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We are all born storytellers. Society corroded us, but it’s possible to regain our original storyteller self.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-man-and-woman-playing-with-their-child-3819567/
Ever heard a kid narrating a story?
Next time you witness it, treasure it! You’ll learn so much from the narration. It is the purest form of what we call narrating from a clear vantage point (laser-sharp perspective). A lot of adults struggle with storytelling, but the same people were masters at it when they were kids (they’re just not aware of it).
Something tells me — storytelling is not a skill to learn. It’s a skill that teaches you how to unlearn everything that stops you from becoming the natural storyteller you are.
Beware! Many of the pointers below will make you feel like your childlike “self” again. And if you feel like being the child again, you’re going in the right direction.
Here’s your quick guide to unbecoming a “mature” adult and reigniting your inner child back into existence:
Find your authentic AF voice. We all start by imitating other writers to tell stories like they do. We really crave the freedom they enjoy. It’s a great way to start—imitate them word by word (as a writer) or shot by shot (as a filmmaker or an artist). You’ll realize you can’t, but you’ll still go ahead and do it—and end up bumping into your voice.
Write like you’d talk to a friend. Are you constantly thinking if I say this, what will my friend think? What will his mother or her dog think about me? If you do, you’ve some serious problems to deal with before you upskill your storytelling game. If not, use the same relaxed, conversational style in your writing — and help readers feel instantly connected to you.
Hit ’em with a zinger right off the bat. I love KFC Zinger Burgers! But that’s a story for another time. The internet has been talking about the attention economy for a while now. You don’t have time, your readers don’t have time, and nobody really has any time—but if you’re telling a story, you need someone to consume it. And your headline and opening need to be as juicy, with the cheese dripping — as the zinger from KFC.
Fuse your words with mad enthusiasm. Writing isn’t just about sharing information — it’s about sharing energy. Figure out what excites you about a certain subject/ topic/ story and make sure you let that excitement flow within your writing — there’s no way your readers don’t feel the same excitement.
Create a “can’t-stop-won’t-stop” body of work. I know some beginner writers who call themselves writers (and that’s cool) but when I check their accounts — they have just two blogs from 2018 — not cool at all. The idea is to create a content library. The goal isn’t just to get the readers hooked on one piece — it’s to draw them in with one great story, then make them want to read everything else you’ve written.
Every story needs a serious transformation. At its core, every great story is about change. Show your main character going through a major transformation. Bonus points if it’s a change that surprises the reader! And you make it a memorable story if after reading your story, the reader realizes that the change was inevitable — this makes them replay the entire story in their minds and attempt to make sense of the story again.
Learn the art of “slow burn” reveal. Hints and clues at the beginning of the story (also known as foreshadowing), an intriguing question here, and a cryptic reference there — these elements help seed a questions (also known as dramatic questions in fiction) in the minds of the readers. Do it in the beginning of your story — then make the audience wait for the answer. By the time you finally give them what they want to know, they’ll be dying for it.
Write the stories that make you feel something. If you don’t feel anything, your readers won’t either. Remember the 4th point? Writing is a transfer of energy and emotions — you have to feel it to make someone else feel it.
Opening is just the tip of the iceberg. A strong opening hooks the readers. But it’s not enough to just hook. Great storytelling is about making the readers go through great emotional experiences. Story structure, character arcs, understanding that showing something in one sentence is way more impactful than telling it in a paragraph — all these elements culminate into a fulfilling storytelling experience.
Steal from the greats (outside your bubble). Don’t limit your learning to other writers — expand the content library you consume! Analyze how your favorite comedians craft their jokes, or how those addictive binge-worthy Netflix shows structure their stories. Inspiration can come from anywhere if you’re open to it.
Puke out that first draft like there’s no tomorrow. I call it vomit draft and I love to get rid of it ASAP. Writer’s block kills storytelling momentum — so make sure you have plan to execute a perfect murder of the stuff that blocks your writing. How to kill writer’s block? Just let the words flow without judging or second-guessing yourself. Once you do it enough, you’ll realize a single word written has enough power to kill any kind of writer’s block.
Storytelling is a muscle, so flex it in on the paper gym regularly.
The more you write, the more your storytelling instincts will become a second nature. Every time you write, challenge yourself to improve one specific element in your technique.
I followed 1% progress rule (from Atomic Habits) when I wrote consistently for 1010 days. I didn’t care how I wrote — I just believed if I wrote every single day, I’d become 1% better writer the next day.
Last
I used to believe if I wrote all my ideas, one day I’ll be left with none. But it’s exactly the opposite —
“Storytelling is a renewable resource. The more you explore your imagination, the richer it becomes (appears).”
I’ll leave you with the most inspiring words someone told me when I was at the lowest point of my creative career — almost at the edge of quitting — that’s when a stranger (who didn’t even know me) read a small piece of writing that I published online. She said—
"We need you. We need you to do what only you can do. Please don’t succumb to your circumstances, or else you won’t be able to help the people going through exactly what you’re going through. Your stories are precious. You might not be saving the world with your stories, but saving a life is nothing less either."
I hope this inspires you as much as it inspired me.
