Everyone loves a good story. It can take your mind away to a completely different place, lift stress from every day life, and if it’s well done, build up your confidence, spark your imagination and weave strong, lasting connections between two people. Modern storytelling via text is no different.
Modern Storytelling And You
Just think about all how good it would be to tell a story that would make your partner feel all that! Want to give it a try? Here are a few basic rules for creating intriguing stories:
1. Decide what you want you partner to take away from the story:
– Do you want them to feel loved?
– Would you like to let them know that they are beautiful or handsome?
– Do you want to give them encouragement before a difficult challenge?
– Are you looking to turn up the heat before your next rendezvous?
– Or, do you just want to let them know that you miss them?
2. Open up
Here is your chance to open up and show the real you.
Stories are the perfect opportunity to show vulnerability without getting all gushy. “There once was a guy who was in love with a blonde haired beauty…”
Poetic license is a real thing 🙂
3. Harvest personal experiences
You don’t have to be Walt Disney to come up with something to write about. Play off a recent trip to the mall, a dinner with friends, your commute to work, or even your last vacation – the more relatable, the better.
4. Make it about them
Story-time is not the right time to be egotistical. If you want to capture their attention, then make the story about them.
5. Create a little conflict
There should be some sort of struggle in your story that your hero overcomes. It’s your story, so feel free to play the part of the hero. Does she lose her purse and a gallant stranger (you!) has to save her? Or does her car breakdown on the side of the road, and you arrive just in time to lend a hand? Remember, a little conflict is good. It wasn’t all easy sailing for Snow White, now was it?
6. Keep it simple
What are your favorite movies? Let me guess: probably the ones that don’t have 50 million plots, right? Keep the same thing in mind when telling a story:
– Have one key take away message. For example: do you want your partner to feel loved? Missed?
– Don’t get lost in details (unless they are important). Does it really matter that she was driving a purple 1989 Ford Escort with pink glitter dice hanging in the window?
– Keep it short and sweet. Rambling makes listeners lose interest.
Modern Storytelling Tips
Now that you have the nuts and bolts needed to build a great story, here are a few practical tips on how to tell your story using modern means of communication – because there’s nothing like getting an old-school love story delivered straight to your inbox.
1. Break up your messages
Send your messages as if they were paragraphs from a book. Don’t send a message where the recipient has to scroll, or it loses its simplicity.
2. Pick the right moment
Writing an epic romance before your partner’s yearly review is going to bomb. Sending a super sweet bedtime story while they are away on business is probably going to win points. It’s that simple.
3. Mix it up
Modern communication is very versatile. Write a few text messages and then finish off the story with a seductive voice message, or even a Snapchat if you’re good at charades…
4. Get your money’s worth
Stories take energy and creativity to write, so once you’ve written it, don’t just let it die in their inbox. Reference things from the story in future text messages “Hello princess xyz”. Email random photos referring to your story – it will instantly take them right back into it.
Ready to dive headlong into the world of modern day storytelling? You have all the tools you need, so what’s holding you back?! Good luck! Happy story telling and happy texting!
