The Art of Storytelling
I need to learn how to tell good stories
Last year, I wrote an article: “No Plot, Just Vibes”, based on an observation made on certain types of media. It was a newsletter appreciating the ability of art to capture abstract feelings. I have been an advocate for “vibes-based” art—open to interpretation, carries strong emotions and isn’t so linear in expression.
With that, I would be unwise to discredit the power of a good story. Storytelling is a generational craft, present in (presumably) every culture. Stories move people, going so far as to influence worldviews.
This is a newsletter about stories
I’ve recently been exploring the world of video creation as an art form. After seeing videos from creators like Keith Afadi and Nneka Julia, I got inspired to make my images move. As a photographer, I capture moments in still frames, considering the use of light, framing, and colours to create something clear and beautiful. Those same principles apply to video, but the medium has challenged me as a storyteller. My photos capture a look, but the videos I love carry a narrative—something for me, the viewer, to follow. I want to be able to tell good stories.
The fictitious stories I wrote in secondary school can hardly be described as decent by my (allegedly) fully developed frontal lobe of today, yet I remember them fondly because of the honest attempts they were. They were littered with unexplainable, incoherent plot lines. Back then, I used stories heavily as a form of pure escapism, so it was best that they did not resemble reality in the slightest. Now, I recognize that stories are more compelling when they speak to aspects of reality—the shared experiences we have and our capacity for empathy amplify the effectiveness of good stories.
The Outcome
I remember learning that a good storyteller does not reveal the outcome of events too soon. I tend to try to predict movies down to the dialogue based on educated guesses and popular tropes. It’s a bit like a game: I try to guess the ending and see if the movie matches my expectations. There are stories where prediction is difficult; real life being one of them. Life has many unexpected outcomes (unless you are somehow able to see the future). Even as I write this, I face uncertainty about the future that I have to grapple with personally and as scary as it might be at times, it is also exciting. In game design, there is the “solved game” concept.
Tic-Tac-Toe is the best example of it. If you’ve played it enough, you are probably at a point where all your rounds end in stalemates and are to the point where the game has lost its excitement. This is because the outcomes are known before the game even begins. Good games, like good stories, have an unexpected outcome—the thing that captivates the participant (or listener) to stay till the end. Btw, life isn’t a solved game.
The Journey
I must also give credit to those stories with predictable outcomes that take me on interesting journeys. Sometimes, I know they will win in the end, but I want to see how they do it. I love to see discovery, overcoming adversity, and character growth. Imagine a story with no clear anticipation of an end, but rather a collection of meaningful moments that make up a journey. That, I believe, is just as valid a story.
Stories are Everywhere
We know that everyone has a story. The experiences of people around us are a foundry of great stories. Inspiration isn’t very far away. The thing is, it takes going out of our way to ask people about their stories, and sometimes even further, to share our own. I’ve heard incredible stories asking people simply how they got here. The city I live in has many migrants who have come from all over, and everybody has a migration story. These stories carry weight and can be sensitive, so it has been important to maintain respectfulness in listening. I have also noticed people light up when they speak of their experiences and feel the connectedness of sharing and listening.
Practice telling stories.
Here’s an old comic strip I illustrated
Some Things I’m Enjoying Lately:
Eve and I watched the Netflix movie, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and it was a great movie. Sony’s animation studio has been cooking since Spider-verse. It was a really creative idea, executed well.
Sentimientos
Bonus Song:
And oh- I also wanted to thank you for reading my articles. ✨ :)
(Btw, are you on Discord?)
I loved the Tic-tac-toe analogy! It's the best tip I know to write stories: not revealing things too soon. Keeping a lot of big secrets from the audience, not easily predictable, but leaving hints just enough for pieceing half the full picture.
Nice article! ✨