September 3, 2024
I’ve analyzed 104 speakers to uncover the techniques they use to tell insanely good stories.
And I’ve found that there are five storytelling techniques they use the most.
To show these techniques, we’ll start with a fairly ordinary story.
As we progress, we’ll add one technique at a time.
You’ll see how these techniques can transform any average moment into a captivating story.
Let’s begin with the baseline story:
David had an exam coming up and planned to study all day.
But as he started, his phone kept buzzing with notifications.
Distracted, he couldn’t get any work done.
He shared his frustration with a friend, who recommended an app to block distractions.
In his next study session, David used the app.
He managed to study everything, took the exam, and got the best grade he ever received.
That was a pretty average story, right?
Now, let’s dive into the interesting stuff and transform that story.
The best storytellers create intrigue by raising questions in the listeners’ minds.
They don’t reveal everything immediately. Instead, they tease what’s to come through questions and hints.
This sense of mystery makes the audience eager to find out the answers.
Let’s revisit David’s story, this time using the “Raising Questions” technique:
On that day, David discovered a tool that would change his life forever.
He had an exam coming up and planned to study all day.
But as he started, his phone kept buzzing with notifications.
Distracted, he couldn’t get any work done.
Right at that moment, his friend stepped in to save the day.
The friend suggested an app to block distractions.
In his next study session, David used the app.
It turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened to him.
He managed to study everything, took the exam, and got the best grade he ever received.
Each of these sentences prompts questions:
Incorporate a few sentences in your story that make your audience curious about what happens next.
A simple way to make your audience care about your story is by revealing the stakes.
What does the character stand to gain or lose in this situation?
Why is achieving this goal or avoiding this problem so crucial?
Example:
David had an exam coming up and planned to study all day.
That exam would determine if he could study medicine and pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.
But as he started, his phone kept buzzing with notifications.
Distracted, he couldn’t get any work done.
He knew that if he didn’t get a handle on things, he might never get into medical school. Even worse, he might have to study law or accounting instead.
He shared his concerns with a friend, who recommended an app to block distractions.
In his next study session, David used the app.
He managed to study everything, took the exam, and got the best grade he ever received.
When you reveal the stakes, your audience becomes invested in the story. They’ll root for your character, eager to see how it all turns out.
But now, let’s explore a technique that appears in nearly every great story.
Many stories involve more than one character.
Perhaps there’s someone who helped you, someone who annoyed you, or someone who loved working with you.
By including dialogue, you can bring your story to life.
What were the exact words spoken during that pivotal moment?
Example:
David had an exam coming up and planned to study all day.
But as he started, his phone kept buzzing with notifications.
Distracted, he couldn’t get any work done.
After venting to his friend Sarah, she interrupted him and said:
“Stop right there. I know exactly what you need—an app to block distractions. It’s a game-changer.”
In his next study session, David used the app.
He managed to study everything, took the exam, and got the best grade he ever received.
A few days later, he called Sarah:
“Sarah, you won’t believe it—I got an A+! Thank you for the tip. This is the best day of my life!”
You can include a full conversation or just a single line from one character.
The key is to use concise and memorable language.
Outer dialogue is powerful because it’s simple yet impactful.
But don’t forget, there’s also inner dialogue.
The best stories evoke emotions—they make us laugh, cry, and feel inspired.
One way to add emotional depth to your story is by sharing the character’s inner thoughts.
What was the character thinking at that crucial moment? What were their hopes, fears, or dreams?
Example:
David had an exam coming up and planned to study all day.
He thought, “Today’s the day! I’ll be laser-focused, glued to my seat, and crushing these notes!”
But as he started, his phone kept buzzing with notifications.
Distracted, he couldn’t get any work done.
Immediately, he started blaming himself, thinking, “What’s wrong with you? You had the whole day, and you blew it. At this rate, you’ll definitely fail the exam.”
He shared his frustration with a friend, who recommended an app to block distractions.
In his next study session, David used the app.
He managed to study everything, took the exam, and got the best grade he ever received.
He thought, “Wow, this is amazing! I can’t believe I got an A+. My mom is going to be so proud.”
When speaking, we often try to sound sophisticated. But don’t do that when sharing thoughts.
Our inner dialogue is rarely polished—give us the raw, unfiltered version.
Inner dialogue is probably the technique I use most in my stories.
But there’s one more technique that can make your story even more emotional.
Emotions are crucial in storytelling.
The problem is that most people simply tell the emotion: “She’s happy, sad, disappointed, nervous,” etc.
These words aren’t very visual; we can’t really picture what “disappointed” or “proud” looks like.
Instead of telling, show the emotion.
How does the body or face change when someone experiences a particular emotion?
Example:
David stood in front of the library, biting his bottom lip.
He had an exam coming up and planned to study all day.
But as he started, his phone kept buzzing with notifications.
Distracted, he couldn’t get any work done.
Hiding his face in his hands, he confided in his friend.
The friend suggested an app to block distractions.
David’s face immediately lit up, a sparkle in his eyes.
In his next study session, David used the app.
He managed to study everything, took the exam, and got the best grade he ever received.
He stood tall, a big smile on his face, celebrating the moment.
To show emotions, ask yourself:
How do I physically react when I feel a certain emotion?
What happens to my body or face when I’m sad, nervous, or happy?
Or observe how your friends or family members react physically to emotions.
That’s it!
If you sprinkle in one, two, or even three of these five techniques, your stories will improve drastically.
Today, we covered storytelling techniques, but there are other areas like story structure and types of stories that you might want to master.
For that, check out the next article where I share How to tell better stories than 99% of people.
Enjoy!
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
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