The Elements of Story by Francis Flaherty

Synopsis

The powerful secret to every great story, no matter the genre, is that it must be built around a truly human heart and a deep emotional connection idea, one human first, even in data to make it resonate, you need a person, real or composite, whose feelings and personal stakes perfectly embody the abstract issue you are covering.

Key Ideas

  1. Start with a single powerful emotion
    Identify the single powerful emotion at the heart of your piece. Is it the quiet sting of regret, the thrill of hope, or deep awe idea?

  2. Bang the theme
    This technique keeps your story from meandering and ensures readers don't feel like they're being preached at or lectured by the writer. Strategic theming weaves scattered facts and reporting into a single cohesive narrative, creating a truly powerful reader experience.

  3. Craft a strong lead
    No words are more important than your lead, as this one decision determines everything that follows and truly sets the entire story in motion. Consider using a mystery lead to pose a compelling question or a contradiction that the rest of your story will work to resolve.

  4. Connect heart to head with the nut graph
    A story starts with a human hook, a sensory opening that pulls the reader in. Earn it with your opening, clarify the stakes, the scope, and the direction of your story, and provide context that proves relevance.

  5. Build a story engine, not a timeline
    Name your engine explicitly, and use clear questions to escalate curiosity and raise the stakes. Arranging your scenes to increase the engine's power is crucial, and each section should feed into this narrative engine.

Writing Techniques

  • Use indirection: Use metaphor and symbol to make familiar ideas feel new.
  • Strong imagery: A powerful image communicates volumes in a single moment and should drive the story forward.
  • Final paragraphs: Trim away windy sentences to make your exit stronger and impactful.
  • Recurring motifs: Place potent details early in your story as recurring motifs to enrich the narrative.
  • Drive-by sensory hits: Sprinkle in quick, specific brush strokes that add texture and life without derailing the main point.