4 Types of Stories to Master Storytelling
When I see articles on the different types of stories out there, I see similar things…
I keep hearing about the Hero’s Journey.
Although that is great, I want to change it up.
I believe there are different types of stories out there that are not getting much love.
I want to shed light on these types of stories.
I believe in purposeful storytelling.
Why are you spreading a message?
Is it for a hobby?
For better conversation material?
Need new content for the brand?
My goal with these questions is to help you cultivate a purpose behind your stories.
Behind purpose lies clarity.
That’s when it’s easier to spot the multiple types of stories out there.
The Purpose of Storytelling
Before I share all the different types of stories, I want to share the BASIC truth.
This is where unity is rooted under diversity.
‘The suspense is killing me. What is it?’
The purpose of storytelling is to connect ideas to make a point.
How you make a point is up to you.
- The point can be to make someone laugh.
- It can be to teach.
- To inspire.
Behind the world of content, storytellers seek context.
In the information age, the storytellers make sense of the information.
Now with that being said, let’s learn a few different types of stories.
Look out for the types which suit your needs & personality type.
1. Reporter Styled
A reporter seeks information.
Then filters information. (Separates credible sources from garbage sources).
Combines relevant information.
Then delivers all that information in a compelling way that engages an audience.
You’ll notice a lot of rappers call themselves musical reporters.
Some rappers talk about a violent upbringing, crime & selling drugs in their songs.
When asked by others if that’s the life they lived…
That’s when these rappers say:
‘Man, I’m just reporting on my experiences.’
This type of storytelling is for those who are inquisitive by nature.
They are constantly looking at the world around them and learning.
2. Anecdotes
-The reporter looks out.
-The person telling anecdotes looks in.
An anecdote is defined as an:
Interesting story about a real person.
That’s what the ArmaniTalks brand is built on.
I tell anecdotes that have a meaningful lesson behind them.
In my book, Word Play, I share 101 of these anecdotes.
I turn regular events from my life into educational/entertaining stories.
The stories have practical wisdom that can lead to changes of perception in the reader.
Grab a copy of Word Play here:
Since my brand deals with communication skills, that’s the theme of my stories.
An example of an anecdote is of the first time I choked a speech.
I talk about how I ran away from public speaking after the choke job.
After months of running away, I decided to go back to the Toastmaster club & try again.
When I got back on stage, there was a sense of confidence because I got the worst part out of the way.
The lesson of the story was that behind our darkest moments… lies light.
It’s just up to us to find it.
Anecdotes are often told by introspective people who like to learn and teach.
3. Fictional Storytelling
You ever met a liar?
‘Too many too count.’
You ever lied? And don’t lie to me…
‘Don’t tell anyone. But yes, I have.’
That’s a form of storytelling too.
Liars are some of the greatest storytellers out there.
Because they have a gift for making things up.
It’s fake.
Or you can call it fantasy.
Rather than using fantasy to harm.
How about you use it for good?
Create imaginary characters, conflicts & plots.
That’s how mega-series like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings & Dune were born.
Even behind fantasy, there are meaningful lessons that can be applied to life.
This type of storytelling is great for those who are looking to harness their wild imagination.
4. Teaching
In college, I was shocked to see how a lot of my professors were poor storytellers.
‘Teachers are supposed to be storytellers?’
Hell ya. That’s what they get paid for.
Teachers don’t get paid to share information.
Teachers get paid to make sure their students understand.
Any dummy can get on stage & read off some PowerPoint slides.
Trust me, I know.
That’s what many of my teachers did.
But luckily, one of the teachers surprised me.
My Physics professor went out of his way to make sure I understood physics.
- He used analogies.
- He told personal stories of his experience with physics concepts.
- And he told stories of why we were doing the lab experiments.
By knowing the why, we had context.
And by having context, we saw how the experiments would help us in our personal lives.
Now we were enthusiastic about the class.
A true teacher should always be storytelling.
This type of storytelling is done by a person who is knowledgeable in many fields and has a student they are responsible for.
Practice The Variety of Storytelling
I resonate the most with anecdotes.
But guess what?
‘What?’
I use all 4 styles of storytelling.
Just because you resonate with 1 doesn’t mean you demean the others.
You know you are advancing in storytelling when you see the 4 types of stories blending into 1.
It’s like 4 friends walking around a big table.
They all get a different angle of the table.
But at the end of the day…it’s the same table.
Likewise, it’s the same with storytelling.
Ultimately, the fundamentals are timeless.
Connect ideas to make a point.
A story told correctly can change someone’s perception forever.
Changing perceptions is what leads to changing behaviors.
You get better at storytelling by practicing storytelling.
Experiment with these 4 styles & watch them combine!
Did you know you can speed up your journey by reading more stories?
‘Where can I read more stories?’
In my free daily newsletter. Each email is short story-styled!
Every day, you will be delivered a new short story that will help you:
-Improve your confidence & self-esteem.
-Build clear speaking & writing skills.
-Learn the art of being funny.
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