7 Ways to Write Top Stories

February 23, 2023

Welcome to Actionable Insights, a newsletter exploring health, mindset, and productivity!

In This Issue:

  • How to write compelling stories

  • Tools of the week - 5 AI tools that will save you time

Reading Time: 3 minutes

7 Ways to Write Top Stories:

Storytelling is a highly transferable skill. It applies to sales, networking, interviews, and building relationships.

When I first started creating content on Twitter, my writing was too formal. I was used to writing papers for classes, but writing on Twitter requires a different approach.

The tips below helped me upgrade my content and increase my engagement.

1) Follow the rule of three

Three key elements of a story are the setup, the confrontation, and the resolution.

You can use this simple structure to introduce the problem, further develop the situation, and finally present a solution.

2) Seek feedback

Ask your audience what they're interested in to figure out how you can best help them.

You can also analyze past content to see what resonated the most.

3) Include personal stories

Personal stories help build trust with your readers.

AI cannot share its past, so use your experiences to connect with others.

4) Make it easy to read

Use simple language, so reading is a frictionless process.

Bulleted lists and whitespace also increase readability.

5) Vary sentence length

Your stories will be more engaging if they sentences have varying lengths.

Here's an example — my tweet structure:

  • Short hook (3 words or less)

  • 2 sentences (1 shorter and 1 longer)

  • Numbered list

  • Short question

6) Spark curiosity

Statements that pique the reader's interest make people want to keep reading.

I like to use short, snappy hooks with arrows or equal signs for my tweets.

7) Use storytelling frameworks

Storytelling frameworks create a structure that your readers can follow.

Here are 3 common storytelling frameworks.

Pixar's Framework - used in Disney's Pixar movies

  • Once upon a time (starting spot)

  • Every day (status quo)

  • One day (change)

  • Because of that (consequence #1)

  • Because of that (consequence #2)

  • Until (ending)

Rags to Riches Framework - used in Harry Potter, Aladdin, and Cinderella

  • Rags (initial tough conditions)

  • Opportunity (life-changing moment)

  • Adversity (difficult obstacles)

  • Riches (happy ending)

Big Idea Framework - used by Steve Jobs to introduce the iPhone

  • Setting (context)

  • Characters (protagonist and enemy)

  • Conflict (problem to overcome)

  • Big Idea (solution to the conflict)

  • Resolution (improved situation)

Storytelling TL; DR:

  • Follow the rule of three

  • Seek feedback

  • Include personal stories

  • Make it easy to read

  • Vary sentence length

  • Spark curiosity

  • Use storytelling frameworks

Tools of the Week — 5 AI tools that will save you time:

1) SlidesAI - create presentations in seconds

2) wordtune - upgrade your writing

3) Ellie - spend less time on emails

4) Midjourney - generate unique images

5) fireflies.ai - automate meeting notes

Final Note:

I'm excited to start this journey of writing a newsletter that aims to improve your life. I look forward to sharing valuable insights on health, mindset, and productivity every Tuesday and Thursday.

If there's anything you'd like to see in this newsletter, feel free to reply to this email!

Stay consistent,

Simrun