#65 The Middle of a Good Story

Most people know how to start a story. But few know how to keep people listening once they’re in it. 

In this episode, we break down what actually makes the middle of a story work, using a Nate Bargatze clip (played in the episode) as the case study.

Key ideas:

• Why great storytellers rely heavily on dialogue
• How two or three details can paint an entire scene
• Why stories move through action and reaction, not timelines
• The difference between a story and a Wikipedia entry
• How cause-and-effect keeps listeners engaged

A simple framework to use immediately:

• Open strong
• Add dialogue
• Add a few details
• Show action then reaction

Good stories are never great the first time. You need to test it, revise it, and tell it again.

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