Hey Creativepreneurs🔥

Welcome back to CTV-101, a new kind of class that skips the math and science and gets to what you really care about, CREATING and making $$$ 🤑

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon” - Brandon Sanderson

Was this email forwarded to you?

THIS IS WHY YOUR STORYTELLING IS TRASH🗑️

1. Conflict

Creating a clear conflict in your story is the flour in your cake, without it you have no real substance

At any moment in a story you should be able to understand the purpose of the character and what he or she is trying to achieve

In addition, a deep and compelling conflict is what keeps someone engaged throughout the entirety of the story, or leads them to start scrolling through TikTok watching cat videos definitely could not be me

One of my favorite examples of conflict is Star Wars… OBVIOUSLY lol😆

The Galactic Empire vs. The Rebel Alliance…

The empire (antagonist) wants to assume control over the entire galaxy as a tyrannical government and the Rebel Alliance (protagonist) wants to establish more of a free market society where people are free to do as they please #MERICA🇺🇸

2. BME

Beginning, middle, and end…

It seems like a no brainer but many people do not understand how powerful this is🔥

When you’re writing a story, the basic framework is a beginning, a middle, and a compelling ending

A good beginning does these things…

1. Asks questions

2. Establishes mood/tone

3. Introduces main characters

A good middle does these things…

1. Gives context

2. Builds emotional connection with characters

3. Creates an easy transition to the ending

A good ending does these things…

1. Answers questions

2. Prompts new questions

3. Resolves tension

Not having a solid understanding of your beginning, middle, and end is like driving across the United States without a GPS…

You have no sense of direction 🧭

A solid BME structure creates CLARITY

3. TOO MANY “THENS”

How does this story sound…🤔

“One day there was a filmmaker named John. John knew he wanted to make epic movies so he went to film school. Then he got a job working for a production company. After that, he then went to make movies in Hollywood. Then he finally landed a deal with a producer to shoot the movie he’s always dreamt of”

Not great right?

Now how does this sound👀

“One day there was a filmmaker named John. John knew he wanted to make extravagant movies in Hollywood, BUT he lacked the experience and education to do so. UPON discovery of this, he applied to film school to receive a formal education. After graduation, he had the opportunity to gain experience working in the film industry at a production company. AFTER spending years gaining experience, he was finally able to land a deal with a producer to make the film he had dreamt of ever since he was a kid”

See the difference…

It’s important to let the viewer/listener figure out the story in their own mind rather than telling them exactly what is happening🧠

Perfect clarity will harm your film, while an appropriate amount of confusion will make it more engaging

Using words such as “But”, “Upon” and “After” are great substitutions for the word then and allows the reader/listener to figure out what is happening in the story on their own terms

ACTIONABLE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY

1️⃣Always prioritize conflict in your storytelling—it's the cornerstone of compelling narratives. Clearly establish the clash between the protagonist and antagonist early on to guide your creative decisions throughout the story development process. Remember, conflict drives tension, engagement, and ultimately, viewer interest, so ensure it's prominent and well-defined in every aspect of your narrative

2️⃣Having a solid understanding of your beginning, middle, and end is crucial to telling a good story. When you are storyboarding a new idea, make three sticky notes at the top titled beginning, middle, and end. Make more sticky notes below those three with more details about the context within each section of the story. This will help you see the bigger picture and help you patch any holes in your story

3️⃣ To craft engaging storytelling, vary your transition words to maintain intrigue and suspense. While "Then" provides a straightforward sequence, incorporating alternatives like "But," "Therefore," "After," and "Upon" injects dynamism into your narrative. This approach allows the audience to actively participate, forming their own interpretations and staying captivated by the unfolding plot

Remember it’s not about how much you know, it’s about what you do with what you know

Implementation is 🔑

For kicks and giggles:

🎧: What podcast I’m listening to this week: Combating the Love of Money While Pursuing Wealth by Ryan Pineda

📖: What book I’m reading: Still on The Relentless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer LOL I gotta finish this book

🎵: Favorite song of the week: High and Low by Empire of the Sun

🤩: Creator I’m taking inspo from: Tucker Doss on IG

Storytelling is powerful, so use these tips wisely and go make some incredible narratives that will change lives forever!

You friend,

Caleb