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How To Tell A Story
5 Lessons In 5 Tweets
[ THREAD ]
Let’s go
5 Lessons In 5 Tweets
[ THREAD ]
Let’s go
1:
Stories Are About Transformation
If there’s no transformation, there’s no story.
People who are bad at telling stories omit this element.
They tell stories sequentially:
“First we did X. Then we did Y. Then we did Z...”
Stories Are About Transformation
If there’s no transformation, there’s no story.
People who are bad at telling stories omit this element.
They tell stories sequentially:
“First we did X. Then we did Y. Then we did Z...”
But we like stories not because we crave chronology.
We like them because they help us simulate in our own minds how we might adapt to entirely new life challenges.
In other words...
How we might “transform” ourselves.
Transformation.
We like them because they help us simulate in our own minds how we might adapt to entirely new life challenges.
In other words...
How we might “transform” ourselves.
Transformation.
2:
The Hero’s Goal Is The Engine Of The Story
Goals can be anything. They just need to be "big."
> Love
> Hope
> Wealth
> Respect
> Security
> Revenge
> Meaning
> Approval
The list goes on…
A hero’s goals are fundamental. Timeless. Universal.
The Hero’s Goal Is The Engine Of The Story
Goals can be anything. They just need to be "big."
> Love
> Hope
> Wealth
> Respect
> Security
> Revenge
> Meaning
> Approval
The list goes on…
A hero’s goals are fundamental. Timeless. Universal.
3:
Stories Have High Stakes
Ideally, the stakes are life and death.
Not literally. But the hero feels like they are.
If they don’t fulfill their goal, their life will be unimaginable.
Stories Have High Stakes
Ideally, the stakes are life and death.
Not literally. But the hero feels like they are.
If they don’t fulfill their goal, their life will be unimaginable.
4:
Every Story Has An Antagonist
Stories require transformation. Transformation means our hero reframes their relationship to their goal.
But in order for that shift in perception to arise, the story needs powerful antagonists who challenge our hero...
Every Story Has An Antagonist
Stories require transformation. Transformation means our hero reframes their relationship to their goal.
But in order for that shift in perception to arise, the story needs powerful antagonists who challenge our hero...
Only through a struggle with antagonistic forces is our hero forced to transform.
Antagonists can be anything: People. Spirits. Nature.
They don't need to be a villain...
They just need to be a powerful opposing force that stands in the way of the hero’s goal.
Antagonists can be anything: People. Spirits. Nature.
They don't need to be a villain...
They just need to be a powerful opposing force that stands in the way of the hero’s goal.
5:
At The Heart Of Every Good Story Is A Dilemma
Stories don’t have a problem that can be solved.
They have a dilemma...
At The Heart Of Every Good Story Is A Dilemma
Stories don’t have a problem that can be solved.
They have a dilemma...
A dilemma presents our hero with a difficult tradeoff.
- I must choose between the person I love and saving humankind
- I must choose between my desire to be liked and doing what’s right
- I must choose between the quiet life I lead and saving my community
- I must choose between the person I love and saving humankind
- I must choose between my desire to be liked and doing what’s right
- I must choose between the quiet life I lead and saving my community
Dilemmas can only be solved by a shift in perception.
Our hero has to reframe what they want:
“I thought I wanted X. But I now realize I wanted Y.”
Our hero changes their relationship to their goal. They surrender X. They shift their perception.
That’s transformation.
Our hero has to reframe what they want:
“I thought I wanted X. But I now realize I wanted Y.”
Our hero changes their relationship to their goal. They surrender X. They shift their perception.
That’s transformation.
Conclusion:
Storytelling is a massive and beautiful subject.
And, as a skill, it is "transformational" in business.
Here are some of the best books on the topic:
- The 90 Day Novel (Alan Watt)
- Story Physics (Larry Brooks)
- Story (Robert McKee)
Storytelling is a massive and beautiful subject.
And, as a skill, it is "transformational" in business.
Here are some of the best books on the topic:
- The 90 Day Novel (Alan Watt)
- Story Physics (Larry Brooks)
- Story (Robert McKee)
Would you like me to do a follow up to this thread showing an example of storytelling in business?
