How to Think Like a Storyteller (Even When You’re Not “Telling” a Story)
We hear it all the time: “Storytelling is everything.” But rarely does anyone tell you how to actually do it. How to build a story into your everyday content, how to make people care, how to move someone not just once, but again and again until they trust you, remember you, and want to stay.
The truth is: you already are a storyteller.
You might not realize it, but you’re already thinking in stories all the time. You notice the turning points in your own life. You remember the feelings, not just the facts about what happened. You reach for moments to capture, not because they were the most photogenic, but because they meant something to you at that moment in time.
That’s the storyteller in you. And once you learn to trust it, once you begin to create from that place on purpose, everything you post becomes more powerful.
Because good content doesn’t just trend. It reveals something happening. And when your content feels like something is unfolding in real time, people don’t just pay attention, they’re invested in what happens next.
So if you want your audience to care, don’t just tell them who you are. Let them watch you become.
Here’s how:
Think of Every Post as Its Own Mini Story
Even when your post doesn’t look like a story, it can feel like one. Storytelling doesn’t always mean a long caption or a scripted voiceover. Sometimes, it’s in the structure, rhythm, and the emotional shift that happens between the first second and the last.
It’s the difference between:
“Here’s my new product!”
And
“This almost didn’t exist. I almost gave up. But something told me to keep going. So here we are.”
That’s a story. One that pulls us in with a hook, gives us context, and lands on a deeper truth.
Even a single text overlay can tell a complete arc:
Beginning: “I used to think I had to have it all figured out.”
Middle: [a photo of you working, learning, fumbling forward]
End: “But it turns out, showing up as I am was enough.”
No voiceover required. No lengthy caption. Just a moment that begins somewhere and ends somewhere else. That’s what makes it feel like a story.
Know the Bigger Story You’re Telling
This is the part most creators miss completely. While you’re busy sharing your favorite productivity tools, posting a mini vlog of your morning routine, or breaking down your three best tips for burnout — there’s something else happening, too. There’s a larger story unfolding. One that’s not always articulated, but can always be sensed by you and those watching your content.
Who are you becoming?
What season are you in?
What question are you trying to answer in your life or your work right now?
Think of your personal brand like a living documentary. Every post is a scene. Every update is a turning point. When someone scrolls your feed, they should be able to feel the through line. Are you rebuilding? Starting over? Reclaiming something you lost?
The best creators don’t just post. They invite us into a story we can track. They give us a reason to keep watching. They remind us that we’re not just learning from them, we’re with them.
Tell the Everyday Story, Too (Even When It Feels Too Small)
There’s one kind of story most people overlook, and it’s the one hiding in plain sight.
The Everyday Story is the behind-the-scenes moment that doesn’t feel like “real content,” but always is. It’s a clip of you walking to the coffee shop. The crumpled sticky note on your desk. The voice memo you almost deleted but decided to post anyway.
These aren’t the moments where you’re teaching something or proving something. They’re the ones where you’re simply being. And ironically, they’re the ones your audience often connects with most. Because at the end of the day, people don’t just want your expertise. They want your presence. They want to feel like they know you, like they can trust you, like they’re watching something real unfold in real time.
And it’s these ordinary, easy-to-miss moments that quietly build a foundation of trust. One that no viral educational post can replicate.
How to Start Building Your Longform Story
Here are three questions to guide you as you create:
1. Are you bringing people into the process? Don’t just show the finished product. Let us in before you know how it ends.
2. Does each post deepen the character? You are the main character. Show us your doubt, your joy, your perspective. This is what builds trust over time.
3. Can you think in scenes instead of standalone posts? Every post is a scene. Where are we in the arc? Is this the beginning? The climax? The turning point? Give us the context, even subtly, so we know what we’re watching.
You’re not just marketing a product. You’re telling a story. And when people can feel the arc behind what you’re doing, they want to be part of it, not just as consumers, but as companions.
A Letter From Anna Vatuone, Creator of PBA
Sometimes we think we need to wait until the story is complete before we can share it. Like it needs to have a point, a polished arc, a tidy ending. But the truth is, most people don’t connect to the ending. They connect to the becoming.
When you share while you’re still figuring it out, you give people something real. Something they recognize in themselves.
So if you’re in the middle of something big right now, don’t wait. Don’t overthink it. Just tell us what scene we’re in. We’re already watching.
With love,
Anna
Learn How to Tell Highly-Impactful Stories
Inside Personal Brand Accelerator, we teach you how to go beyond “tips and tricks” and into the real work of building a brand that resonates with people. You’ll learn how to tell stories that don’t just perform, but linger in peoples’ minds long after they’ve watched them. Stories that stay with people. Stories that reflect who you are and why you do what you do.
Whether you’re writing a post, filming a Reel, recording a podcast, or giving a keynote — your ability to tell a compelling story will shape how well you do on social media.
If you’re ready to stop going through the motions and start resonating, we’d love to have you inside.
