Netflix & Read: The Storytelling Exercise That’ll Make You a Better Writer
Stories shape everything--how we think, sell, love, and dream. If you want to write anything worth remembering, learn to tell one well.
In this case, when it comes to structuring your work-in-progress, whether it’s a short story, novel or screenplay.
You might read books on storytelling, sit through a few hours of YouTube videos or take a creative writing course, but there’s also one other way.
Books and films are cookies and milk--different flavors of the same story. Books give you the character’s mind; film forces you to read their soul through action.
Actively looking for contrasts in one medium over another helps immensely in identifying practical techniques for storytelling.
I watched the Netflix Original series Altered Carbon. I enjoyed it more than I expected, so much so, I picked up a copy of the book on which it is based. I instantly picked up a difference between the source material (the book) and the serialized adaptation.
Where the writers of the adaptation chose to throw the audience directly into the story and plot, the book (written in the first person) provided much more insight into the main character, Takeshi Kovacs, and his perspective on this world 300 years in the future. The details he chose to describe, and the tangents he often goes off on (in the book), gave more insight than the love-stricken, detective-outlaw in the adaptation (without my giving too much away).
The Storytelling Exercise
The exercise can then be broken down into four steps: select an adaptation available on Netflix, watch it twice (taking notes the second time around), read the book, and finally, compare and contrast the two.
Before wrapping up, I provide you with the 14 Storytelling Elements to consider when comparing and contrasting the book and its available adaptation.
I recommend choosing 1-3 elements to focus on at first so that the exercise isn’t overwhelming the first few times around.
Also, feel free to use any streaming service where your chosen adaptation is available. Doesn’t have to be Netflix.
Exercise Objectives
Read
Every writer should read--unless you enjoy stale writing and unnecessary struggle.
Write
Writing things down cements what you learn.
Although you don’t have to do this to reap the benefits of writing, I find that writing notes by hand is instrumental in my craft.
However, feel free to open up a Word or note document.
Whatever it takes.
Patience
Patience should be a writer’s most coveted virtue.
It took Rowling five years to finish Harry Potter. Fitzgerald wrote story after story before Gatsby. Patterson was rejected 31 times. Patience pays.
Exercise Steps
Step One: Pick a book with an adaptation on Netflix
Choose an adaptation on Netflix or your preferred streaming service.
This could be a film or series adaptation.
Then, ensure you have a copy of the book in hand before proceeding to the next step.
If you’re struggling to find book adaptations, check out the lists below for some inspiration:
45 Great Book Adaptations, by Kate Scott
30 Best Movies From Books On Netflix, by Josh Jackson
20 Awesome Movies Available on Netflix based on books, by Scribendi
Step Two: Watch the film twice
Make some popcorn, pour your favorite beverage and sit back.
Watch it once for fun. Don’t take notes yet--just absorb it. Then, once you’ve finished your first viewing, take some time to let it sink in, about 24 - 48 hours.
Afterward, before starting your second viewing, select 1-3 elements from the 14 Storytelling Elements sections at the bottom of this post.
During your second viewing, you’re goal is to identify and note examples of your selected elements in the film or series adaptation you chose.
Remember: have fun with this, there are no wrong answers.
Step Three: Read the book
The third step is to read the book on which the adaptation is based.
As you read, keep in mind the 1-3 storytelling elements you chose in the previous step. Your goal here is the same as in the last step: identify and note examples of your selected elements in the source material.
Otherwise, enjoy yourself.
Step Four: Compare and Contrast
The fourth and final step focuses on reflection.
Note: I recommend generating your own questions or using ChatGPT to help, to reap the most benefits from this step.
Below are a few examples:
Compare
What similarities did you notice in the film versus the book in the way the elements you chose were implemented?
How did they contribute to the overall story?
Were they significant and successful?
Did they take away from one, but add to the other?
Contrast
What differences did you observe?
Were any of the elements you chose not present in the film or book?
Why do you think that is?
What effects did they have on the overall story?
General
Was the book really better than the movie/series?
What would you have liked to see more of?
Anything you would have liked to see less of?
The 14 Elements of Storytelling
Premise: the story expressed in one sentence
Weakness and Need: what the main character is missing (from within) that is ruining their life; what must they do to live a better one
Desire: what the main character wants (a goal external and attainable) within the story
Opponent: the main opposition to the main character’s desire
Plan: a strategy (devised by the main character) specifically focused on defeating the opponent and achieving his/her desire
Battle: the final conflict between the main character and their opponent
Self-revelation: the moment in which the main character realizes who they really are
New Equilibrium: the story’s resolution and return to normality
Theme (Moral Argument): moral view of how people should act in the world conveyed through the story’s structure
Story World (setting): the world in which the story takes place
Symbol Web: dense pockets of meaning that communicate different angles of the characters, the world, and the plot
Plot: the main character’s journey through a series of connected events over time
Narrative Arc: the story’s narrative of change (usually stated as the setup, rising tension, climax, and resolution)
Crucible: the whys of any given story; why these characters, why this world, why this time, why these events, etc
There you have it--Netflix & Read, a fun way to master story structure.
When you start noticing how a story moves--on screen or on paper--you stop being a consumer and start becoming a creator.
If you found this issue insightful, please leave a ❤️ below and share your chosen adaptation in the comments.
P.S.
I’m building The Potential Paradox to be the go-to space for independent creatives who want clarity, confidence, and momentum in their work—but I can’t do it alone.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, scattered, or unsure about your next move, your input matters.
Take two minutes to share your experience—your answers will directly shape what I create next for you.
Much peace and love.
I think what this exercise really does is remind us that great storytelling isn’t about format, it’s about connection. Whether through words, music, or visuals, it’s all the same impulse…To translate something invisible into something we can all feel. Watching and reading the same story lets you see how many ways there are to reach the same emotional truth. A wonderful read Idris Elijah about storytelling and connection that I will use as inspiration in my art!
This exercise reminds me of how songs change when you perform them live versus record them in a studio. The bones are the same but the emotion, pacing and delivery shift depending on the medium. Reading the book is like hearing the demo. It’s intimate and raw. Watching the adaptation is the polished stage version. Both reveal something about how emotion translates across form. I enjoyed reading this exercise Idris Elijah and plan to use it to improve my storytelling in my music!