The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

While driving the narrative forward, it’s good to glance in the rear view mirror from time to time. As the story advances, earlier elements resurface. They’re reincorporated. This interconnectedness gives stories a sense of unity. Things that appeared earlier take on new significance later in the story.

Reincorporation requires you to remember details as they arise. What words have been spoken? What things have been done? What characters, objects, and locations have shown up? Keep a mental inventory of the details as they arise. As the story progresses, look for ways to connect earlier elements to the present moment.

Reincorporation can sometimes be a daunting task. However, there are things you can do to make it easier.

Build the world – When a story is getting started, you don’t need to reincorporate right away. Focus on the story world. Explore the present moment. Let one thing lead to another. Establish the world before you start reincorporating.

Note the details – While you’re building the world, note the details that show up along the way. Here are some things to look out for.

Characters – Remember characters as they appear or are mentioned. In addition to the major roles, note the minor ones too.

Key phrases – When someone says something noteworthy—a bit of wisdom, a promise, a perspective—remember their specific words.

Physical details – When an interesting physical detail shows up, make a mental note. It might be a prop, a token, or a set element. Locations are also important to remember.

Mini-moments – Keep your eyes peeled for small, significant moments between characters. When you see one, remember it.

You don’t need to remember a massive list of details. A handful is plenty. Nor do you need to know how the elements will be reincorporated. Just have them at the ready for later on.

Link to the past – As the world of the story becomes established, start reincorporating. See what’s happening and link something from the past to the present moment. Creating these connections is easy because your brain is great at finding connections.

Let’s try a little experiment. Assume there’s a connection between Louisa’s puppy, Sparky, and something that happens at her wedding. What ideas come to mind? How might her dog and her wedding be connected? Does Sparky trot down the aisle with the wedding rings on his collar? Does he bark when the minister says, “Speak now or forever hold your piece?” Maybe he eats the wedding cake? When you assume that there’s a connection, it’s easy to link past elements to the present moment.

Come full circle – As you near the end of a story, reincorporation can pay off in a big way. It’s satisfying when something from the very beginning of the story reappears at the end. As the story wraps up, look backward. What element from the beginning can be reintroduced at the end?

At the beginning of the story, John is on a plane, petrified about flying. His story takes him through all kinds of adventures that test his courage. The end of the story finds John on a plane once again, only now he is sleeping like a baby.

Reincorporation weaves threads from the past into the present, creating the fabric of a satisfying story.