Storytelling and the Circle of Audience Expectations

From the very instant you start to tell a story the audience will begin to expect things. If you can work with those expectations they will stay with you through your story.

Let’s imagine a story that starts with someone cutting carrots.

The audience is now expecting to know who the people in the story are, how they know each other and where they are. They are making assumptions, thinking ahead and filling in the gaps in your story.

Audiences love when their assumptions line up with what you’re telling them. Let them say, “ I knew it!”

The way you help the audience is by being obvious not original with the progression of your story. Being obvious is within the circle of trust, the realm of possibility. Obvious is plausible.

Being original jars the story and threatens your relationship with the audience. Don’t confuse this with an original story — we’re talking about original ideas, ideas that come out of left field…