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The science of storytelling
A good story moves us
A good story can make us laugh or cry, our bodies can tense with a dramatic horror movie, or we are flooded with relief when the hero comes to the rescue. This experience is called transportation.
Transportation allows us to experience a story's movement through its characters. The characters' struggles and their rewards become our own.
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Key Ideas
Our brain on stories
A story can put your whole brain to work.
When we are being told a story, not only are the language processing parts in our brain activated, but any other area in our brain that we wou...
We are wired for storytelling
A story, if broken down into the simplest form, is a connection of cause and effect. And that is exactly how we think. We think in narratives all day long.
Giving suggestions
Exchange giving suggestions for telling stories.
A story is the only way to activate parts in the brain so that a listener turns the story into their own idea and experience.
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Persuasion through storytelling
Stories are a very integral part of being persuasive.
Stories trump data when it comes to persuasion because stories are easier to understand and relate to.
What makes a story engaging
- Suspense and “cliffhangers” allow you to create an addictive narrative;
- Creating detailed imagery;
- Using literary techniques for turning simple stories into memorable works of art.
- Change made easier by providing an example.
Characteristics of persuasive stories
- Delivery: matters as much as the content.
- Imagery: the brain “lights up” in reacting to imagery, truly transporting the reader to the events being described.
- Realism: poeple need a “human” element in the story that is easy for them to imagine.
- Structure: people prefer stories that follow a logical manner.
- Context: significant impact on the persuasiveness of a story.
- Audience: determine who you don’t want reading your content along with who you do.
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Storytelling is...
Why we tell stories
- Stories solidify abstract concepts and simplify complex messages;
- Stories bring people together: stories connect us through the way we feel and respond to them;
- Stories inspire and motivate, by tapping into people’s emotions and baring both the good and bad.
Good stories are …
- Entertaining. Good stories keep the reader engaged and interested in what’s coming next.
- Educational. Good stories spark curiosity and add to the reader’s knowledge bank.
- Universal. Good stories are relatable to all readers and tap into emotions and experiences that most people undergo.
- Organized. Good stories follow a succinct organization that helps convey the core message and helps readers absorb it.
- Memorable. Whether through inspiration, scandal, or humor, good stories stick in the reader’s mind.