When writing stories, the most important thing is to tell everything that happened, right? Well, maybe not. Hart argues that the author’s goal is not to describe the world in all its complexity. Rather, consider the advice offered by David Lean, director of Lawrence of Arabia. He said his breakthrough occurred when he realized that he wanted to create a dream-like experience, not recreate reality. He didn’t have to include everything in every scene. When writing scenes, Hart recommends selecting a few details that stimulate memories that draw the reader into the story. Let the readers fill in the blanks.
Hart, Jack. Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction, second edition. University of Chicago Press 2021, p.89.