If you are digging the new STAR TREK film, or if you are a fan of Lost and its co-creator J.J. Abrams, check out his TED lecture wherein he explains how mystery is one of the most important motivating mechanisms in his storytelling.

Abrams falls into fast-talking director mode as he postulates on the inner-workings of LOST being one gi-normous mystery (What is the island? What is the smoke monster? What is Jacob?).  The inciting incident of STAR WARS…wherein R2D2 begins to play the hologram to Luke…sets up a mystery. JAWS and ALIEN – since the audience never gets a good look at the monster – propel their stories based on mystery.

All writers and members of the creative culturatti will want to view this short lecture.

Thanks to my buddy Eric Melin for pointing me (and now you) in the direction of this lecture.