A bit basic for some, I know.
But the basics are there for a reason: they work. They are the building blocks of mastery. Here are 8 Proven Techniques That Every Storyteller Needs to practice.
From the more popular to the lesser known…
1: The Hero’s Journey (Monomyth)
It’s the classic journey, responsible for successes like the first Star Wars trilogy. Many say it’s old and past.
But it still works because it resonates with our deepest desires and aspirations.
2: The Mountain
Build anticipation with a clear goal (the mountaintop) and rising stakes to keep them hooked.
It works very well in combination with the Monomyth.
3: Nested Loops
Or, as Richard Bandler calls them in NLP, stories inside stories. Create layers of complexity and intrigue with smaller stories within your main narrative.
It takes a while to master, but it makes longer stories more engaging.
4: Sparklines
Alternate key moments with brief bursts of information or action. A constant rollercoaster of emotions and information.
Successful public speakers often use this to keep the audience awake.
5: In Medias Res
Throw your audience right into the heart of the action. Arouse curiosity and make them yearn to understand how they got there.
You see this used more and more in movies and contemporary novels.
6: Converging ideas
This is often used in marketing and in politics. Show a single idea or product from many different points of view, telling different stories.
All the stories connect to the central idea, while reinforcing it.
7: False start
You start in a very predictable way, but you quickly change into something new that disrupts expectations. A very dangerous technique because, if you don’t start well, you can alienate part of the audience.
But, if you can keep them glued until you reach the twist, you have them in your hand.
8: Petal Structure
Start from the center. Then tell different stories, one after the other, that connect to the center. Then go back to the center.
With this technique, you can give great depth even to simple stories.