| by John Finnegan
Christopher Nolan’s Inception is one of the most complex and intricately structured films in modern cinema. It’s a sci-fi heist movie set inside the mind, a multi-layered narrative that challenges audiences to keep track of different dream levels, time dilations, and shifting realities. And yet, despite its apparent complexity, most viewers followed along without feeling lost. How did Nolan achieve this remarkable feat?
The answer lies in his mastery of storytelling fundamentals—knowing when to explain and when to leave things unsaid. As screenwriters, we can learn a lot from his approach. Here’s how you can apply the same principles to your own writing.
1. Pick Your Battles: Explain Only What’s Necessary
One of Nolan’s greatest strengths is his ability to choose which elements of his world-building need explanation and which ones don’t. He respects his audience enough to trust that they will follow along without needing every single detail spelled out.
Take the dream-hacking technology in Inception. How does it work? We don’t really know. We see a metallic briefcase, a drip-like substance being injected into the subject’s arm, and a big red button. That’s it. There’s no in-depth breakdown of the science behind it, no exposition-heavy scene where a scientist explains the mechanics. And yet, the audience accepts it. Why? Because the story doesn’t need us to understand how the technology works—only that it does.
Screenwriting Tip:
If an aspect of your story isn’t essential to the audience’s understanding or emotional engagement, you probably don’t need to explain it. Focus on what matters—character motivations, stakes, and emotional arcs.
2. Inception Over Explained – It Can Break Your Story
Some writers feel the need to explain every little detail about their world, thinking it will make the story more immersive. However, too much explanation can backfire. It can create unnecessary complications, bog down the pacing, and even lead to contradictions.
A great example of this issue is A Quiet Place. The film meticulously shows how its characters survive in complete silence—using sand paths to walk quietly, playing Monopoly on soft surfaces, and communicating through sign language. While these details add realism, they also create strict rules that the film occasionally breaks. For example, a child is shown playing in an abandoned truck and climbing out without making a sound, which contradicts the established logic of the world. Surely if a simple game of Monopoly comes with caveats and restrictions, playing in a car is off limits! The more rules you create, the harder it is to follow them all consistently.
Screenwriting Tip:
Every rule you introduce in your world-building must be adhered to. If you create too many, you increase the chances of contradicting yourself. Ask yourself: Does this rule serve the story, or is it an unnecessary detail?
3. Know When to Leave Things Ambiguous
Despite its intricate plot, Inception rarely gets bogged down in unnecessary explanations. This is one of the reasons why the film remains so engaging—it gives just enough information for the audience to stay invested without overloading them with details.
A great example of this is the film’s famous ending. The spinning top, Cobb’s totem, is left wobbling just before the screen cuts to black. Does it fall, proving Cobb is in the real world? Or does it spin indefinitely, meaning he’s still in a dream? Nolan deliberately leaves this open to interpretation. Rather than forcing a conclusion, he allows the audience to ponder it themselves.
NOTE: As I write this, I do recognise that the ending is quite clear cut if you study the evidence in the movie. Cobb isn't able to see his kids' faces in his subconscious but at the end he's finally able to. I think Nolan was just giving us a nice moment to end the film on with the totem shot and audiences ran with it in a multitude of other directions. Nevertheless, the point above stands.
Screenwriting Tip:
Not every mystery in your screenplay needs to be solved. Leaving some elements open-ended can create intrigue, keep audiences thinking about your story long after it ends, and invite discussion.
4. Give the Audience Credit – Let Them Connect the Dots
One of the biggest mistakes novice screenwriters make is underestimating their audience. Over-explaining concepts, repeating information, or overusing exposition-heavy dialogue can make a script feel condescending. Nolan trusts his audience to put the pieces together without excessive hand-holding.
Think about how Inception introduces its dream-within-a-dream concept.
Instead of spending pages of dialogue explaining it, Nolan shows us. The opening scene where Cobb washes up on a beach and meets an aged Saito subtly plants the idea that time flows differently in dreams. Later, the training sequence with Ariadne demonstrates the physics of the dream world visually, using the folding city and gravity-defying scenes. By showing rather than telling, Nolan ensures the audience remains engaged without feeling overwhelmed.
Screenwriting Tip:
Don’t spoon-feed your audience. Instead of explaining everything through dialogue, use visuals and character actions to reveal information naturally.
Conclusion: The Art of Balancing Complexity and Clarity
The genius of Inception isn’t just in its intricate plot—it’s in how Nolan keeps that complexity digestible. He knows what to explain, what to leave ambiguous, and when to trust the audience’s intelligence. As a screenwriter, mastering this balance is crucial. Too much explanation can ruin immersion, while too little can leave audiences confused.
Next time you’re writing a screenplay, ask yourself:
Does this detail need to be explained, or can the audience infer it?
Will this rule help or hinder the story?
Can I show this visually instead of through exposition?
Will leaving this moment ambiguous add to the story’s impact?
By following these principles, you’ll craft stories that are both rich in depth and easy to follow—just like Inception.
Happy writing!
If you’re ready to experience audio drama in a whole new way, OutWrd offers a range of unique stories designed to captivate and transport you. From dark fairy tale retellings to historical dramas, OutWrd’s cinematic approach to audio fiction is setting a new standard for what audio drama can be.
Try OutWrd for free with no sign up here.
Comments