Have you ever worked hard on a writing project, confident in your skills, only to have it met with a resounding "meh"? I certainly have. That's what happened with my first video script. I had years of ghostwriting experience and thought I knew how to tailor words for impact. But this was a visual beast, and I was still writing like I was crafting a novel.

Then it hit me: "Fight Club." One of the few works that conquered both the written and video formats, it's the perfect example of how storytelling changes across mediums.

Let's unpack how it works and apply these lessons to take your content creation to the next level.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Fight Club (Novel, 1996)

This dark and satirical novel follows the journey of a nameless insomniac who becomes enmeshed in underground fight clubs. Chuck Palahniuk's - the author - signature unflinching prose and subversive themes expose the raw underbelly of modern masculinity, consumerism, and our search for meaning.

Palahniuk's Distinctive Style

• Minimalist Diction and Syntax: Think short, punchy sentences that hit like the fists they describe. This style reflects the protagonist's mental state and creates a visceral reading experience. 

  Example: This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time.

• Repetition: Key phrases are repeated for emphasis, driving home the story's themes. 

  Example: "If you could be either God's worst enemy or nothing, which would you choose?"

• Dark Humor & Satire: Palahniuk twists the knife with a grin, forcing us to confront the absurdity of consumerism, societal expectations, and the pursuit of meaning. 

  Example: "I see all this potential, and I see it squandered... working jobs we hate so we can buy sh*t we don't need."

• Visceral Imagery: Graphic descriptions sear themselves into your mind, making the consequences of the protagonist's world hit hard. 

  Example: "You give me the soap, the lye, and the fat, and I can blow up the world."

Narrative Devices that Warp Reality

• Unreliable Narrator: We experience everything from the protagonist's fractured perspective, blurring the lines between reality and his unraveling psyche, especially around the mysterious Tyler Durden.

• Present Tense & In Medias Res: The story unfolds in real-time, and we're plunged into the chaos without backstory. This fosters a sense of urgency and confusion, making us question everything alongside the protagonist.

• Foreshadowing & Metafiction: Subtle clues and moments breaking the fourth wall reward re-reading and challenge the reader's place in the story.

Loved what you read? Then let me know.

Fight Club (Film, 1999)

Director David Fincher masterfully adapts the core themes while reworking the narrative for the screen. His visually striking style and focus on character psychology deliver a cinematic experience with a sting all its own.

Shifts in Storytelling for the Film

• Objectifying the Narration: We get a bit more distance from the protagonist's internal turmoil, especially at the start. This builds suspense and amplifies the impact of the film's iconic twist.

   

  Example: The film opens with a shot of the unnamed insomniac's (Edward Norton) mumbling with a gun in his mouth, establishing a disturbing undercurrent for the film.

• Streamlining the Narrative: The focus is sharpened on anti-consumerism and societal rebellion. This makes for a faster-paced, more accessible plot that still keeps the core of the novel's critique.

  Example: Certain subplots from the novel are cut or minimized, allowing the film to focus on the central conflict between the protagonist and Tyler Durden.

• Altering Tyler Durden: Tyler becomes even more charismatic onscreen, a fully fleshed-out figure of rebellion that's easier for the audience to latch onto.

   

  Example: Brad Pitt's portrayal of Tyler is electric, radiating a dangerous allure that's absent from the novel's more ambiguous portrayal.

• Reworking the Ending: The film offers a slightly more hopeful, action-driven resolution. It retains the core conflict but satisfies mainstream viewers who crave a more concrete ending.

   

  Example: The ending scene, with the buildings crumbling and the surviving members of Project Mayhem watching the spectacle, provides a sense of victory against the established order that contrasts with the bleaker conclusion of the novel.

Why These Changes Matter

These shifts don't make the film "better" than the book. They smartly adapt the experience for the screen, ensuring it succeeds within these key areas:

• Pacing: Films have less room for indulgence than novels. Tightening the narrative keeps the audience hooked.

• Character Accessibility: Film needs visual clarity. Giving Tyler a stronger presence aids audience connection.

• Audience Expectations: Cinematic audiences often want a more straightforward resolution than the novel's bleak conclusion provides.

Writing for Visual Medium

• The Power of the Unsaid: So much can be conveyed through a lingering shot, a flicker of emotion across a character's face, or carefully composed scenery. Let the visuals breathe and don't overload them with dialogue.

• Visual Metaphors: Utilize symbolism, color, and recurring motifs to create thematic depth. For example, a recurring shot of a ticking clock can symbolize the protagonist's anxiety far more effectively than internal dialogue.

• Pacing Through Action: Maintain audience engagement through movement, shifts in energy, and visual twists. Even quiet scenes can have dramatic tension through camera angles and lighting.

Additional Considerations

• Audience Expectations: Readers are generally willing to invest more time and mental energy in complex narratives. Visual audiences often demand faster pacing and more straightforward emotional cues within a limited viewing window.

• Hybrid Techniques: Don't feel restricted to one or the other. A brilliant screenplay can evoke internal states through visual cues, while a novel can utilize cinematic pacing for suspense.

How the Writing Transforms: Written vs. Video

To understand the ways writing must adapt for different storytelling mediums, let's break down how "Fight Club" shifts from the page to the screen. Here's a look at some key techniques:

That’s all, folks!

These aren't just rules for novels and screenplays. They're adaptable principles that can be applied to any form of content creation. A captivating caption can use a character's voice to hook the reader. And a video can leverage visual metaphors to deepen its message.

When crafting your next piece, consider how you can borrow techniques from other mediums to create a richer, more engaging experience.

In my next issue, I walk you through an example where I convert a LinkedIn post into a video script.

See you next Saturday. Cheers!