Arguably the most important component in any work of art is the story. Elements such as prose, brushstrokes, cinematography, choreography et al, although imperative in their own right, are different sets of tools that bear a supplementary role in service of a larger construct.
Keeping in mind the decisive part story plays, especially in mediums like literature and cinema, it is worthwhile familiarizing yourself with the different techniques that have gained popularity over time. A very basic distinction regards the crucial element of time and divides narratives between linear and nonlinear. The nonlinear narrative has been a staple of storytelling with the first recorded instances going back to Homer.
This has the advantage of keeping the viewer engaged and in a constant state of trying to figure out how the developments that take place fit into the glimpse of the future he or she is already privy to.
