3 Magical Storytelling Tips to Dazzle Readers

3 Magical Storytelling Tips to Dazzle Readers

They say magic isn’t real but the truth is that storytelling is probably the most valid form of magic in the world. Since our ancestors learned that banging rocks on a cave wall made marks, we’ve been telling stories. While the delivery of these stories has changed, the premise has remained a constant.

As a writer, storytelling magic is drawn from the depths of our imaginations. We then use that power to weave together words in the best way possible. Storytelling has always been the most powerful tool in the world. So here are 3 magical storytelling tips that are sure to dazzle readers.

Weave In a Clear Central Theme

Both fiction and non-fiction follow a narrative that is dependent on a number of factors. This narrative will be different between genres and presentation. But the overall theme will always be the same. If the narrative has a strong moral component, then you write in a way that guides listeners on that journey. This theme must always be present in the tone, voice, and choice of words.

A problem I see often is that the theme changes throughout the course of a story. This is more prevalent in fiction but can also become a problem in non-fiction as well. For instance, a motivational book on weight loss wouldn’t suddenly start cracking dad jokes.

Great Stories are Powered by Conflict

All stories are powered by conflict. In fiction, the conflict is the parts of the story that need to be resolved. In non-fiction, the conflict is a problem that the reader is having and the whole reason they are in search of a solution.

Great writers are able to weave powerful conflict into their narrative in a way that grabs their audience by the chin and pulls them in. One of the issues that I see with non-fiction writing is that beginners tend to leave out conflict here. Without the conflict and troubleshooting approach, a non-fiction book will read like a textbook rather than a motivational book.

But even in fiction, we see some people run through entire plot lines without conflict. At the very least, the overall conflict should feel like it’s weighing on the audience, even in scenes that are away from it directly.

Stories Must be Built on a Solid Foundational Structure

I want to start this section by pointing out that there are no limits to the exact method that you can use to structure your story. Imagination is the limit. However, it must be consistent throughout the entire book. In most cases, a story is laid out with a beginning, middle, and end in that order with rising levels of conflict through each point. But that’s not set in stone.

It will also get more detailed as you write the outline. In most cases, beginners are advised to follow the traditional approach as follows:

Inciting Incident: This is the incident that leads into the main conflict. In fiction, the hero is forced into the conflict. In non-fiction, this is usually an introduction that describes the problem the reader is having.

Rising Conflict: The conflict will rise as the hero adjusts to the conflict. In non-fiction, I like to think of the reader as the hero of the story and the advice is their resolution. So it will slowly guide them through the conflict.

Resolution: This is the manner in which the conflict is resolved. So by this point, the reader will see their hero at the end of the journey. With non-fiction, this would be painted as them being free of their problem.

These Storytelling Tips will Get you Started on the Right Path

Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways of getting a message across to a reader, whether you are writing fiction, non-fiction, or even copywriting. Follow these powerful storytelling tips and get your point across like a professional.