Wired for Story

1. Stories are essential for human survival and understanding

Story, as it turns out, was crucial to our evolution—more so than opposable thumbs. Opposable thumbs let us hang on; story told us what to hang on to.

Stories shape our reality. They allow us to simulate experiences, learn from others' mistakes, and prepare for potential future scenarios. This cognitive ability to create and understand narratives has been crucial for human survival and development. Stories serve as a virtual reality training ground, helping us navigate complex social situations and make sense of the world around us.

Evolutionary advantage. The human brain evolved to prioritize storytelling as a means of passing on vital information. This explains why we find stories so engaging and memorable. By packaging information in narrative form, we make it more accessible, relatable, and impactful. This storytelling ability has allowed humans to cooperate on a large scale, share knowledge across generations, and adapt to changing environments more effectively than any other species.

2. The brain is wired for narrative and emotional engagement

We think in story, which allows us to envision the future.

Neural mirroring. When we read or hear a story, our brains activate as if we were experiencing the events ourselves. This neural mirroring allows us to feel empathy for characters and learn from their experiences. The brain releases dopamine when we anticipate what might happen next in a story, creating a pleasurable sensation that keeps us engaged.

Emotional connection. Stories that evoke strong emotions are more likely to be remembered and have a lasting impact. This is why effective storytelling focuses on creating emotional resonance with the audience. By tapping into universal human experiences and feelings, stories can transcend cultural and temporal boundaries, making them powerful tools for communication and persuasion.

Key brain regions activated during storytelling:

• Broca's area (language processing)
• Wernicke's area (language comprehension)
• Amygdala (emotion processing)
• Hippocampus (memory formation)

3. Focus and structure are crucial for effective storytelling

If you don't know what's broke, how can you write a story about fixing it?

Clear story question. Every compelling story revolves around a central question or problem that needs to be resolved. This focus gives the narrative direction and purpose, keeping readers engaged throughout. Writers must identify their story's core conflict early on and ensure that every scene contributes to exploring or resolving that central issue.

Structural elements. A well-structured story typically includes:

• A hook to grab the reader's attention
• Rising action that builds tension
• A climax where the central conflict reaches its peak
• Falling action that shows the consequences of the climax
• A resolution that ties up loose ends and provides closure

By adhering to these structural elements, writers can create a satisfying narrative arc that keeps readers invested from beginning to end.

4. Characters must have clear goals and internal conflicts

A protagonist without a clear goal has nothing to figure out and nowhere to go.

Character motivation. Well-developed characters have both external goals (what they want to achieve in the world) and internal conflicts (personal struggles or flaws that hinder their progress). These motivations and conflicts drive the story forward and create opportunities for character growth and transformation.

Relatable struggles. Readers connect with characters who face realistic challenges and make difficult decisions. By giving characters complex motivations and internal conflicts, writers create opportunities for readers to empathize and see themselves in the story. This emotional investment keeps readers engaged and invested in the character's journey.

Elements of compelling character development:

• Clear external goals
• Internal conflicts or flaws
• Backstory that informs behavior
• Relationships that challenge or support the character
• Growth or change over the course of the story

5. Specific details bring stories to life and engage readers

The story is in the specifics.

Sensory engagement. Vivid, specific details allow readers to create mental images and fully immerse themselves in the story world. By appealing to multiple senses, writers can make their narratives more memorable and impactful. However, these details must serve a purpose in advancing the story or revealing character; otherwise, they risk becoming distracting or tedious.

Show, don't tell. Instead of simply stating facts or emotions, effective storytelling demonstrates them through action, dialogue, and specific observations. This approach allows readers to draw their own conclusions and feel more actively engaged in the story. For example, rather than saying a character is nervous, describe their sweaty palms, fidgeting, or rapid breathing.

Ways to incorporate specific details:

• Use precise, evocative language
• Include relevant sensory information
• Describe actions and reactions
• Employ metaphors and similes strategically
• Reveal character through small, telling behaviors

6. Conflict drives the narrative forward and keeps readers invested

Story is about change, which results only from unavoidable conflict.

Types of conflict. Effective stories incorporate various forms of conflict to create tension and maintain reader interest. These can include:

• Internal conflict (character vs. self)
• Interpersonal conflict (character vs. character)
• Environmental conflict (character vs. nature or society)
• Supernatural conflict (character vs. fate or the unknown)

Escalating challenges. As the story progresses, the protagonist should face increasingly difficult obstacles. This escalation of conflict raises the stakes and keeps readers engaged, wondering how the character will overcome each new challenge.

Resolution and growth. Through facing and resolving conflicts, characters learn, change, and grow. This transformation is often the heart of the story, providing satisfaction and meaning for readers. The resolution of conflict should feel earned and believable, based on the character's actions and choices throughout the narrative.

7. Cause and effect relationships create logical story progression

A story follows a cause-and-effect trajectory from start to finish.

Logical progression. Events in a story should follow a clear cause-and-effect chain, with each action or decision leading logically to the next. This creates a sense of inevitability and helps readers understand why things are happening, even if they can't predict exactly what will occur next.

Character agency. Characters' choices and actions should drive the plot forward, rather than events happening randomly or due to coincidence. This emphasis on character agency makes the story feel more authentic and allows readers to invest in the characters' decisions and their consequences.

Key elements of effective cause-and-effect storytelling:

• Clear motivations for character actions
• Consequences that logically follow from choices made
• A sense of momentum building toward the climax
• Foreshadowing that hints at future events
• Resolution that ties back to earlier causes

8. Protagonists must face increasingly difficult challenges

A story's job is to put the protagonist through tests that, even in her wildest dreams, she doesn't think she can pass.

Rising stakes. As the story progresses, the challenges facing the protagonist should become more difficult and the stakes should increase. This escalation creates tension and keeps readers engaged, wondering how the character will overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.

Character growth. Through facing these increasingly difficult challenges, the protagonist is forced to grow, change, and discover new strengths. This character development is often the heart of the story, providing satisfaction and meaning for readers as they witness the protagonist's transformation.

Ways to increase difficulty for the protagonist:

• Introduce new obstacles or antagonists
• Raise the personal stakes for failure
• Put loved ones in danger
• Create time pressure or deadlines
• Force difficult moral choices
• Reveal new information that complicates the situation

9. Subplots and flashbacks add depth when used strategically

Foreshadowing, flashbacks, and subplots must instantly give readers insight into what's happening in the main storyline, even if the meaning shifts as the story unfolds.

Enhancing the main plot. Subplots and flashbacks should always serve to deepen understanding of the main story or provide crucial information that affects the protagonist's journey. They can offer different perspectives, reveal character motivations, or provide context for current events.

Timing and relevance. The introduction of subplots and flashbacks must be carefully timed to maintain narrative momentum. They should feel natural and necessary, rather than interrupting the flow of the main story. Effective use of these elements can create anticipation, add complexity, and enrich the overall narrative tapestry.

Functions of subplots and flashbacks:

• Reveal character backstory
• Provide context for current conflicts
• Introduce supporting characters
• Create parallel storylines that mirror or contrast the main plot
• Build suspense or foreshadow future events

10. Rewriting is an integral part of the writing process

There's no writing; there's only rewriting.

Iterative improvement. The first draft is rarely, if ever, the final product. Rewriting allows authors to refine their ideas, strengthen their narrative structure, and polish their prose. It's through multiple revisions that a good story becomes great.

Objective evaluation. Taking time away from a manuscript before revising allows writers to approach their work with fresh eyes. This distance can help identify weaknesses, plot holes, or inconsistencies that weren't apparent during the initial writing process. Seeking feedback from trusted readers or professional editors can provide valuable outside perspectives and insights for improvement.

Key aspects of effective rewriting:

• Strengthen the overall narrative arc
• Develop characters more fully
• Tighten pacing and eliminate unnecessary scenes
• Enhance dialogue and descriptions
• Ensure consistency in tone and voice
• Address plot holes or logical inconsistencies
• Polish language and style

Last updated: January 23, 2025