When was the last time that you were so drawn to a book that you couldn’t stop but finished reading it in one go?
I had the experience last Sunday. I was so enthralled by a book and finished reading it in 4 hours.
We’ve often heard that stories would keep your audience engaged. I didn’t feel that strong enough until I was so drawn to the stories in the book.
Stories are indeed powerful. A great story has a hook that keeps us engaged and enthralled. A great story builds suspense that keeps us flipping through pages to find out what happens next. A great story leaves a lasting impact that keeps our spirits high.
What stories leave a lasting impact?
1. Suspense
A story must be able to keep your audience engaged throughout, not just the beginning. In order to do that, you have to create suspenses that’ll keep your audience wondering, “What’s going to happen next?” That’s what made me keep flipping the pages to find out what happened next, and next, and next … Before I even noticed, I had finished reading the entire book!
2. Challenge
In stories, the hero or heroine is experiencing a challenge that your audience can relate to. In that case, the audience will not only how he / she will be able to overcome the challenge, but also it creates an emotional connection with your audience, makes them feel for your hero / heroine and cries for and with him / her.
3. Victory
Your story must have a victorious ending. It means that whatever challenge your hero / heroine has experienced, he / she, in the end, must be able to overcome the challenge. This is where your audience learns the lesson and where you inspire the audience.
If after all that you have relayed, your hero / heroine stays in the challenge, stays in the dump and stays miserable, you will not be able to inspire the audience. The audience might be unconsciously thinking, “If I’m going to do what he / she did, I’ll stay miserable too.”
A victory does not necessarily mean success. It can be the hero / heroine has unlearned a bad habit; it can be the hero / heroine finally changed his / her mindset; and it can be the hero / heroine made the first move.
Bonus
And of course, the best story is a story about how you overcame a challenge and reached victory. Nothing compares to a personal story.
