One of the best storytellers of our time: Ira Glass.
He tells stories to over 5,000,000 people per week.
I deep dived into his interviews to discover his secrets.
Here’re the 7 lessons I found:
He tells stories to over 5,000,000 people per week.
I deep dived into his interviews to discover his secrets.
Here’re the 7 lessons I found:
Start in the Action
The right story can move mountains, but first – you need to grab attention.
How?
Strong hooks. Use:
• Curiosity
• Surprise
• Shock
Start with the problem and your audience remains for the resolution.
The right story can move mountains, but first – you need to grab attention.
How?
Strong hooks. Use:
• Curiosity
• Surprise
• Shock
Start with the problem and your audience remains for the resolution.
Story is Sequential
Build your story block by block: this happened, so X, but Y, then Z.
The result is a journey that builds momentum and suspense.
Form gives the impression of a final destination. Bring your audience for the ride.
Build your story block by block: this happened, so X, but Y, then Z.
The result is a journey that builds momentum and suspense.
Form gives the impression of a final destination. Bring your audience for the ride.
Questions
The problem with attention?
It fades. Fast.
Questions keep engagement. They open subconscious loops your reader can’t help but close.
There’re 2 ways to do this well 👇
The problem with attention?
It fades. Fast.
Questions keep engagement. They open subconscious loops your reader can’t help but close.
There’re 2 ways to do this well 👇
1) DIY
Think: what's the next logical question for your reader at this step of the story?
Then ask it.
2) Triggers
Tease what comes next.
This way, your audience asks the question. Not you. Self-driven curiosity is the most powerful.
The previous tweet has both examples.
Think: what's the next logical question for your reader at this step of the story?
Then ask it.
2) Triggers
Tease what comes next.
This way, your audience asks the question. Not you. Self-driven curiosity is the most powerful.
The previous tweet has both examples.
Moments of Reflection
Stories must have a point—a bigger picture.
• Share lessons
• Show interesting ideas
• Challenge their worldview
Your audiences' focus is a gift. The message is how you pay it back.
Stories must have a point—a bigger picture.
• Share lessons
• Show interesting ideas
• Challenge their worldview
Your audiences' focus is a gift. The message is how you pay it back.
Emotion
Storytelling is powerful because it makes us feel. And emotion precedes action.
You can motivate your audience to purchase products, think differently and alter their behaviour.
A great tip from @SahilBloom
Before writing, ask:
What response am I trying to trigger?
Storytelling is powerful because it makes us feel. And emotion precedes action.
You can motivate your audience to purchase products, think differently and alter their behaviour.
A great tip from @SahilBloom
Before writing, ask:
What response am I trying to trigger?
@SahilBloom Don't be Self-Centred
The most important rule of storytelling:
You are not the hero. Your reader is.
There’s a fine balance between a story and a diary entry. Or a success story and a brag.
To get it right, make sure your story isn’t just ‘me’ and ‘I’ – but ‘you’.
The most important rule of storytelling:
You are not the hero. Your reader is.
There’s a fine balance between a story and a diary entry. Or a success story and a brag.
To get it right, make sure your story isn’t just ‘me’ and ‘I’ – but ‘you’.
@SahilBloom Sound Human
Stories are the oldest form of communication.
But it's easy to turn into a robot when talking through one. The result?
Your audience can't relate.
Record yourself reading your story and play it back. Then, edit it until it flows conversationally.
Stories are the oldest form of communication.
But it's easy to turn into a robot when talking through one. The result?
Your audience can't relate.
Record yourself reading your story and play it back. Then, edit it until it flows conversationally.
@SahilBloom The Journey
Glass is an expert storyteller, but he started from the bottom.
His advice:
Building your own story takes time. Most quit too early.
So, commit to a deadline. Focus on volume. See failure as part of success.
And keep creating. It will be worth it.
Glass is an expert storyteller, but he started from the bottom.
His advice:
Building your own story takes time. Most quit too early.
So, commit to a deadline. Focus on volume. See failure as part of success.
And keep creating. It will be worth it.
Thanks for reading.
If you enjoyed this, drop me a follow:
@itskierandrew
I'll help you write effectively and leverage storytelling for the digital age.
If you enjoyed this, drop me a follow:
@itskierandrew
I'll help you write effectively and leverage storytelling for the digital age.
When you create online, you write your story in real time.
Differentiating yourself is essential.
That's why I've created a guide that helps you define your niche differently so you can stand out from the crowd.
Get it here free:
writersniche.carrd.co
Differentiating yourself is essential.
That's why I've created a guide that helps you define your niche differently so you can stand out from the crowd.
Get it here free:
writersniche.carrd.co
If you know anyone who'd benefit from better storytelling, scroll on up and share this thread.
Or click below and up you go.
Or click below and up you go.
https://twitter.com/ItsKieranDrew/status/1487094397883797505
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
