Story Seeds

In the early parts of the story, it helps the quality of the thing and the experience of the audience to layer in the details that will come into play later.

These are little character and world details that will come into play later - the sword that falls off the wall whenever the front door is closed is seen earlier, and goes by as a charming detail about the family and their somewhat chaotic lifestyle. Later, that sword will be used to kill a bloodthirsty Gremlin.

When the Mandalorian breaks into a prison-ship as part of a jailbreak, we see a prisoner reaching through the small gaps in his cell door. This is important to show, and even emphasize, so later when Mando is locked up himself, he is able to use those little gaps (and his expertise and technology) to get himself out of it.

Not EVERYTHING needs to be set up and forecasted. But some things definitely do. Even if it's subtly, in the background. This helps events later in the story make more sense, and not seem like they come out of nowhere.

I hope this makes sense - honestly, examples are many and I notice them all the time. Maybe one thing that makes payoffs and climaxes ring false could be the lack of "story seeds" laid in earlier that helps us understand the world and various details and contexts about it.

It's about showing how the specifics of your world and story operate, so it'll be cohesive and coherent. The audience is much more able to feel what you want them to feel and take the ride you want them to take when they understand what's going on.

When you look at your payoffs, big moments or climactic moments in your stories, it might be worthwhile to go back and add in the seeds that help set it up. The specifics are endlessly diverse of course, depending on your story and its world.

Have a good one!

Banes


note: "story seeds" is not a term as far as I know. I just made it up on a whim.