What are the essential elements of storytelling?

We’re taught to believe that all stories have a beginning, middle, and end. That may be true, but it’s not enough to form a gripping narrative...

Consider this sentence: “I woke up this morning, took a quick walk in the park, then came home.” It has a beginning, middle, and end... but it’s not much of a story, is it?

Real stories have a compelling beginning, some rising conflict, then a resolution. The conflict is essential. If nothing goes wrong, you don’t have a story.

Stories are built on tension. There’s a reason they usually involve a vulnerable character with an unfulfilled desire who must overcome setbacks before being transformed in some way. It’s human nature to find those ingredients irresistible.

Always start by grabbing the reader’s attention. Orientate them to the story’s setting, tone, and mood. Introduce them to a protagonist worth caring about so they can become invested.

Every story needs a tipping point: the moment a crisis threatens to turn everything upside down. This sets the narrative in motion. Maybe there’s a journey to take, a mystery to be solved, a situation to be salvaged… but one thing becomes clear: life will not be the same.

The main character needs to be capable of change. A crisis in storytelling tends to be two-pronged: there’s an internal and external struggle. Resolving both requires the character to grow, which engages the reader. That’s why every plot is a path towards some transformation.

A good story involves a sense of discovery. The protagonist can be guided towards an eye-opening moment, but it should come about as a result of their own choices, i.e. figuring something out or being tenacious. The trick is pulling this off without being predictable.

The only structure that really matters is forward momentum. Who cares if your story has three acts or five acts? Using the right techniques to engage readers is what’s important.

Bottom line: Storytelling is all about bringing a narrative to life. Every reader wants to care about a character who has to overcome an obstacle in a transformative but slightly unexpected way. If you can render that journey in vivid but tense detail, you’ve nailed it.