How to Use Personal Anecdotes in Storytelling
Personal anecdotes are one of the most popular storytelling devices. But how do you know if you've got the right one?
TL;DR Version:
Three questions for selecting powerful personal anecdotes:
#1—What life stories do you share on a regular basis?
#2—How do people respond to those stories?
#3—Does the story teach something of value?
Regular Version: ⬇️
Personal anecdotes are one of the most popular story types of stories because they’re so flexible. You see them in books, in sermons, in keynote speeches, even characters in movies will share personal anecdotes which helps fill in their backstories.
They. Are. Everywhere.
(Insert Psycho theme here.)
But personal anecdotes are particular great for pulling an audience in—they build engagement and rapport right away.
Not to say all anecdotes are equally entertaining. The problem is that when you’re telling your own story, you’re too close to it to be objective. You often need to let others provide the objectivity to see if the story works—or not.
When deciding which of your own personal stories to share, the key is to pay attention to three factors:
#1—What life stories do you share on a regular basis?
If you’ve got a go-to story, good chance it aligns with your personal values, your brand, or both. So put it on the page!
#2—How do people respond to those stories?
If your go-to stories generally receive a positive response, those are likely great personal anecdotes to rely on. Yet there is one more factor we can’t ignore:
#3—Does the story teach something of value?
Granted, sometimes a story can exist just for the sake of the story—for sheer entertainment and enjoyment. Not every story in life needs a “point.” But when you’re writing a nonfiction book (or delivering a keynote speech), every word is valuable real estate.
If you’re a paid subscriber, you’ll find more anecdotal advice below.
And if you’re still struggling with what makes for a good personal anecdote story, consider booking a 60-minute coaching call with me and let’s figure it out.
Got a burning question about book writing? Then book a free 20-minute Q&A.
Did this help you? If so, share this with someone you know via the handy little button below.
And if you want even more content like this, you can subscribe and view the additional paid content below!
Automate your savings (and help support this newsletter) by signing up for the Acorns app. Oh yeah, and get a $5 thank you gift from them when you do.