How to Prepare a Story

Four crucial steps to preparing a story:

1. Make notes of the key elements of your story

I recommend that you do not write out stories that you plan to tell. The problem is that we write in a different style of language than we speak. If you write it out completely it will not come across naturally when you tell it. Just think through the story and make notes of the critical action and key scenes.

2. Craft a power line

The power line is the one line in the story, often the final line, which draws the whole story together and portrays its meaning. It is similar to the punch line of a joke.

Samples of power lines:

“I never took another drink after that.”

“That is when I realized I could never stop loving her.”

“So my advice is never to walk away from a crying spouse.”

3. Cut the fluff

As you practice your story, practice cutting anything that doesn’t enhance or support the power line. Don’t cut any visual aspects of the scene because those are important. Get brutal; however, get violent and merciless in cutting out generalities. A generality is anything that doesn’t connect with specific time, specific people and specific places. Cut everything that doesn’t add power to the power line. Regardless of how funny it is, how smart it makes you look or how short it makes the story, cut it. Your audience will love you for it.

4. Practice telling it with visual and emotional power.

Get alone, stand up, and practice the story. Get your voice, your face and your whole body into the scene. Feel it in your heart. Visualize your audience reacting in just the way you want them to.