Some people describe reading as being similar to watching a movie in their head. Scientists long have wondered how the brain creates such vivid experiences out of simply viewing strings of letters. Typically, studies have focused on one small aspect of language. Word length, perhaps, or how complex a sentence is. A study has now evaluated all levels of reading, from word length and order, to plot, character and emotion. And it did so all at once. Its new results reveal some of the ways that our brains turn words into vivid stories.