Storytelling is a high ROI marketing and life skill.
Sadly, most people suck at it.
But If you avoid these 7 common mistakes, I guarantee you wonโt:
Sadly, most people suck at it.
But If you avoid these 7 common mistakes, I guarantee you wonโt:
1/ Don't have a clear through-line
Before you start writing...
Can you explain your story in 1 or 2 sentences?
If not, your story is doomed to fail.
Even a complex story like Inception is very simple at its core.
Before you start writing...
Can you explain your story in 1 or 2 sentences?
If not, your story is doomed to fail.
Even a complex story like Inception is very simple at its core.
2/ Over-explain the story
Your audience doesn't want you to explain everything.
They want to experience the story.
And fill in the puzzle themselves.
It's the well-known advice "show, don't tell."
Your audience doesn't want you to explain everything.
They want to experience the story.
And fill in the puzzle themselves.
It's the well-known advice "show, don't tell."
3/ Don't evoke empathy
We're all afraid of not fulfilling our full potential in life.
That's why we resonate so much with Walter White from Breaking Bad.
Because seeing a brilliant guy ending his life as a high-school teacher...
Makes us empathize with him.
We're all afraid of not fulfilling our full potential in life.
That's why we resonate so much with Walter White from Breaking Bad.
Because seeing a brilliant guy ending his life as a high-school teacher...
Makes us empathize with him.
4/ Don't evoke emotions
Stories are only powerful when you make people feel something:
- Fear
- Anger
- Joyful
- Sadness
And the only way to make people feel these emotions...
Is to feel them yourself when writing the story.
Stories are only powerful when you make people feel something:
- Fear
- Anger
- Joyful
- Sadness
And the only way to make people feel these emotions...
Is to feel them yourself when writing the story.
5/ Don't raise the stakes
How bad things can get if the hero doesn't get what she wants?
The higher the consequences, the more engaging the story is.
That's how you get your audience to care.
How bad things can get if the hero doesn't get what she wants?
The higher the consequences, the more engaging the story is.
That's how you get your audience to care.
6/ Don't have a theme
What's the moral of your story?
What's the point you're trying to make?
Without a clear theme, your story will lose direction.
And it will also lose your audience's interest.
What's the moral of your story?
What's the point you're trying to make?
Without a clear theme, your story will lose direction.
And it will also lose your audience's interest.
7/ Don't create tension
People crave tension because it creates anticipation.
When you remove certainty and stability...
Your audience can't help but stay to see what happens next.
Alfred Hitchcock is a master at creating tension:
youtube.com
People crave tension because it creates anticipation.
When you remove certainty and stability...
Your audience can't help but stay to see what happens next.
Alfred Hitchcock is a master at creating tension:
youtube.com
7 storytelling mistakes:
1/ Don't have a through-line
2/ Over-explain the story
3/ Don't evoke empathy
4/ Don't evoke emotions
5/ Don't raise the stakes
6/ Don't have a theme
7/ Don't create tension
Avoid these, and you'll level up your storytelling game in no time.
1/ Don't have a through-line
2/ Over-explain the story
3/ Don't evoke empathy
4/ Don't evoke emotions
5/ Don't raise the stakes
6/ Don't have a theme
7/ Don't create tension
Avoid these, and you'll level up your storytelling game in no time.
Now get writing!
If you found this useful:
1. Follow me @giannicara for more on storytelling
2. RT the tweet below to spread this knowledge:
If you found this useful:
1. Follow me @giannicara for more on storytelling
2. RT the tweet below to spread this knowledge:
I'm building the personal brand of a $150M entrepreneur...
While guiding 5 creators to get their first $10K on Twitter.
And I share the behind-the-scenes in my weekly newsletter:
getrevue.co
While guiding 5 creators to get their first $10K on Twitter.
And I share the behind-the-scenes in my weekly newsletter:
getrevue.co
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