Social Media Storytelling Formulas: 11 Quick-Fire Ways to Create Your Stories

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Social Media Storytelling Formulas: 11 Quick-Fire Ways to Create Your Stories

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Three-Act Storytelling Structure

One of the oldest and most straightforward storytelling formulas:

Setup: Set the scene and introduce the character(s)
Confrontation or “Rising action” : Present a problem and build up the tension
Resolution: Resolve the problem

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Five-Act Storytelling Structure

Also known as Freytag’s Pyramid:

Exposition: Introduce important background information
Rising action: Tell a series of events to build up to the climax
Climax: Turn the story around (usually the most exciting part of the story)
Falling action: Continue the action from the climax
Dénouement: Ending the story with a resolution.

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Before – After – Bridge Storytelling Formula

Before: Describe the world with Problem A.
After: Imagine what it’d be like having Problem A solved.
Bridge: Here’s how to get there.

Set the stage of a problem that your target audience is likely to experience ( a problem that your company solves). Describe a world where that problem didn’t exist. Explain how to get there or present the solution (i.e. your product or service).

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Problem – Agitate – Solve Storytelling Formula

Problem: Present a problem
Agitate: Agitate the problem
Solve: Solve the problem

First, you present a problem. Second, instead of presenting the “After”, you intensify the problem with emotional language. Finally, you solve the problem by offering your product or services.

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Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle

Why: Why the company exists (Why are you in this business? What motivates you)
How: How the company fulfills its Why
What: What the company does to fulfill its Why (i.e. your products and services).

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Dale Carnegie’s Magic Formula for storytelling

Incident: Share a relevant, personal experience, to grab your audience’s attention.
Action: Describe the specific action taken to solve or prevent a problem, showing that a change was needed.
Benefit: State the benefits of the action/change.

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Dave Lieber’s V Storytelling Formula

Introduce the character;
Bring the story to its lowest point;
Turn it around and finish with a happy ending.

Once you introduce the character of the story, describe how things went awful for him/her, using emotions to draw your audience into your story. At the lowest point of the story, turn things around, describe how things improved, and end the story on a high note.

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Star – Chain – Hook Storytelling Formula

Star: An attention-getting, positive opening
Chain: A series of convincing facts, benefits, and reasons
Hook: A powerful call-to-action.

The star grabs your audience’s attention. The chain turns your audience’s attention into a desire. The hook gives them something actionable to fulfill their desire.

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The Story Spine: Pixar’s Award-Winning Formula

Once upon a time there was.... Every day, ... One day, ... Because of that, ... Because of that, ... Until finally, ...

The idea is to introduce a character or a group of character, describe their usual routine, present a twist that disrupts their daily lives, explain how they overcome it, and celebrate!

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The Hero’s Journey Storytelling Formula

Departure: A hero receives a call to go on an adventure, receives advice from a mentor, and heads out on her journey.
Initiation: The hero meets a series of challenges but eventually completes the mission.
Return: The hero returns and helps others with her new found power or treasure.

This formula is used by many of the greatest storytellers including George Lucas for his Star Wars films!

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