What Makes a Story Compelling? (And How to Tell Yours)
A compelling story isn’t just a list of events—it’s a selection of moments, crafted to reveal a deeper truth.
What to Avoid
I graduated from college in May. It was a sunny day, and my parents were there to watch me walk across the stage. Afterward, we went out to eat, and I started thinking about my future. Over the summer, I applied for jobs and finally got one at a finance firm. My first few months were hard, but I’m figuring it out.
❌ Why This Doesn’t Work:
This story falls flat emotionally. It offers no insight into why these experiences matter or how they shaped the storyteller.
What to Do Instead
I graduated from college on a sunny day in May. My mom waved wildly as I walked across the stage. My dad held a bouquet of sunflowers like a trophy he couldn't wait to give me. That night, I lay awake in my childhood bedroom, staring at the ceiling fan spinning slow circles. One question looped over and over: Now what?
Two months later, on a humid morning in August, an email popped up from a marketing agency in Boston. We’d like to offer you the position, it said. I told my parents over dinner that night. I thought I’d made it. I thought the hard part was over.
It wasn’t.
✔ Why This Works:
Specific details, like Dad holding sunflowers "like a trophy," show us his pride instead of just telling us he was proud.
The narrative flows seamlessly from celebration to uncertainty.
The question “Now what?” makes us feel the post-graduation anxiety.
The final line, “It wasn’t,” adds tension and leaves us wanting more.
How You Can Do This
Choose a big life event—like graduating or starting a new job—and use sensory details to show us what you saw, heard, or felt.
Example: "It was a sunny day in May. My dad held a bouquet of sunflowers."
Reflect on how you felt in the moment—were you excited, anxious, or proud? Let those feelings shape the story (show, don’t tell).
Example: "I lay awake in my childhood bedroom, wondering, ‘Now what?’”
Show what happens next—how did the events impact you or shape your decisions?
Example: "One August morning, an email popped up: ‘We’d like to offer you the position.’ I thought the hard part was over. It wasn’t."
Tie it together with a realization or a lingering question to give the story meaning or tension at the end.
Example: "You can't control when clarity comes—it's earned in the moments you embrace uncertainty."
A Letter From Anna
Over the weekend, I asked on my Instagram Stories: What holds you back from storytelling?
Many of you had the same response: “I just don't know if anyone would care.”
Remember: this fear often comes from the part of us that longs for approval and belonging. When you catch yourself thinking, “I don’t know if anyone would care,” try asking yourself instead:
Do I care about what I have to say? Does this story matter to me?
The most powerful stories aren’t shared to gain validation. They’re shared because the act of telling them feels meaningful—healing, even.
So, take a deep breath. Start small. And remember, storytelling isn’t about revealing everything at once. It’s about beginning with the moments you’re ready to tell—and trusting that they matter, simply because they matter to you.
With love,
Anna
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