Writing Engaging Fictional Narratives

You’ve heard the advice, “Use stories in your presentations because people respond to stories!” Great advice. BUT… Your story won’t grab your audience’s attention and communicate your message unless it has these 6 elements. In fact, it could even have the opposite effect! Every story you use as the foundation of your high-stakes presentations needs to have: 1. A logical structure. A story needs a beginning, middle, and end with clear turning points between each section. Don't just jump between ideas randomly. Map your presentation flow on paper first so you can physically move sections around. The most persuasive structure builds toward your most important point. 2. An Emotional structure. In the middle of your story, create a rise of conflict where tension builds. This might be when your audience realizes their current approach isn't working or market conditions are changing rapidly. Plan moments where this tension rises before providing a cathartic resolve. Your audience will stay engaged through this emotional journey from tension to resolution. 3. A clear goal. The protagonist in your story must have something they're seeking–an objective that drives the narrative forward. In your presentation, position your audience as the hero pursuing something important. Whether it's reconciliation of different viewpoints or finding the solution to a pressing problem, make sure this goal is crystal clear. 4. Meaningful conflict. Every story needs the hero to face obstacles. This conflict might be with themselves, with others, with technology, or even with nature.  When preparing your presentation, identify what's standing in the way of progress. Is it internal resistance? Market challenges? Technical limitations? Acknowledging these conflicts shows you understand the real situation. 5. A resolution. Every narrative needs to resolve the conflict, though resolution doesn't always mean a happy ending. It could end positively (comedy), negatively (tragedy), or be inconclusive, requiring your audience to take action to determine the outcome. For business presentations, this inconclusive ending can be particularly effective as it prompts decision and action. 6. A lesson worth learning. While rarely stated explicitly (except in fairy tales), every story teaches something. Your presentation should leave your audience with a clear takeaway about what approaches to emulate or avoid. The quality of your story often determines the quality of your high-stakes presentations. Take time to really think through the stories you’re using. Hand-selecting the best ones will help you leave a lasting impact on your audience. #Presentation #StorytellingInBusiness #PresentationSkills

Joshua Essoe is an experienced fiction editor whose insights on storytelling have helped countless writers perfect their craft. In his latest book, "Pacing and Cutting," Joshua explores the pacing of great stories—how to control momentum, master the timing, and captivate your audience. In our conversation, Joshua shares: 🔸 The subtle art of pacing and why it's more than just speed 🔸 Practical examples from films like "Memento" and "Fight Club" 🔸 Common mistakes authors make that derail their stories' momentum 🔸 Why flashbacks can either enhance or disrupt your narrative 🔸 How white space on a page affects reader engagement Learn more 👇 Watch: https://bit.ly/41Zg6QR Read: https://bit.ly/4i06Z78 Listen: https://apple.co/3FR9A5Y Some key takeaways: 1. PACING ISN'T JUST ABOUT SPEED—it's how your story unfolds. Good pacing means strategically placing story beats to keep your readers engaged and to build tension. 2. BALANCE YOUR BEATS—hitting the same note repeatedly (e.g., constant action scenes) can exhaust your readers. Varying the emotional intensity of your scenes keeps readers happy. 3. USE FLASHBACKS WITH CARE—they stop forward momentum, so make sure they add real value, such as character development or plot points. 4. USE WHITE SPACE STRATEGICALLY—readers need visual breathing room on the page. Creating white space can improve readability and keep your readers moving through your story. Joshua Essoe's insights will change how you read—and write.

Don't dumb down your writing or storytelling. For one of my novels, my editor told me I was giving too much stage direction. I was overexplaining things readers could figure out on their own. All these years later, her words have stayed with me and changed how I write. Trust your reader. They're smarter than you give them credit for. In fiction, this means you don't need to explain everything about your characters. If two musicians are talking during rehearsal let the dialogue feel natural and authentic, in a way musicians talk to each other. Your reader wants to feel like they're part of the scene. If the drummer mentions not being able to find the key to tune their floor tom, don’t explain what that is. The reader will figure it out or look it up on their own if they choose. Another example: if a character is angry, don't tell me they're angry. Show me what they do when they're angry. Maybe they stay quiet or storm off. Maybe they're snarky in a response. Or they grab a snack, realizing they were hungry, which unfortunately made them hangry. The same applies to other writing, for example, for your job. Let’s say you’re writing a coworker’s bio. Don't tell me they’re passionate about their community. Instead, give me an example of something they’ve done. Maybe your coworker delivered meals to families in need every other Monday for four years while getting their engineering degree. Don't think for your readers. If you give them a chance to come to conclusions on their own, they’ll thank you for it. (And, hopefully, hang on to every word you’ve written!) #writing #storytelling #publishing #smolkinwritingtips

When it comes to content, everyone talks about the hook. That first line that grabs your attention. But your brain doesn’t care about the first line. It cares about dopamine. See, the human brain isn’t built for attention, it’s built for anticipation. The promise of what’s next. The reward just out of reach. That’s why I'm no longer focused on “hooks.” But rather something I recently learned more about, which are Hook Points. The moments throughout your content that keep people watching, because their brain NEEDS to see what comes next. Here’s how the psychology works 1. Future Pacing Tell them the best part is coming. Their brain will stick around to find it. 2. Unresolved Problems Open a loop, then delay the resolution. Tension creates retention. 3. Situational Relatability Describe something your audience is already thinking. The brain rewards recognition with trust. 4. Context Framing Show the end at the start. Their brain wants to complete the pattern. 5. Storytelling Stories activate emotion and mirror neurons — our brains can’t look away from what feels human. 6. Controversy Conflict spikes adrenaline. Agreement feels safe, but friction fuels engagement. 7. Novelty The dopamine hit of “new.” Same idea, different angle, new wiring. 8. Insight Give them the aha moment. The second their perspective shifts, they’re yours. 9. Five Senses Paint with texture. Brains remember movement, color, sound, not bullet points. 10. Common Enemies Unite people around what they reject. Shared frustration = shared identity. Attention doesn’t come from algorithms. It comes from biology. All the time scrolling and every “wait, wtf happens next?” That’s our brain tripping out on curiosity and closure. The best creators don’t chase virality. They design for dopamine flow. So next time you post, don’t just write a hook. Build Hook Points. Because the new win is keeping attention and not just reeling it in.

Use the Five Ms to Report and Write Narrative Preparing to write a story or feature piece—particularly one that involves dramatic narrative (what John Franklin called “chronology with meaning”)—starts like most writing projects: look for the who, what, where, when, why, and how. Then create a structure suitable for the essentials of info. Narrative, though, needs more than the 5Ws and the H. Every writer I know who’s tried to write narrative using them has found herself with, maybe, an outline ready for narrative. But thin on the reporting resources to fill it. And having great writing chops is no escape hatch. Trying to compensate for a lack of reporting with brute-force writing leads to sentimentality, theatrics, and (all too often) making stuff up. So how can you prepare to write narrative? My approach is to gather and write using the “five Ms”: main character, momentum, moments, mood, and meaning. They’re not exhaustive. But along with the 5Ws and H, they help me focus my attention, interviews, and planning for narrative writing. How do they work? Here are some things I’m looking for. Main character: Whose story is it? - Who will the reader follow? - What do they want and why? - Who are they before, behind, and beyond the problem? (Are they flat or round characters? *See comment) - How can I bring the reader close enough to see how they act, think, and feel? Momentum: What sends the story into motion: a problem, question, desire? - What’s the intended pace of the story (a static lecture hall, a brisk walking tour, or a breakneck, breathless action movie)? - Does the story feel like it’s moving toward something? - What supplementary events will help “rev the engine” as the story unfolds? -How do my writing choices—word choice, word order, and punctuation—adjust the momentum when needed? Moments: Where and when did certain things happen? - What key moments did I observe or capture, or what do I need to recreate them? - What order do they need to occur in? - How close will the reader be to them (in a hot air balloon, down the block, over the character’s shoulder)? - How will I transition from one moment to the next? Mood: What do I want the reader to feel? - Have I given thought to the mood? - If key moments were set to music, what kind? - Does the mood compliment or clash with the story? - Am I forcing the mood on the reader, or am I letting it result from my writing choices? Meaning: What does it mean? - What’s the story about beyond the specific angle? - What’s universal about it? - What’s a six-word summary for the story? Fold these into what you’re looking for and how you draft, and I promise you’ll feel more supported to write a compelling narrative. #writing #storytelling #writingcommunity #healthcaremarketing #contentmarketing

The most overlooked writing technique: (that everyone knows but nobody follows) varying sentence length. 2 weeks, I got feedback on a post I wrote for a client. "This reads like an instruction manual." Ouch. They were right. My writing was flat, dull, and honestly, more painful than stepping on a LEGO. But then I realized: Great writing isn’t just about what you say. It’s about how you say it. Varying sentence length isn’t just for show. It’s a strategic tool. • Short sentences grab attention. • Longer sentences build rhythm and detail. A mix of both? Keeps readers hooked. Here’s how I mastered it: 1) Start with impact: Use short sentences to catch your reader's eye. You know, like a surprise tax bill. 2) Flow into detail: Use longer sentences to build momentum and expand on your point. Create a rhythm that carries your reader through your message. 3) Break it up: Throw in short sentences again to re-engage. Simple, right? It’s like giving your readers a reason to keep scrolling instead of searching for a more exciting distraction—like watching paint dry. And I see the same pattern on LinkedIn. Everywhere I look, I see posts filled with only short, choppy lines. The problem? It’s predictable. And predictable = boring. Without variety in your sentence length, you’ll struggle to: • Keep your reader's attention. • Convey complex ideas effectively. • Stand out in the content wasteland. Whether you're writing a LinkedIn post, writing a sales page, or sending a cold email, remember: Variety keeps your reader engaged. The next time you write, focus on how your sentences flow together. Break the rhythm. Create surprise. Make every line count. That’s how you turn generic content into something your audience actually enjoys. (without needing caffeine to get through it)

What makes some books so addictive that you just can't put them down? You know which ones I'm talking about — the ones that keep us up all night reading. It all comes down to a psychological phenomenon known as the Zeigarnik effect. 🧠 It states that people remember unfinished or interrupted tasks better than completed ones. Now, how can you use this to craft a page-turning story? 1️⃣ Build up to an event in your story. When readers describe a book as a page-turner, what they're really saying is that they're anticipating something in a story, and they can't stop reading until they get the answers that they're seeking. The clock in your story's world should be ticking down leading up to an event where something consequential will happen, typically at the story's climax. That's how you build desperate anticipation and curiosity in your reader. The event doesn't have to be explosive or far-fetched, but it does have to matter deeply to your characters — because if it matters to them, it will matter to us. 2️⃣ Revise your chapter endings. If you want your book to be truly unputdownable, treat every chapter ending as a mini cliffhanger. Give the reader a reason to turn to the next page! That doesn't mean every chapter should end with someone screaming or gasping, "Oh my god!" — that will get cheesy fast. But you do need to leave something unresolved that leaves the reader hanging and wanting to read more. Remember the Zeigarnik effect. As soon as we get closure, we forget. And you want readers to keep thinking about your book. Let's break down an example. Instead of closing with a line like: "She fell asleep, relieved that the chaos of the day had concluded." (Boring 🥱) Try: "She tried to sleep, but her phone kept vibrating on the nightstand. When would he stop?" (Interesting 🤔) It's the exact same moment of the character in bed, but they bring completely different energy. Which one inspires you to keep reading? 3️⃣ Plant Chekhov's guns. The Russian playwright Anton Chekhov famously said, "If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise, don't put it there." Everything you draw the reader's attention to should have a purpose and ultimately some kind of payoff in the story. When readers notice these "guns" in your story, they're going to want to keep reading to see them eventually go off. These don't have to be literal guns, of course, and in fact, they don't have to be physical objects at all. A powerful Chekhov's gun could be: ✏️ a character's secret that we sense will inevitably spill out ✏️ a character's fear that will be tested in some way If you use all three of these techniques together, you'll be leveraging the power of the Zeigarnik effect to make your story unputdownable.

Storytelling is the most underrated skill in the modern world. But most of us are never taught the basics. If you can't craft a compelling story, nobody will believe in what you're selling or doing. 10 storytelling secrets that separate the good from the great: 1. Craft an irresistible hook Your opening scene must be insane. Think Inception or The Dark Knight. You have 8 seconds to grab attention. Make them count. What's the most shocking, intriguing part of your story? Lead with that. 2. Master the Hero's Journey Outline your story in 3 acts: Ordinary World, Challenge, Transformation. Start with your customer's pain point, introduce your solution, show the results. Example: "John struggled with weight. Found our app. Lost 30lbs in 3 months." 3. Be unique or be invisible Identify your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) and make it crystal clear. Use the formula: "We're the only [product] that [unique benefit]." Find your unique angle Originality cuts through the noise. Safe stories get ignored. 4. Make it visual Stories become immersive experiences when you stimulate the senses. Use the "Rule of Three" for visual descriptions. Describe: • Sight • Sound • Feeling Eg. "The gym was buzzing with bodybuilders. Weights clanked. Hearts were racing." 5. Embrace conflict A story without struggle is boring. Don't shy away from the hard parts. Consider the "But, Therefore" technique to create tension. Structure: "X happened, BUT Y occurred, THEREFORE Z resulted." Share the worst. It makes your story even more powerful. 6. Use the power of surprise Predictable stories are forgettable stories. What's the one thing about your story that will make people say "I didn't see that coming"? Run with it. The element of surprise locks readers in for the entire journey. 7. Tap into emotions What feeling do you want to evoke? Fear? Hope? Anger? Excitement? Use the "Emotional Journey Map" technique. Plot your story's emotional highs and lows on a graph, ensuring frequent shifts. The more the reader feels, the more they're engaged. 8. Make it personal Generic stories don't move people. Specific details do. Share names, dates, exact numbers. The more specific, the more believable. Don't say "I made money." Say "I made $127,834.56 in 37 days." 9. Create open loops Our brains hate unfinished business. Start stories but don't give readers the full ending. Make them wait for it. Tease a big reveal in your intro. Delay it until the outro. Use curiosity to keep people engaged. 10. End with a call to action Great stories inspire action. What's the one thing you want them to do after hearing your story? Make it clear, make it simple, make it irresistible. The future of your business depends on it. If you enjoyed this and want more in-depth content like this: Join my newsletter to learn my business principles, systems, mental models, and scaling to $20M annual revenue 👇 https://lnkd.in/eVhbA8RE

Let’s break down 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, from the perspective of both 𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 and 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻/𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 writing. 𝟭. 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 (𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺) • 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗸 / 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 — The event or moment that kicks things into motion and gets the reader invested. • 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 — The problem, question, or gap that needs to be resolved. • 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 — Obstacles and stakes that escalate interest. • 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘅 — The turning point where the main tension is confronted. • 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — The satisfying (or deliberately unsatisfying) conclusion that gives meaning to what came before.    𝟮. 𝗜𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘀, 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘀) • 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝗰 — Readers connect deeply when they see the protagonist change in response to events. • 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — The “big idea” should be reflected in plot choices, imagery, and dialogue. • 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘃𝘀. 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 — Immersive details and actions often work better than exposition alone. • 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 — Balancing slower, reflective moments with bursts of action or drama. 𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦: In a space opera, the plot’s conflict (rebellion vs. empire) might also mirror the personal arc (a cynical loner learning to trust a crew). 𝟯. 𝗜𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 • 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁 — Frame the documentation so the 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 is the hero navigating from question to solution. • 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 — Explain why the task or knowledge matters to them. • 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄 — Structure steps or explanations so each leads naturally to the next (“cause → effect → result”). • 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 — Give the big picture first, then dive into specifics. • 𝗘𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 & 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 — Like a plot twist, anticipate problems and show how to overcome them. 𝘌𝘹𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦: In a software guide, your “Climax” could be the moment the user hits 𝘙𝘶𝘯 and sees the desired output, with the “Resolution” being confirmation that it works and what they can do next. 𝟰. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 — Whether readers are following a detective in a noir alley or installing an API, they need to feel understood and supported. • 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 — Always make it clear why it matters now. • 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 — Keep the reader moving from one moment to the next without friction. • 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗳𝗳 — Deliver on the promise you set up at the beginning. What's your favorite mechanism for what makes a story work, and why? (I like focusing on the user as the protagonist for non-fiction.)

Here's how I've grown engagement for clients by 200% by treating content like Netflix treats shows. 👉 We stopped creating "content" and started building episodes. Every blog post became part of a larger narrative arc Each piece set up questions that could only be answered by reading the next installment. The results shocked even me: • Half the time-to-sale • 60% return visitor rates • Double the pages per visit Why does this work? Because traditional content calendars are just repositories of disconnected topics. But when you structure your calendar into a four-act narrative with: • Conflicts • Clear sequences • Character development You give readers reasons to subscribe, return, and engage. In fact, I've seen people open 15 browser tabs from a single post because the narrative hooks were so compelling. Stop asking "what keywords should we target next?" Start asking "what's the next chapter in our audience's story?" What would your content look like if it followed a season-long story arc?