One of the oldest and most straightforward storytelling formulas:<ul><li>Setup: Set the scene and introduce the character(s)</li><li>Confrontation or “Rising action” : Present a problem and build up the tension</li><li>Resolution: Resolve the problem</li></ul>

Three-Act Storytelling Structure

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

Star – Chain – Hook Storytelling Formula

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

Dave Lieber’s V Storytelling Formula

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

Before – After – Bridge Storytelling 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!

Pixar’s Award-Winning Storytelling Formula

<ul><li>Problem: Present a problem</li><li>Agitate: Agitate the problem</li><li>Solve: Solve the problem</li></ul>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.

Problem – Agitate – Solve Storytelling Formula

Also known as Freytag’s Pyramid:<ul><li>Exposition: Introduce important background information</li><li>Rising action: Tell a series of events to build up to the climax</li><li>Climax: Turn the story around (usually the most exciting part of the story)</li><li>Falling action: Continue the action from the climax</li><li>Dénouement: Ending the story with a resolution.</li></ul>

Five-Act Storytelling Structure

The Golden Circle is a narrative structure from Simon Sinek. His claim is   can be used as a guide to vastly improve every aspect of your business or organization—from leadership and hiring, to product development, sales, and marketing.<ul><li>Why: Why the company exists (Why are you in this business? What motivates you)</li><li>How: How the company fulfills its Why</li><li>What: What the company does to fulfill its Why (i.e. your products and services).</li></ul>

Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle

<ul><li>Departure: A hero receives a call to go on an adventure, receives advice from a mentor, and heads out on her journey.</li><li>Initiation: The hero meets a series of challenges but eventually completes the mission.</li><li>Return: The hero returns and helps others with her new found power or treasure.</li></ul>This formula is used by many of the greatest storytellers including George Lucas for his Star Wars films!

The Hero’s Journey Storytelling Formula

In a famous TED talk, Nancy Duarte presents the structure of a presentation made famous by Steve Jobs.<ul><li>What is: The status quo</li><li>What could be: The future that could be possible</li></ul>Go back and forth between the two and end off with a …<ul><li>New bliss: The wonderful future with your idea/product/service adopted.</li></ul>

Nancy Duarte’s Secret Structure of Great Talks

Dale Carnegie usues a more dramatic structure for storytelling<ul><li>Incident: Share a relevant, personal experience, to grab your audience’s attention.</li><li>Action: Describe the specific action taken to solve or prevent a problem, showing that a change was needed.</li><li>Benefit: State the benefits of the action/change.</li></ul>

Dale Carnegie’s Magic Formula for Storytelling

How to get someone else to feel a connection to you and your purpose. How to get them to empathise with your story.

problemsolving

Problem Solving

career

Career

communication

Communication

moneyandinvestments

Money & Investments

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

Persuasive storytelling

How do great presenters tell their stories

Legendary marketer, Seth Godin, describes marketing as "the art of telling a story that resonates with your audience and then spreads." If you look at some of the biggest brands around, you might notice that they are often amazing storytellers.