You’re Not A Bad Storyteller: You Just Need This Framework
The guy who taught Disney how to tell stories
Storytelling is the currency of the modern era.
Tell great stories and you’ll build a brand, a presence and a community that will allow you to make a career out of doing something you love. But the question is, how do you tell great stories?
In 1985, writer Christopher Vogler compiled the stages of the hero’s journey in a 7-page memo for Disney that became a golden standard guide for storytelling.
It’s the guide I use every time I’m thinking about telling a story. Here’s the breakdown:
1. Show the ‘ordinary world’
“If you’re going to tell a story about a fish out of his customary element, you first have to create a contrast by showing him in his mundane, ordinary world.”
Show before so you can contrast with after. Don’t assume your reader knows your surroundings. Explain where you are, what you’re doing, what’s around. So when you look back, they can see how far you’ve come.
2. The call
“In STAR WARS, it’s Princess Leia’s holographic message…
