How do you make your stories come to life?

Most stories center on a single person (or a few people) -- however, the REAL story is about how they respond to forces larger than themselves. The emergence of a new technology, the fading out of an older culture, etc. When you're clear on what those larger forces are, your 'characters' will be more vibrant.

One great tip for bringing stories to life is making the right word choices. You want to go for sensory words rather than weak words. Sensory words breathe life into your story and invite your audience to imagine. They not only read the story but can picture it. That makes them a part of the story. in summary: Show, don't tell.

All of the stories I tell with my clients are designed to move people to action...to buy, to invest, to hire, or to join a revolution. The first 3 questions I ask a client in a story interview are: 1. What do you want this audience to DO? 2. What do you want them to FEEL? 3. What pain can you relieve for them? When we are clear on these, now we just have to build the story that points in this direction. If we aren't clear on these questions, there's no use writing a story until we are.

Clarity of thought is essential before you start drafting your story. Apart from the message you want to convey, you also need to understand your audience and know what resonates with them. Aligning the theme of your story with the purpose and message not only helps in maintaining clarity but also ensures you can analyse the success of your goals.

To make stories interesting, use lots of details and feelings. Think about people and things you know, and put those in your stories. This makes them real and exciting for others to read.

It’s easy to lose sight of structural fundamentals when drafting complex narratives and just meander all over the place without purposeful pacing. I’ve definitely learned the hard way after sending early memoirs to editor friends! They’d be like, “Um, amazing diction but where is this thing going?” 😅 Working story structure elements consciously - the twisting journey, thematic threads, tension peaks and releases - helps writers intentionally carry readers somewhere as scenes unfold. No aimless wandering across the literary landscape allowed! But so many genres can still flourish within or around that classic 3-act miracle. We just have to know the guiding principles before deliberately bending them.

Beyond the classic story arc, the 3D Story Framework, Desire-Difficulty-Denouement, is a potent tool in business storytelling, especially relevant in complex B2B products. This structure—outlining goals (Desire), articulating challenges (Difficulty), and presenting solutions (Denouement)— can not only be used in brand narratives but also in internal communications to align teams and externally to clarify WHY a customer should care. B2B marketing powered by storytelling transforms complex technical concepts into engaging journeys, resonating with both technical and business audiences (quite possibly your buyers!). This approach doesn’t just share information; it crafts compelling stories that foster understanding and engagement.

Bringing stories to life is impossible without using a storytelling structure. In my unique storytelling model - the sprout model - I layout of 6 layers which you should be walking your storytelling through before delivering it. These 6 layers are: 1. Impact - know the impact you wish to make 2. People - know your audience and how you want to make them feel 3. Start Point - Lay out the context and direction 4. Main Event - introduce the challenge / opt and action 5. End Point - close out with clarity and conclusion 6. Nurture - fill your storytelling with creativity, energy and perspective

Most of the stories you tell in front of your friends or at work should, ideally, be between 1- 3 minutes long. Longer than that people often get bored. You need a structure that works but is not too complex. Over the years, I’ve developed a short but powerful structure called CART. It consists of: 1. Context 2. Adversity 3. Resolution 4. Takeaway Think of your story structure like a CART in the supermarket. It holds together all the awesome elements (/ingredients) of your story.

Select a narrative structure that best suits your story and engages your audience. Consider options such as chronological, linear, nonlinear, or episodic storytelling, depending on the complexity and nature of your narrative.

Become more human with your storytelling. While writing, keep asking yourself: “What’s an example of that?” “What do I mean by that?” “What exactly might that look like in real life?” Go from "I like travelling and exploring." to (better) "Well, I loved Bali and any island, really." to (best) "I love finding exotic places where food is spicy, and people are warm — all while knowing I can enjoy the beach in the morning and a spiritual ritual in the afternoon." Don't pull readers into facts, pull them into sensory-charged settings.

Incorporate sensory details such as sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to immerse your audience in the story. Describe settings, characters, and events in vivid detail to evoke a sensory experience and bring your story to life.

This is the best way to create imagery in storytelling. A gripping storyline when combined with sensory details takes it to a while new level. The reader must be virtually transported to the scene by the imagery created with apt sensory details. This writing takes practice, a lot of it. But it's a game changer. One must put oneself in the shoes of the reader when writing the minute details. Do try this!

The senses are a wonderful way to tap into the human nature of your audience. If you are able to combine these - it can make a real impact. Storytelling in retail stores, at live events and experiences, offer great ways to ignite human senses. On tip of this also consider hormones ... certain storytelling techniques will also elicit the release of certain hormones which will in turn aid your storytelling impact.

Sensory details are an excellent way to bring stories alive. Using words which depict sensory details help. for eg. - to depict something that fell from a height and split into pieces, we can use a sound word "CRASHHHHHHHH" - to show something that tastes heavenly, we can say, "Ummmmm" - to show something that's itchy, show yourself scratching the body. When we add sensory details, the audience can see the story happening before their own eyes.

You can connect with your audience by showing them what you’re feeling and your perspective. Give details and use adjectives that describe what you are trying to convey. By using actions and emotions, your audience can make connections with you. They can feel the story and remember it long after they read it.

"Show, don't tell" is a storytelling mantra that breathes life into your narrative, allowing readers to experience the story rather than being told about it. Instead of outright stating emotions or details, use actions, dialogue, and emotions to paint a vivid picture. Let's delve into the transformation of a simple statement: Telling: "He was angry." Showing: "He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his face turning red." The latter not only conveys anger but immerses the reader in the visceral experience of it. Rather than stating facts, employ descriptive elements that evoke sensory experiences. Let your readers decipher and connect the dots, fostering a more engaging and participatory reading experience.

Show, don't Sell. When you overtly try to sell something with your story, you lose power dynamic with your audience. They see you as a seeker. They should see you as a giver. When it comes to showing your story. Show them the promised land. Show them what life would look like, with and without your idea. Let them 'feel' that contrast. Your choice of words, your expressions all play a big role in your audience feeling that contrast.

2 primary ways to do show, not tell. 1. Use the 3 Ds: Detail-Most writers (self included) forget the details like time, season, place, etc. Description-Pain a picture with words to place your audience in the action. Dialogue-Recall what was said (as close as you can) to make the event more engaging. 2. Engage the 5 Senses Most people tend to over-rely on Sight, but give attention to the other 4 senses when doing description/detail - Sound, Taste, Smell, Touch. Adds layers of dimension to a story.

Stories come to life through tools of storytelling. Emotions, Metaphors, Idioms & Visualisation helps the storyteller to make the story engaging and flavourful. Sensory words have the power to breathe life into stories and entice the audience. Whenever you are narrating or writing the story the magical trick is to run the story in your mind, visualise it event by event and connect with it, that’s how we bring life to a story!

The tone and voice you use in storytelling are crucial. Ensure your readers grasp the message easily; avoid sounding overly intellectual. Be genuine, authentic, and let your passion guide you. Your storytelling should mirror your values and worldview, which becomes evident when you sincerely pursue your passion.

Using different words, sentences, and tones brings up the new life to the story. Change up your language with synonyms, metaphors, and similes to avoid being repetitive. Mix short and long sentences, and try both active and passive voice for pace and tension. Use various tones like humor, drama, or sarcasm to show your attitude. This variety adds richness and depth to your storytelling, making it more engaging and vivid.

It doesn’t matter what you say. It matters how you say. People buy with emotions and justify with logic. The good news is you can vary your language to tap into different emotions: 1. Using *connection* to sell: 👉🏼 Join a community of women who love to stand out. 2. Using *empathy* to sell: 👉🏼 I know how it feels to be invisible. 3. Using *influence* to sell: 👉🏼 Imagine taking charge of your day. The way we feel about a topic can completely change the way we talk about it. So decide how you want your audience to feel and then tap into those emotions.

In general, wouldn’t it be more exciting to listen to an epic rock ballad, rather than a church hymn? (Hint: how many of your friends get the aux cord and play hymns?) The point is, there’s so much potential that can come from your writing “instrument;” confidently push towards the narrative horizon like an old world explorer sailing west. Failing to do so is to be forgettable in the mind of the reader.

Vary your language, painting with a palette of words that ranges from the subtle hues of introspection to the bold strokes of passion. The melody of your prose should ebb and flow, creating a symphony of emotions that resonates in every reader's heart.

I believe that getting an emotional connection with your audience would be very beneficial for getting feedback. To keep your audience on the very edge of their seat, incorporate unexpected turns or surprises. Adapt your narrative to the people that will be reading it. By getting to know their tastes, passions, and expectations, you can create stories that really speak to them.Build suspense by purposefully omitting details or adding intriguing elements.

Expanding Feedback Channels for Richer Narratives: Feedback should come from various sources for crafting impactful B2B narratives. In-depth research, personal interviews, and targeted surveys offer diverse perspectives vital for nuanced storytelling. Additionally, partnering with sales teams to solicit feedback from existing B2B customers can provide practical insights. This multifaceted approach to feedback helps balance technical detail with engaging storytelling, tailoring our narratives to communicate with tech-savvy and business-focused audiences more effectively.

This is crucial. I sent my own book out to beta readers and advance readers, and their input was crucial. I also spent years coaching storytellers for a live event series and taught a faith storytelling class at my church. As a business book author, you have to make sure that your recommended principals and approach stand the test of time and explain any variance between personalities or circumstances.

Seek feedback, for the mirror of others' perceptions, can reveal hidden facets of your narrative. Constructive criticism shapes your story, moulding it into a masterpiece that resonates with diverse hearts, inviting readers into a shared journey of discovery and reflection.

Nothing beats actual feedback. Solicit feedback from your sparring partners, peers, actual audience on the delivery style and technique. Be open to constructive criticism and take them as stepping stones for improvement. Record yourself on video and review them to create awareness on what works well and what doesn't.

Emotion is one of your biggest assets in storytelling. Not only does it make your story come to life, but allows your audience to feel something. Whether you want to make your audience feel inspired, motivated, excited or anything else - the emotion YOU convey through your words is what will draw the reader in. Here's how you can create emotion through your words: 1) Your tone of voice 2) Through specific words you use 3) Through personal examples or stories Most importantly, YOU need to feel that emotion. Your audience can feel when an emotion is authentic or forced. If you feel an emotion, they will too.

For a business story to be effective, there are 3 key elements 1. Facts 2. Context 3. Emotion Stories are facts wrapped up in context and delivered with emotion to make it memorable and bring the facts to life.

There are many wonderful ingredients you can use to inspire your stories and bring them to life. Emotion, creativity, data, energy, visualisation, different perspective, all of these will help to further enrich and give your story much needed vibrancy.

Autenticidade! Cada história tem uma voz única, e capturar essa autenticidade é essencial para criar uma conexão genuína com o público. Isso envolve aprofundar-se nas emoções, experiências e perspectivas dos personagens, tornando-os seres tridimensionais com os quais o público pode se identificar. Além disso, reconhecer a força do inesperado e incorporar reviravoltas inovadoras pode elevar significativamente o impacto da narrativa. A habilidade de equilibrar elementos familiares com surpresas cativantes é uma marca registrada das histórias memoráveis. Finalmente, a arte de contar histórias é uma jornada contínua de aprendizado e adaptação, exigindo a disposição de explorar novas técnicas e estilos para manter a criatividade sempre viva.

For the love of all that's written, introduce some tension to your story. When you add an element that is actively fighting against your character's completion of that journey, be it an antagonist, the environment, or their own minds, you start to introduce a series of emotional elements that combine to create a story that is truly compelling.