Storytelling is a game of psychology.
10 tricks rooted in psychology to make you a better storyteller:
“Jenga” storytelling
Pulp Fiction, Saving Private Ryan, and Slumdog Millionaire do this.
They begin with the end.
This tactic makes the audience wonder how they get to the end.
It creates a sense of mystery, a need to fill in the gap in the story.
An open loop.
Pulp Fiction, Saving Private Ryan, and Slumdog Millionaire do this.
They begin with the end.
This tactic makes the audience wonder how they get to the end.
It creates a sense of mystery, a need to fill in the gap in the story.
An open loop.
“But, Therefore”
The creators of South Park say:
“If we take the beats of your outline, and the words ‘and then’ belong between those beats… you got something pretty boring.
What should happen between every beat you’ve written down is the words ‘therefore’ or ‘but.”
The creators of South Park say:
“If we take the beats of your outline, and the words ‘and then’ belong between those beats… you got something pretty boring.
What should happen between every beat you’ve written down is the words ‘therefore’ or ‘but.”
And implies a simple continuation.
But implies conflict.
Therefore implies progress.
Your audience gets hooked on conflict or progress.
While your audience gets bored with the same ol’ thing.
But implies conflict.
Therefore implies progress.
Your audience gets hooked on conflict or progress.
While your audience gets bored with the same ol’ thing.
Use the word “Not”
In Storyworthy, Matthew Dicks shares an example:
“I am dumb, ugly, and unpopular.
I’m not smart, I’m not good looking, and no one likes me.”
He says, “Unlike the first sentence, which only offers single descriptors, the second sentence offers a binary.”
In Storyworthy, Matthew Dicks shares an example:
“I am dumb, ugly, and unpopular.
I’m not smart, I’m not good looking, and no one likes me.”
He says, “Unlike the first sentence, which only offers single descriptors, the second sentence offers a binary.”
Shared language
Muggles, mudbloods, and squibs.
None of these words are real, yet I bet 90%+ of you know what they mean.
Your words become like a secret whispered between you and your audience.
They say, “We know what these words mean. Those other people, they don’t.”
Muggles, mudbloods, and squibs.
None of these words are real, yet I bet 90%+ of you know what they mean.
Your words become like a secret whispered between you and your audience.
They say, “We know what these words mean. Those other people, they don’t.”
Combine ideas
The show Yellowstone combines elements of:
– Classic American westerns
– Medieval kingdom dramas
– Political thrillers
Alone, none of those are new.
But together…
“When you combine things you’re not supposed to combine, people get interested.” - @Naval
The show Yellowstone combines elements of:
– Classic American westerns
– Medieval kingdom dramas
– Political thrillers
Alone, none of those are new.
But together…
“When you combine things you’re not supposed to combine, people get interested.” - @Naval
Make a Promise
My favorite way to view a hook is as a Promise to your audience.
Your story is the “Progress.”
And your climax is your “Payoff.”
Great breakdown: youtube.com/watch?v=-hO7fM…
My favorite way to view a hook is as a Promise to your audience.
Your story is the “Progress.”
And your climax is your “Payoff.”
Great breakdown: youtube.com/watch?v=-hO7fM…
Shape your story
Humans gravitate to structure. Luckily, there are tons to wrap around your story:
• Hero’s Journey
• Story Circle
• Three Act
The goal of a story structure is to let the characters shine through.
This is the plot outline Christopher Nolan used for Inception (read the book ‘The Nolan Variations’).
Humans gravitate to structure. Luckily, there are tons to wrap around your story:
• Hero’s Journey
• Story Circle
• Three Act
The goal of a story structure is to let the characters shine through.
This is the plot outline Christopher Nolan used for Inception (read the book ‘The Nolan Variations’).
Signposts
Chapter titles, transition words, countdowns.
Each of these are “signposts.”
Your audience has gotta know where they are in your story.
A lost audience = a bored audience.
Use signposts to keep them on track.
Chapter titles, transition words, countdowns.
Each of these are “signposts.”
Your audience has gotta know where they are in your story.
A lost audience = a bored audience.
Use signposts to keep them on track.
The Rule of 3
3 is the smallest number of elements needed to create a pattern.
Connect 2 points, you have a line.
Connect 3 points, you might have a line. Or a squiggle. Or a triangle.
It depends on how you, the storyteller, connect them.
More: worldbuilders.ai/p/rule-three
3 is the smallest number of elements needed to create a pattern.
Connect 2 points, you have a line.
Connect 3 points, you might have a line. Or a squiggle. Or a triangle.
It depends on how you, the storyteller, connect them.
More: worldbuilders.ai/p/rule-three
Create a villain
Take it from a legend:
“A protagonist in a story can only be as intellectually fascinating and emotionally compelling as the forces of antagonism make them.” — Robert McKee
Batman needs The Joker. Not the other way around.
Take it from a legend:
“A protagonist in a story can only be as intellectually fascinating and emotionally compelling as the forces of antagonism make them.” — Robert McKee
Batman needs The Joker. Not the other way around.
I talk about storytelling, writing and creativity.
Follow @nathanbaugh27 for more.
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