In addition to my many other hats, I recently completed a novel (a sci-fi thriller) with my co-author Edward Miller. As those who know me well can attest, I’ve long had a passion for fiction and film, so this was a great opportunity to delve further into that arena. Hopefully this will be the first of many others.
During the writing process (stay tuned for more details in the future about the book itself), something I already knew became even more apparent. People don’t care about abstract concepts. They really don’t. What they DO care about are individuals, the challenges they’re facing (assuming they can relate to it), and whether or not they were/will be successful in overcoming those challenges. Individuals, challenges, and outcomes. That’s what counts. The same is true whether you are trying to sell a fiction book or whether you’re trying to convince an organization why they should take on a certain initiative.
A good story touches people’s emotions, plain and simple.
Here’s a website with an introductory article on story, arcs, and the three act structure. These tips are invaluable, whether you’re a fiction writer or an organizational leader and communicator. The goal is the same–to move people.
