The structures behind storytelling
How to use story arcs to create a personal brand worth millions:
How to use story arcs to create a personal brand worth millions:
Have you ever watched a movie that made you sit back and feel completely detached?
Have you ever read a book that took you deep into your imagination?
If so, you've fallen into a story arc.
Have you ever read a book that took you deep into your imagination?
If so, you've fallen into a story arc.
Stories are powerful capsules for delivering meaning.
We humans love to assign meaning to whatever we come across.
So, why do some films, books and brands resonate in a stronger way than others?
We humans love to assign meaning to whatever we come across.
So, why do some films, books and brands resonate in a stronger way than others?
It's because they studied their story and how to tell it.
Everyone - including you - and the story behind each of us typically falls into 1 of 6 primary story arcs.
What the hell are those?
Everyone - including you - and the story behind each of us typically falls into 1 of 6 primary story arcs.
What the hell are those?
Story arcs are what give stories meaning.
They show development and destruction.
They take you from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs.
They are the journey of giving meaning to a story.
They show development and destruction.
They take you from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs.
They are the journey of giving meaning to a story.
I'm going to go over the 6 arcs with you.
Once you know these, you'll know exactly how to frame your story for your audience.
You'll know how to get people to resonate with you on a fundamental level.
They won't be able to help themselves but follow you.
Let's take a look:
Once you know these, you'll know exactly how to frame your story for your audience.
You'll know how to get people to resonate with you on a fundamental level.
They won't be able to help themselves but follow you.
Let's take a look:
1. Rags To Riches
We all know this classic.
The protagonist starts off in a lowly environment and ascends to the top.
There will be a major challenge to overcome along the way.
This shows our protagonist's ability to push through no matter the obstacle.
We all know this classic.
The protagonist starts off in a lowly environment and ascends to the top.
There will be a major challenge to overcome along the way.
This shows our protagonist's ability to push through no matter the obstacle.
Famous film and book examples:
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Pride and Prejudice
- Matilda
Some celebrities whose tale matches this:
- Ed Sheeran
- JK Rowling
- Jim Carrey
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Pride and Prejudice
- Matilda
Some celebrities whose tale matches this:
- Ed Sheeran
- JK Rowling
- Jim Carrey
2. Riches to Rags
This is the opposite of our first arc.
The one who lost it all.
This shows a character who became blinded by a certain side of wealth, only to lose it all.
This is the opposite of our first arc.
The one who lost it all.
This shows a character who became blinded by a certain side of wealth, only to lose it all.
Famous film and book examples:
- Catcher in the Rye
- Animal Farm
- Quicksilver
Celebrities with this tale:
- Bernie Madoff
- Elizabeth Holmes
- Elvis Presley
- Catcher in the Rye
- Animal Farm
- Quicksilver
Celebrities with this tale:
- Bernie Madoff
- Elizabeth Holmes
- Elvis Presley
3. Man in a Hole
This is one of the most classic story arcs of all time.
The protagonist starts high, falls into despair then finds their way back to the light.
This is one of the most classic story arcs of all time.
The protagonist starts high, falls into despair then finds their way back to the light.
Famous film and book examples:
- The Hobbit
- Alice in Wonderland
- Finding Nemo
Examples of famous people:
- Steve Jobs
- James Altucher
- Ulysses S. Grant
- The Hobbit
- Alice in Wonderland
- Finding Nemo
Examples of famous people:
- Steve Jobs
- James Altucher
- Ulysses S. Grant
4. Icarus
Do you know the story of Icarus?
It's a Greek tale of a boy who attempts to escape imprisonment on an island.
He builds a set of wax wings, only to fly too close to the sun...
In an Icarus plot, we start low, rise high then fall once again.
Do you know the story of Icarus?
It's a Greek tale of a boy who attempts to escape imprisonment on an island.
He builds a set of wax wings, only to fly too close to the sun...
In an Icarus plot, we start low, rise high then fall once again.
Examples in films and books:
- The story of Icarus
- The Old Man and the Sea
- Titanic
- Jurassic Park
Many celebrities fall prey to this after allowing fame to go to their head.
- The story of Icarus
- The Old Man and the Sea
- Titanic
- Jurassic Park
Many celebrities fall prey to this after allowing fame to go to their head.
5. Cinderella
This, along with Rags to Riches, is one of the most common plot lines we see.
A protoganist emerges from nothing, rises to the top, falls due to unforeseen circumstances then rises back to the top.
This, along with Rags to Riches, is one of the most common plot lines we see.
A protoganist emerges from nothing, rises to the top, falls due to unforeseen circumstances then rises back to the top.
Examples in films and books:
- Cinderella
- Jane Eyre
- Frozen
This framework is what a lot of you will know as the Hero's Journey.
While it can have more layers, this is the fundamental journey.
- Cinderella
- Jane Eyre
- Frozen
This framework is what a lot of you will know as the Hero's Journey.
While it can have more layers, this is the fundamental journey.
6. Oedipus
The dark sibling of the hero's journey.
Start high. Fall. Rise again, only to fall at the finish.
The dark sibling of the hero's journey.
Start high. Fall. Rise again, only to fall at the finish.
Examples in books and films:
- The Sun Also Rises
- Frankenstein
- Moby Dick
- The Godfather
- The Sun Also Rises
- Frankenstein
- Moby Dick
- The Godfather
Knowing this, you will be able to fit your story into one of these structures.
JRR Tolkien liked to believe that every story has been told and we all borrow from 'The Cauldron of Story'.
JRR Tolkien liked to believe that every story has been told and we all borrow from 'The Cauldron of Story'.
If you examine your life, you'll fit into one of these frameworks.
Once you know this, you can start to tell your story with focus and clarity.
People will resonate with you on a fundamental level as they have done with the examples I mentioned.
Once you know this, you can start to tell your story with focus and clarity.
People will resonate with you on a fundamental level as they have done with the examples I mentioned.
I'll leave you with this beautiful quote from Sylvia Plath:
βPerhaps some day I'll crawl back home, beaten, defeated. But not as long as I can make stories out of my heartbreak, beauty out of sorrow.β
βPerhaps some day I'll crawl back home, beaten, defeated. But not as long as I can make stories out of my heartbreak, beauty out of sorrow.β
Thanks for reading, gang.
If you enjoyed this one, follow me @TheWritersGift
If you want to help the thread along, follow the link below to the first tweet and RT
Have a great day, writers.
If you enjoyed this one, follow me @TheWritersGift
If you want to help the thread along, follow the link below to the first tweet and RT
Have a great day, writers.
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