Use This Easy Formula to Write Better Stories
So you’re not a natural-born writer.
It’s OK. It doesn’t mean you can’t become one.
The first rule of thumb is to remember that every great story involves a transformation in the main character. If that person is you, you need to show your audience how you changed. If that person is your customer, the same theory applies.
This could be a good or bad change, but the point is your audience wants to see an evolution from where you started or else you risk the story being straight up BORING. So the opposite of the Super Bowl Halftime show this week OOKKKKK???
When I’m trying to decide what moments to keep in my stories and I’m overwhelmed, I do this simple exercise to evaluate whether the moment is worth keeping:
- Write down the PIVOTAL moments in your backstory, the customer journey, your brand story, etc… that in hindsight you go “THAT” was a BIG deal.
- These moments could be happy, sad, funny, traumatic. Don’t judge them at first. Just get your pen flowing.
- Next to each moment assign a “BEFORE”, “DURING” & “AFTER” section.
- Before: This is how my world used to be.(swap my for “my customer”, “my business” or whatever story you’re trying to write.)
- During: This is how my world changed.
- After: This is what happened in my world after [INSERT MOMENT].
- You now have a rough sketch of key, transformative moments that could be a part of the story you’re trying to write.
If you can’t apply the “BEFORE-DURING-AFTER” formula to a moment, then ditch it.
Because also remember this, the key to amazing storytelling is ruthless AF editing.
Let me know if you find this exercise helpful!
