), I have a number of elements and approaches that you won’t have come across elsewhere, based on personal experience and my work with other writers and producers. All my views are explained in depth in the first part of The 21st Century Screenplay, including a step by step question -and-answer guide to constructing a three act linear film, and material on core screenwriting skills like practical plotting,dialog, subtext etc.