Six Steps to a Compelling Story

Posted by Lynne Klippel on April 23, 2009

So you want to use the power of stories in your articles and books?

Great! Stories make your writing more interesting, teach via example, and help readers connect emotionally with your message. Readers remember stories longer than they remember facts or statistics.

Look to movies, classic novels, and fairy tales and you will begin to see patterns in each well-told story. Every successful story has a hero who goes on a journey, faces obstacles, receives help, and resolves the situation.

For example:

• Cinderella is mistreated by her family, wants to attend a ball, is helped by a fairy, attends the ball, and lives happily ever after once she marries her prince.
• Luke Skywalker is called to rescue a princess, goes on a journey through the galaxy, faces dangers, fights bad guys, is helped by Hans Solo and Yoda, and triumphs at the end.
• Harry Potter learns he is not an ordinary boy, goes to Hogwarts, meets new friends and helpful teachers, battles evil monsters and people, and wins the respect and admiration of his schoolmates.

To use a story in your writing, include these six classic story elements:

1. Set the scene
2. Introduce the characters
3. Begin the journey
4. Encounter the obstacle
5. Overcome the obstacle- generally with help
6. Resolve the story

These elements can be included in a short, single paragraph illustration or be the basis of an entire novel. While you can create fictional stories for your book, it’s easier to use stories that you’ve personally experienced so that you can convey them authentically.

Let me illustrate how this is done with a simple story I often tell:

Back in 2001, I was a struggling career coach. (Set the scene) My husband lost his job and all my clients downsized too. All were worried about divorce after job loss. (Introduce the characters) I decided to write a book to help them. (Begin the journey) However, I had never written a book before and had no idea what to do with it once it was written. (Encounter the obstacle) I found information and people who helped me learn how to publish and market the book successfully. (Overcome the obstacle with help) Once my book was done, I was featured in national media, local radio and TV, and attracted many paying clients and speaking opportunities. I learned the power of a book as a marketing tool. (Resolve the story)

Now it is your turn.

Create a short story that you can use in your next book, blog post or article using the six class story elements. Once you do, you will experience how easy it can be to create compelling stories in all your writing.