5 Story Writing Skills That Are Magical and Memorable
I’ve experimented with these elements for the past 30 days
Is it possible to assemble your words in a way that guarantees a magical, memorable story?
Nothing in life is guaranteed. That much I know.
While it’s not automatic to generate a winning story, some components can make the process less stressful.
A great magician uses his/her stage presence to command the details of their performance.
Great writers do the same thing with words. There are specific ways you can convey your thoughts to capture your readers’ attention.
By focusing your attention on these 5 specific components, you’ll develop stronger visuals and more powerful wordplay.
The most famous magician of all time was Erik Weisz. He was born in 1874 in Budapest, Hungary. The son of a rabbi, he was a trapeze artist early in his career and later achieved worldwide fame for his exploits as an escape artist. You know him as Harry Houdini. At the height of his career, Houdini thrilled audiences with his ability to escape locks and chains, or straitjackets. While no one knows how he did it, his dangerous and dramatic escapes captured the attention and imagination of everyone who witnessed them.
Command audiences like a magician.
Developing skills to capture your readers attention is similar to the way Harry Houdini mesmerized his audiences.
Another great magician, David Copperfield was a master of storytelling. You know his name because he was one of the greatest visual artists the world had ever seen.
Great magicians use visual elements to create stunning moments.
Great writers do the same. They use word imagery to capture the imagination.
Master what to say along with when to say it, and you’ll have a captive audience.
You’ll leave them no choice but to keep reading.
The 5 elements to make your stories better:
- Write stories at a natural length and frequency
- Combine subtle wordplay with bold pictures
- Describe the cause and effect
- Self-promote to add value for your readers
- Make your story feel like poetry
These are 5 elements you can use to create magical writing.
Let’s pull the curtain and take a closer look.
I. Write stories at a natural length and frequency
A lot of people on Medium say you should be able to write a professional, full-length story every day.
Others tell you to write short stories while others say to write 2–3 days a week. Who’s right?
They all are.
No one can tell you the length or frequency that’s right for you.
You have to determine that for yourself. You do that by experimenting with different writing styles and lengths.
But be warned, you’ll have to adjust to your current circumstances.
How you write is partially determined by your household.
It’s also based on what comes naturally so don’t force it. Forcing yourself to write in a way that doesn’t fit creates forced writing.
And that’s how it will feel to your readers.
Write during the best hours in your home.
You’ll create great stories in a shorter period. And you won’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself.
Find the right balance or you’ll burn out or give up.
II. Combine subtle wordplay with bold pictures
This is where you can create the strongest emotions.
Creating clever wording without trying to be clever is the best writing. So be well thought-out without trying to be cute.
Make your points quickly so your readers can easily understand them.
Sam writes said it best, “NOBODY cares about your linguistic acrobatics. Readers want substance, not a fluffy pillow to rest their attention on.”
III. Describe the cause and effect
The next element to convey is the before and after for each point.
Describe the benefits of an action but don’t forget to say why that’s important. Otherwise, your point will fall flat.
While you’re deep in writing, it’s easy to lose sight of things.
You may think you conveyed your point but later find you missed something. Doing that is like telling your reader, “No need to read on.”
Be sure to identify each cause and effect and your stories will read with a smoother tone.
IV. Self-promote to add value value for your readers
That’s right… self-promotion creates more value for your readers.
Seems like it should be the other way around right? The value comes from offering additional content.
You’re trading your readers a little more knowledge in exchange for a little more of their time.
Your readers can decide for themselves if they want more.
There are 3 ways you can offer more value without being forceful. The first is the simplest. It’s low-key and can give your SEO a boost.
Offer a link to more of your content, like check out how to develop your unique voice here.
The second way to promote yourself is a little more creative than the first.
Add a quote that links to advice from a previous story. It looks like this:
“From the alluring distraction of technology to the challenge of managing lack of direction, various factors hinder our ability to efficiently accomplish our tasks. See how you can limit distractions and get more done.”
But be sure to nix the italics and that your quote fits the story.
The final way you can promote yourself is by adding an embedded link.
Use them as a natural break between points. This is the boldest way to promote yourself, especially if you use an eye-catching picture or graphic, like this…
V. Make your story feel like poetry
The final element is to experiment with different writing styles.
The quickest way to turn off readers is to write with poor structure. Writing with a friendly rhythm and structure captures the attention of your readers.
Try writing short and sweet in a way that reads more like poetry.
I frequently use a structure that’s a 1–2–1… occasionally a 1–3–1.
The first paragraph is one thought-provoking statement or question. The middle paragraph consists of 3 sentences to unpack the thought. The final paragraph is 1 sentence to wrap it up and lead into the next point.
The pattern creates a fluid, easy-to-read story.
Repeat it in the way that feels most natural.
Here’s an example of a 1–2–1 structure:
Developing skills to capture your readers’ attention is similar to the way Harry Houdini mesmerized his audiences. (1)
Another great magician, David Copperfield was a master of storytelling. You know his name because he was one of the greatest visual artists the world had ever seen. (2)
Great magicians use visual elements to create stunning moments. (1)
Whichever structure you choose, it should feel natural to write (and read).
The goal is to get your story to feel like poetry and not like a 400-page novel. Practice until you find a style that is the best for your voice and niche.
Keep in mind, the average person reads at a 3rd-grade reading level.
I’m sure it’s much higher on Medium (right?) but keep it on the safe side. Simplify without being too simple.
The Final Curtain Call
If you experiment with the elements I’ve highlighted, you can create a story that is more visually appealing for your readers.
And it’s a lot of fun to play around with them. Once you know how to weave in the right magic, you’ll capture more readers and grow your audience.
The stage is yours.
References
https://www.wgbh.org/tv-shows/drama/2019-04-10/7-of-historys-most-mystical-magicians
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Harry-Houdini
https://www.nownovel.com/blog/what-makes-a-good-story/#2-vary-rhythm-and-structure-in-your-prose
