S2 E7 - Storytelling: Tips on how to successfully tell a good story
Espresso and Earl Grey
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Telling Good Stories
Stories are foundational in our understanding of how the world works, and what humanity is like.
The art of telling a good story lies in distinguishing it from just an 'event' by adding tension.
This is done by adding a mission, a bad guy, and a good guy.
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Story vs. Event
An event is simply something that has happened. It's the headline to the article.
"Little Red Riding Hood took cookies to her grandma" is an event, but it's not yet a story.
A story is more. It's the substance of the article. It makes the listener engage. It transforms their understanding. There is conflict and tension that needs to be resolved.
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The Mission
Every story needs a why. A driving force. A goal for the protagonist to accomplish. A reason for the plot to progress.
This needs to be established early to engage the audience.
"Little Red Riding Hood went to take cookies to her Grandma" is the establishing motive.
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785 reads
The Bad Guy
Every story needs a bad guy. Not necessarily a villain, just something that will establish tension. It's a barrier to the mission. Something that will put the mission at risk.
It's the first "but" moment in your story.
"Little Red Riding Hood went to give cookies to her Grandma, but there was a Wolf who wanted to eat Red Riding Hood" adds the tension to the story. It established the conflict.
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The Good Guy
Every story needs a good guy. For the catharsis, each story needs a resolution. A way for the mission to be accomplished and the bad guy to be overcome.
It's the second "but" moment in the story.
"Little Red Riding Hood went to take cookies to her Grandma, but there was a Wolf that wanted to eat her. But then a Huntsman came and killed the Wolf, saving Riding Hood and Grandma" is finally a story. The mission is accomplished and the bad guy is overcome.
Every story needs these three aspects and make up the basics of storytelling.
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