Start Late, Exit Early

Let’s talk about one of the golden rules of screenwriting: “Start Late, Exit Early.” 

It means we don’t need to see our hero’s entire morning routine or watch them sit in traffic for 45 minutes. Instead, we jump right into the action or the part that you absolutely need to see to understand what happens next, but we end before things drag on or get boring after the story resolves. So let’s apply this rule to life: When things are tough, it’s easy to feel like your story’s reached a dead end. But what if you just need to change your perspective on when your story actually starts and stops?

Here’s the thing: Your story can start whenever you decide it does. Today, tomorrow, five years ago—hell, even before you were born. Pick your entry point. Choose where you want to begin. Need context for why you’re in this tough spot? Go back further. Broaden your world. Why are you feeling stuck right now? Maybe it starts with that job you took right after college because you needed rent money. But why that job? Maybe because you grew up in a family where security was more valued than risk. And why that value? Because your parents had to scrape by when they were young. See how far back you can go? Every step backward gives you more context as to when your story can start. Maybe you think you’re just starting, but perhaps, through a different lens, you could see yourself as being in the Second Act.

But there’s a bonus benefit to having more context: You get to be kinder to yourself.

There’s no point in kicking yourself when you’re down. Every great story starts with context that shapes the character, the conflict, and the eventual growth. The things that shaped you came from many external sources and etched themselves in you when you were young, planting firm roots, but they don’t have to define you. Instead of allowing them to be your excuse for giving up, let them simply explain a lot about why you are where you are now. The more you understand where you came from, the more clarity you’ll have on where you can go.

And that brings us to the second part of the rule: Exit Early. Remember that stories don’t truly end when the credits roll; characters keep living their lives, even if we don’t get to see it. It’s the same with you. Much like the story of the Zen Master and the little boy (beautifully summarized in Charlie Wilson’s War), whether the story is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ depends on when you decide to end it - and you can keep it going forever if you want. So, if you’re in a lull, don’t let the story be over. And if you’ve hit a high point, let that be a win and take whatever next down moment you face as the start - or second act - of another story. But give yourself credit where you can, and let that be your motivation to continue.

So, keep writing your story, but be mindful of when you decide to ‘end’ a chapter, and remember you can always have it start earlier if the context helps. The beauty of being the Main Character in your own life is that you get to shape the boundaries of your story as needed to give yourself the best chances, the most empathy, and ultimately the biggest payoffs.