<ul><li>Structure. Make use of a story spine to tell a unique story: Once upon a time, there was [blank]. Every day, [blank]. One day [blank]. Because of that, [blank]. Until finally [bank].</li><li>Purpose: Why must you tell this specific story? What greater purpose does this serve? What does it teach?</li></ul>By creating a story that you are passionate to tell because it serves a real purpose, your stories will have a larger impact on the world.

Great stories have a clear structure and purpose

What makes modern stories compelling are when our perceptions of reality are challenged or changed in some way. Often the topics or themes are unexpected. One way to manage this is to get rid of the 1st thing that comes to mind, then the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 5th.  Creators like Pixar and Walt Disney use animated movies as vehicles to address real-life issues. Movies such as Brave, Coco, Tangled, and Moana helps us to understand and reflect on big, human-centred topics.

Great stories are surprising and unexpected

Creators naturally want to include as much information as possible in their stories. We pack in too many plot twists and dialogue and characters, adding unnecessary layers. Instead, Pixar's advice is to combine characters and skip over detours. One way to find out if your story is easy to follow is to tell it to a friend or family member. Watch their face as you read it and try to see where they pause and what questions they might have.

Great stories are simple and focused

People want to root for you (the main character) and they love a good underdog.  When your character is battling against all odds or facing adversity, you have yourself the makings of a great story. In our current society, everyone loves a good "rags to riches" story.

Great stories have a character to root for (an underdog)

Psychologists recognise six basic emotions: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise.  These emotions are characters in the movie. The more you understand how/when your own emotional levers are pulled, the more you’ll appreciate how that works in others.

Great stories appeal to our deepest emotions

Great storytelling is about taking a piece of the human condition such as birth, growth, conflict, and putting it in a new situation.  When you tell a story about an event in your life that made you feel a certain way, you want your audience to get that same feeling. One way to do this is to pull apart the stories you like. Break down every little element about what you love about the story.

Great stories are universal

Effective storytelling involves a deep understanding of human emotions, motivations, and psychology in order to truly move an audience. Luckily, storytelling is something we all do naturally…

Great stories have a character to root for (an underdog)

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6 Rules for Great Storytelling

How to tell a great story

Rules of storytelling, according to Pixar