Storytelling isn’t the most important skill in 2023.
Here’s why:
(don’t learn it)
Here’s why:
(don’t learn it)
What everybody got wrong about storytelling (including you)?
It’s not a skill.
It’s a mindset.
Not even going into monk mode and learning it for 6 months straight will do anything.
Yes, you’ll be a better writer.
That’s for sure.
But a better storyteller?
Absolutely not.
It’s not a skill.
It’s a mindset.
Not even going into monk mode and learning it for 6 months straight will do anything.
Yes, you’ll be a better writer.
That’s for sure.
But a better storyteller?
Absolutely not.
If you want to understand how good storytelling works, you have to understand how good WRITING works.
Because using a framework won’t turn your text into a story.
Neither does it transform you into a storyteller.
Good WRITING in itself has different purposes:
Because using a framework won’t turn your text into a story.
Neither does it transform you into a storyteller.
Good WRITING in itself has different purposes:
🔸3 Purposes of Good Writing:
- Functional
- Emotional
- Aspirational
Stories?
Combine all three.
Let's take a look at them:
- Functional
- Emotional
- Aspirational
Stories?
Combine all three.
Let's take a look at them:
A) Functional writing
- simple language
- effortless to read
- no technical terms
- easy to understand
Writing here has no other purpose than being a mean to an end.
You want the reader to UNDERSTAND what you’re trying to tell them.
- simple language
- effortless to read
- no technical terms
- easy to understand
Writing here has no other purpose than being a mean to an end.
You want the reader to UNDERSTAND what you’re trying to tell them.
B) Emotional writing
- enjoyable
- pleasure to read
- sense of belonging
- relatability with the author
This goes more into the storytelling direction.
And yet…
You want the reader to feel ENTERTAINED and RELAXED.
In other words: Brain off.
- enjoyable
- pleasure to read
- sense of belonging
- relatability with the author
This goes more into the storytelling direction.
And yet…
You want the reader to feel ENTERTAINED and RELAXED.
In other words: Brain off.
C) Aspirational writing
- inspirational
- makes you think
- challenges your beliefs
- literally how @thedankoe writes
Your writing is intended to bring mental clarity.
You want the reader to have an EPIPHANY.
Mental effort?
Quite high.
- inspirational
- makes you think
- challenges your beliefs
- literally how @thedankoe writes
Your writing is intended to bring mental clarity.
You want the reader to have an EPIPHANY.
Mental effort?
Quite high.
“But Julie… What is a story then?”
The combination of all three.
The reader is supposed to:
- understand your message effortlessly
- connect with your story on a deeper level
- have a mindset shift
You cannot learn these.
Or at least you cannot learn how to COMBINE these.
The combination of all three.
The reader is supposed to:
- understand your message effortlessly
- connect with your story on a deeper level
- have a mindset shift
You cannot learn these.
Or at least you cannot learn how to COMBINE these.
You still want to become a storyteller?
Well, fine.
Ask these questions first:
- What is a story altogether?
- Do stories exist without getting told?
- Do stories exist without playing in our heads?
I’m sharing my answer in the next tweet.
Stop here and write YOURS down.
Well, fine.
Ask these questions first:
- What is a story altogether?
- Do stories exist without getting told?
- Do stories exist without playing in our heads?
I’m sharing my answer in the next tweet.
Stop here and write YOURS down.
Sorry.
I’ve lied to you.
Because my answer means NOTHING,
My mindset?
Won’t take you anywhere.
But don’t think I’ll leave you alone by now.
Some advice you will need:
I’ve lied to you.
Because my answer means NOTHING,
My mindset?
Won’t take you anywhere.
But don’t think I’ll leave you alone by now.
Some advice you will need:
It’s not about how you TELL the story.
It’s about how you PERCEIVE what has happened.
- Spirit
- Details
- Energy
- Feelings
- Thoughts
- Nuances
- Presence
It’s about what moves you inside, not the characters.
It’s about how you PERCEIVE what has happened.
- Spirit
- Details
- Energy
- Feelings
- Thoughts
- Nuances
- Presence
It’s about what moves you inside, not the characters.
Because that’s exactly what everybody got wrong:
Making it about the characters.
The problems and challenges.
The plot.
Truthbomb:
Nobody cares about the problem.
The transformation.
The drama.
Making it about the characters.
The problems and challenges.
The plot.
Truthbomb:
Nobody cares about the problem.
The transformation.
The drama.
You as a storyteller aren’t supposed to write down a great story.
You are supposed to transform
- boring activities
- day-to-day life
- "insignificant" moments
into something THAT MATTERS.
How you do that?
Well…
By sensing what matters.
You are supposed to transform
- boring activities
- day-to-day life
- "insignificant" moments
into something THAT MATTERS.
How you do that?
Well…
By sensing what matters.
❌I nstead of writing about:
- actions
- conflicts
- dialogues
your job is to extract the most important:
- epiphanies
- mood swings
- change in behavior
How you do that?
- actions
- conflicts
- dialogues
your job is to extract the most important:
- epiphanies
- mood swings
- change in behavior
How you do that?
By becoming part of it.
Part of the story.
Because...
Life exists without getting told.
Life just happens.
But a story?
Only exists when somebody is telling it.
Amplifying the message.
Which means…
Part of the story.
Because...
Life exists without getting told.
Life just happens.
But a story?
Only exists when somebody is telling it.
Amplifying the message.
Which means…
Stories inevitably have storytellers.
It’s only up to you
- what metaphors you use
- what details you highlight
- how to add your personality
If you want to learn storytelling in 2023…
Don’t.
Instead:
It’s only up to you
- what metaphors you use
- what details you highlight
- how to add your personality
If you want to learn storytelling in 2023…
Don’t.
Instead:
Learn to observe, not react to other people.
Learn about the way your mind works.
What details stand out to you.
What moves YOU inside.
How you think.
Don’t keep a storylog.
Keep a journal.
Learn about the way your mind works.
What details stand out to you.
What moves YOU inside.
How you think.
Don’t keep a storylog.
Keep a journal.
Recap:
- Storytelling isn’t a skill
- Stories combine function, emotion & inspiration
- It’s not about how you tell stories, but how you perceive what has happened
- Don’t tell what matters, take something and make it matter
- Storytelling isn’t a skill
- Stories combine function, emotion & inspiration
- It’s not about how you tell stories, but how you perceive what has happened
- Don’t tell what matters, take something and make it matter
- It’s about what doesn’t meet the eye at first sight
- Understand what moves you inside and makes you think
- Keep a journal (!)
- Understand what moves you inside and makes you think
- Keep a journal (!)
Now…
Before you keep on scrolling, two things:
1. Follow me @thejulieahrens if you want to learn how to make YOUR story matter.
2. RT the first tweet to eliminate those cookie-cutter “stories” from our timelines ASAP.
Thanks ;)
Before you keep on scrolling, two things:
1. Follow me @thejulieahrens if you want to learn how to make YOUR story matter.
2. RT the first tweet to eliminate those cookie-cutter “stories” from our timelines ASAP.
Thanks ;)
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