Good storytelling is a skill.
There’s no two ways about it.
And in a world where we’re surrounded by world-class storytellers…
The standard of what makes a “good” story – one that engages the limbic brain – is high.
Think about it…
How many times have you walked out of a movie with a budget in the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS and felt “meh”?
For one reason or another, those movies simply did not hold your attention.
Truth is, this is the world your stories are competing in…
Where grabbing attention, activating the “action-taking” part of your customer’s brain to embed an idea is HARD.
That’s what makes Chris’ discovery that night while watching Inception so incredible.
Although he didn’t know it at the time…
His year-long journey to uncover the secrets of the most persuasive storytellers in history…
Would ultimately reveal the biggest mistakes you simply can’t afford to make…
And I’ll share three of the most common with you right now…
Storytelling Mistake #1: Giving the reader too much detail
Listen – detail that creates a crystal-clear image in your reader’s head is good…
But if you use too much detail, you’re no longer telling a story…
Instead, it’s like hearing someone explain a joke to you.
Simply put, it takes all the fun out of it.
That’s why the BEST stories in our industry…
The ones that engage people by the millions…
And channel these folks into taking action…
Use “just enough” detail to build a colorful, living image in a person’s mind.
Why?
Because the momentum of the story is the most important thing.
That’s what truly brings a story to life – in the deepest part of the limbic brain…
So if burying your prospect in detail KILLS the momentum…
What can you do to get it going again?
It’s simpler than you think.
But first, let’s move on to the next story killer…
Storytelling Mistake #2: Being dull as a doorknob
Sounds like a no-brainer, right?
But you’d be surprised by how many people get sucked into the “masterpiece” they’re creating…
Only to be shocked when their ideal customers are practically bored to death.
The truth is, a boring… overused story… doesn’t engage people.
Logically OR emotionally.
See, what Chris discovered from working the trenches, writing story after story…
Is that the benchmark to engage a reader is brutally high.
Because in today’s fast-paced, online world – where a new rush of excitement is just a click away…
People are less patient than ever before.
So you might be wondering…
What makes a story boring?
Simple…
- There’s little emotion gripping the reader (so the limbic brain stays off, putting your reader to sleep)…
- It feels “too good to be true”: which means, your story moves in a predictable, BORING way…
- And worst yet, it misses the mark of your reader’s own experience – severing their emotional attachment to the story – and thus drives them off the page…
The fix? Chris realized that if you wanted to keep your readers from getting distracted…
You absolutely must make your stories dramatic and engaging.
This way, you’ll resonate with your audience…
You’ll not only tap into their limbic brain…
Your story will also guide folks to the action you want to see.
The good news: there’s a predictable, step-by-step way to create heart-racing stories that readers can barely tear their eyes from.
And in a moment, I’ll show you exactly how to do that in no more than 15 minutes.
But first – let’s move on to the next storytelling mistake
Storytelling Mistake #3: Not using conflict.
Take a quick scan of the movies below…
It’s a list of the top 10 grossing films ever made.
Can you find the similarity?
Well, when Chris dove head-first into analyzing the greatest Hollywood blockbusters of all time…
What he discovered next astounded him.
He discovered a single thread that connected them all…
Each one of these films has CONFLICT – a huge challenge for the hero to overcome.
In some, like Avengers or Star Wars, it’s more obvious.
The fate of the universe is at stake. A battle between good and evil forces rages on.
But even in the Titanic, the conflict comes through the simple love affair of Jack and Rose (as well as the massive iceberg that threatens to tear them apart).
In a nutshell: every great story has a conflict that must be overcome…
Emotionally compelling “stakes” that drive the hero to action.
Why?
Because conflicts… challenges… and drama are absolutely gripping.
And the greater the stakes, the more emotionally compelling the story.
For example…
Would you rather hear a story about how I had to charge down a dark alleyway to rescue a frail old lady from the grip of a terrifying 7-foot mugger…
Or are you more interested in the time I ran out of groceries and had to order a burrito from Uber Eats instead?
I think the choice is pretty obvious…
And it all comes down to stakes.
Now here’s the thing…
Most copywriters and marketers make one or more of these mistakes regularly.
As a result, their stories simply fall flat…
And that’s why they’re not able to tap into the limbic brain and move people to action.
But these are just 3 common storytelling mistakes…
Anyone worth their salt in storytelling will tell you that’s just the beginning…
Truth is, there’s far more pitfalls to maneuver that can turn any story from a potential goldmine…
Into a disappointing dud.
And it can happen faster than you think…
So How Do You Prevent These Common Mistakes?
Well, That Goes to the CORE of the Entire Skill…
Knowing how to avoid these mistakes…
And what to do instead…
Has literally minted millionaires (and could do the same for you).
Storytelling’s almost unbelievable power to move people to action…
Is what has made copywriters, business owners, screenwriters and politicians super rich.
And exactly what my new course (with Chris Wright) Spellbound is all about!
I’ll add a link here when it’s live…
In the meantime, avoid these 3 mistakes at all costs…
And watch your bank account explode 🤑
PT