Storytelling Secrets: How to Craft a Narrative That Actually Keeps People Awake
You know that moment when someone starts telling a story, and halfway through, you’re mentally planning your grocery list? That’s bad storytelling—and it happens way too often. Whether you’re writing a blog post, pitching a screenplay, or awkwardly explaining why you were late to dinner, good storytelling is what separates the compelling from the cringe-worthy.
And here’s the kicker: every story needs structure, stakes, and a bit of chaos. Let’s break it down.
1. Start With a Bang (Not a Yawn)
The opening line of your story should hit harder than your morning espresso. Think about it: why do people binge-watch shows? Because the first scene grabs them by the eyeballs.
Examples of Killer Openings:
- “The morning my landlord’s goat broke into my apartment, I knew it was going to be a weird day.”
- “I didn’t mean to steal the CEO’s parking spot—but that’s how I landed the biggest deal of my career.”
- “If I’d known aliens were allergic to peanut butter, I wouldn’t have packed that sandwich.”
Pro Tip:
Start with action, conflict, or intrigue. Nobody cares about “another normal day.”
2. The Power of the 3-Act Structure
Even if you’re not writing the next Inception, your story needs structure. The classic 3-act structure works because it’s intuitive and keeps readers hooked.
- Act 1: The Setup – Introduce the problem, the characters, and the stakes.
- Act 2: The Conflict – Things get messy. Challenges, obstacles, and drama abound.
- Act 3: The Resolution – Wrap it up with a bang. Leave readers satisfied—or reeling.
Random Reference:
Ever notice how The Lion King follows the same structure as Hamlet? Coincidence? Nah. The 3-act structure works for everyone—even animated lions.
PS for novels, I prefer the 4-act structure because there's more meat in the middle section... here's a 24chapter outline if you want to dig deep.
3. Make People Care (Seriously)
Nobody gives a damn about your story unless you give them a reason to. It’s not about what happened; it’s about why it matters.
How to Build Emotional Stakes:
- Relatable Characters: They don’t have to be perfect—they just need to feel real.
- High Stakes: What happens if the hero fails? What’s at risk?
- Emotion: People remember how a story made them feel.
Example:
“I missed the deadline” is boring.
“I missed the deadline, lost my client, and realized I hated my job” hits harder.
4. Add a Twist (People Love Twists)
Predictable stories are fine for bedtime, but if you want your audience engaged, throw in a curveball.
Twist Examples:
- The hero’s mentor turns out to be the villain.
- The big win comes at a terrible cost.
- The aliens weren’t invading—they were fleeing something worse.
Pro Tip:
Subtle twists work too. The best twists don’t feel like twists until you think about them later.
5. Keep It Tight (Nobody Likes a Rambler)
Ever hear a story that takes forever to get to the point? Don’t be that storyteller. Every scene, sentence, or detail should serve a purpose.
Cut the Fat:
- If it doesn’t build the world, move the plot, or develop the characters, it’s gotta go.
- Remember, less is more. (Unless you’re Tolkien, but even he might’ve overdone it with those damn trees.)
6. Random Story Time: How I Got Kicked Out of a Screenwriting Class
I once wrote a screenplay about a digital nomad who discovers their Airbnb is haunted by a failed YouTube influencer. The professor told me it was “too niche” and suggested I “stick to more relatable stories.” So naturally, I doubled down and added a subplot about alien SEO bots trying to sabotage the influencer’s channel.
Lesson learned? Ignore people who say your story is too weird. The world is full of bland content—be the writer who stands out.
7. End With Impact
Your ending should leave people thinking, laughing, crying, or googling “how to be a better storyteller.” Whether it’s a mic drop or a tear-jerker, make it memorable.
Great Endings:
- Resolve the conflict (or don’t, if you’re going for dystopian vibes).
- Bring it full circle. Callbacks to your opening are chef’s kiss.
- Leave a hint of mystery. People love imagining what happens next.
Final Thoughts: Every Story Matters
Storytelling isn’t about being fancy or perfect. It’s about connection, emotion, and making people give a damn. Whether you’re writing a novel, crafting a blog post, or telling your friends about the time you accidentally joined a cult (don’t ask), your story deserves to be told well.
So go out there, write something wild, and remember: nobody remembers the boring stories.
Check out FixYourFiction for more writing tips!
AI writing for writers (this is easy!)
Ok the truth is... writing used to be very hard and people studied for a long time to get better. Copy writing, blog writing, sales and conversion... even freaking bestsellers are quickly becoming the special provenance of the AI overlords. They're just real good at this shit. The trick is, somebody who knows what they need and want (with the experience of what makes "good" writing) will always achieve way better results than a newb who presses a button. So even though I'm aghast, horrified and also titillated that AI is coming for my special skillset, I'm also pretty confident I can use it better than anybody else.
I'll probably post some AI writing prompts and stuff somewhere eventually... with chatGPT I'll usually say - be personal, tell an authentic story or anecdote, share emotions and internal dialogue, add specific scene detail and description - and it's amazing at generating an AI story for some random thing (like... I have this article about a dentist shop in Boston... how do I work in a fun eccentric story about getting pooped on by a seagull and relate that to online marketing. It can do a LOT of the creative work for you if you prompt it in the right direction.0
