Nested-Loops

The Princess Bride begins with a grandfather reading a book to his sick grandson. Inside that book is the story of Westley and Buttercup. But that story contains another story—the legend of the Dread Pirate Roberts. Three stories, nested inside each other like Russian dolls. This technique—nested loop narrative—is one of the most elegant ways to add depth, resonance, and meaning to your stories. But it’s also one of the easiest to mess up. ...