Yawn?! How could anyone yawn on reading your description of that violent face twitching and those nostrils flaring like a charging rhino! Hilarious!
What a treat to see you break down one of your stories into the different elements that give it its power.
It’s fascinating to read about the neurotransmitters that good storytelling activates. But even better that you translated them into actionable steps writers can take to create a narrative that captures attention, draws the reader in, and delights and surprises them.
Woah! Who knew?! What a treat to read a post that offers real, actionable information instead of the run-of-the-mill writing "advice" we see so often. I know a fair amount about how to produce high-quality writing, but you gave me solid food for thought. Outstanding.
Here is the funny thing Rick... when I read about about your listener yawning... It fired off my mirror neurons and during the entire time I was reading your article... I was yawning big. Ha! Just did it again right after I wrote "yawn"! Jeez.... Love the article and how you share your expert storytelling skills on paper with us. Always, love the read with you at the helm. Gascious interruptions or not!
That's really funny Skip. I didn't think about how making yawning the subject of an essay would be bound to produce them by association. Thanks for the comment. Now enjoy your nap.
...don't you worry Rick...i can do boring as good as anyone...just wait for my thrilling trilogy follow-up to my trash photos where I write and talk about paint (drying)...
Rick, the brilliant humour of this issue aside, I must say that you are a very creative person. The CODE acronym touches on so many important things, and it will stick in my mind. Don't know of how you thought of it, but it's a masterstroke.
Such a good framework for a skill that is more important than it has ever been. Just came across this and it feels relevant:
"storytelling is the ultimate compression algorithm for human attention. everything else, data, logic, tech feeds into it, but if you can’t wrap it in a compelling narrative, nobody will give a shit. people think they make decisions based on facts, but they’re mostly responding to the shape of a story, whether it’s a personal arc, a company vision, or a product pitch.
if you want to accomplish anything meaningful, the story is the interface between it & the world. get that wrong & nobody will give af. get it right & you bend steel with your bare hands."
Really glad you watched and enjoyed the video Kathy. I thought it was hilarious and had to include. It was just a bonus that the content fully supported the CODE structure.
Thanks Camilo. I love how good life is at coming up with the most ridiculous plot lines to share that you could just never make up. Or I guess you could, but you don't have to!
What an interesting look at the confluence of storytelling and neuroscience! (And, since I remain eternally flummoxed by the mind-numbing intricacies of Windows 95 Clipart, I'm duly impressed with your mastery of graphics as well.)
I now have a better idea what your introductory story, "The Case of the Farting Hottie," did to my brain chemistry, and you definitely got my attention. Your wordsmithing never fails to engage, enlighten and entertain.
I appreciate you re-languaging what that opening story was all about and revealing how profound and nuanced the basic plot was through your re-titling skills. I hope I can continue to appeal to the refined aesthetics of such readers as yourself. : )
Oh man, Skip had the same response. It's the "don't think about pink elephants" syndrome I guess. Glad it was informative though. Thanks for the comment.
Yawn?! How could anyone yawn on reading your description of that violent face twitching and those nostrils flaring like a charging rhino! Hilarious!
What a treat to see you break down one of your stories into the different elements that give it its power.
It’s fascinating to read about the neurotransmitters that good storytelling activates. But even better that you translated them into actionable steps writers can take to create a narrative that captures attention, draws the reader in, and delights and surprises them.
Thank you Simon for not yawning. : ) I really enjoyed this dissection process myself. It helped as a reminder for my own future story structure.
Woah! Who knew?! What a treat to read a post that offers real, actionable information instead of the run-of-the-mill writing "advice" we see so often. I know a fair amount about how to produce high-quality writing, but you gave me solid food for thought. Outstanding.
Thank you Maryan! That means a lot. I'm grateful your note of appreciation.
Here is the funny thing Rick... when I read about about your listener yawning... It fired off my mirror neurons and during the entire time I was reading your article... I was yawning big. Ha! Just did it again right after I wrote "yawn"! Jeez.... Love the article and how you share your expert storytelling skills on paper with us. Always, love the read with you at the helm. Gascious interruptions or not!
That's really funny Skip. I didn't think about how making yawning the subject of an essay would be bound to produce them by association. Thanks for the comment. Now enjoy your nap.
That happened to me as well. Ah, those pesky mirror neurons!!
My plans to inspire the masses with this one are rapidly deteriorating before my eyes.
🤣
Amazing..and love the science links. Thank you. CODE disciples unite..though I will stand clear of people I see stifling a yawn from now on..!
: ) CODE on.
This was so good.
Also. I’m now yawning away. There’s got to be something to explore there, Rick?
I agree. Something about mirror neurons and their role in storytelling.
Brilliant
Thanks Mike.
I nearly spat out my coffee from my mouth when I read: I could see her nostrils flaring like a charging rhino".
Another brilliant essay.
he he, thanks Mak, glad it was "nearly" and there was no wasted brew.
…never thought about it but yawns are great feedback, both to audience and author…nice observation rick…i wish more people honestly yawned at me…
but you're making that hard to do. boring wouldn't make it on the list of the first 200 adjectives any reader would ascribe to your writing
...don't you worry Rick...i can do boring as good as anyone...just wait for my thrilling trilogy follow-up to my trash photos where I write and talk about paint (drying)...
. . . will believe it when I yawn
Rick, the brilliant humour of this issue aside, I must say that you are a very creative person. The CODE acronym touches on so many important things, and it will stick in my mind. Don't know of how you thought of it, but it's a masterstroke.
Thank you Ishan
Hilarioius video... will dispatch this post to my Toastmasters club ... thanks, Rick!
ha ha, glad you enjoyed it. I laugh every time.
Such a good framework for a skill that is more important than it has ever been. Just came across this and it feels relevant:
"storytelling is the ultimate compression algorithm for human attention. everything else, data, logic, tech feeds into it, but if you can’t wrap it in a compelling narrative, nobody will give a shit. people think they make decisions based on facts, but they’re mostly responding to the shape of a story, whether it’s a personal arc, a company vision, or a product pitch.
if you want to accomplish anything meaningful, the story is the interface between it & the world. get that wrong & nobody will give af. get it right & you bend steel with your bare hands."
(source: https://x.com/signulll/status/1885362774882030009)
fantastic and right on the money. "get it right and you bend steel with your bare hands." is so good. will you add this to Write Hearted?
On it!
So very helpful Rick. Nice, succinct model for improving one's writing!
Thanks Joe.
Oh my gawddddddd. Video of the year!
This is a fabulous post!
You’re so helpful, Rick. Thanks for this info.
Really glad you watched and enjoyed the video Kathy. I thought it was hilarious and had to include. It was just a bonus that the content fully supported the CODE structure.
Lolol at the intro. I do love the practicality of CODE! I’m going to be munching on that for a while
Thanks Camilo. I love how good life is at coming up with the most ridiculous plot lines to share that you could just never make up. Or I guess you could, but you don't have to!
What an interesting look at the confluence of storytelling and neuroscience! (And, since I remain eternally flummoxed by the mind-numbing intricacies of Windows 95 Clipart, I'm duly impressed with your mastery of graphics as well.)
I now have a better idea what your introductory story, "The Case of the Farting Hottie," did to my brain chemistry, and you definitely got my attention. Your wordsmithing never fails to engage, enlighten and entertain.
I appreciate you re-languaging what that opening story was all about and revealing how profound and nuanced the basic plot was through your re-titling skills. I hope I can continue to appeal to the refined aesthetics of such readers as yourself. : )
Moving forward, I'll try to keep my feedback less intellectual and sophisticated. (Sorry ... couldn't resist.)
Reading about yawning made me yawn (and taught me some great writing tips!)
Oh man, Skip had the same response. It's the "don't think about pink elephants" syndrome I guess. Glad it was informative though. Thanks for the comment.