The Midnight Sky Shows Why “Ambiguity” Is Just Lazy Writing

As writers, it’s our responsibility to tell a complete story, not outsource our job to the audience.

I’ve been pondering this question lately: are writers obligated to tell a complete story?

While there’s a place for ambiguity, in this writer’s personal opinion, writers trying to be ambiguous more often end up just telling an incomplete plot, and their story lacks the satisfaction they were likely going for. This latest George Clooney film, based on the novel by Lily Brooks-Dalton and adapted by Mark L. Smith, is a perfect example of that phenomenon — and as such fails to deliver emotional punch — because it doesn’t tell you what’s really going on.

Before we dive in, this isn’t a movie review. In this case, The Midnight Sky is simply a catalyst for writing about something that’s been on my mind. So, let’s drop a couple definitions.

1. When I say plot, I’m referring to the events and actions the writer puts together to pull us through the experience.
2. When I say story, I’m referring to the meaning conveyed by the writing; it’s basically the intersection of the characters and their journeys colliding into the plot.