3-Step Process to Writing Irresistible Stories

Have you ever participated in a tug of war? Did you enjoy it?

Two rival groups at opposite ends trying to pull each other over a line. As a spectator, how would you feel if one group pulls the other over the line with the very first pull?


Disappointment, dissatisfaction... You might be happy if you were rooting for the winning group. However, you would have felt much better if there was a long winded war - instead of instant K.O.

All good stories are like tugs of war - the back and forth struggle between both groups is what makes a tug of war (and good stories) so interesting.

A tug of war between two rival groups is about to start.

You are watching within the audience. The war starts. Quickly, one group pulls so hard, it seems like they are going to win the war.

And then suddenly, there is a reversal. The other group inexplicably draws out their hidden reserve of strength. The tide of war changes. Now, it's the stronger group that's being oppressed - hanging on for their lives.

It seems inevitable that this group will win. You wait patiently for the other to lose their fighting spirit and the match. However, you feel worried. Indeed the group is being pressured. However, for a while now, there has been a standstill.

Slowly but surely, they are getting back in the game. They are refusing to throw in the towel. You hear low animal grunts. You can see their veins sticking out of their necks, arms and legs like tree roots. Now it's the turn of the other guys to be on the ropes.

Their faces looked shocked. They know they should have won but something is wrong. Now, they are afraid. Their fear makes them lose concentration and their situation worsens. The other guys have the upper hand now. They are smiling. They are pulling hard. They know their win is inevitable. Just a few seconds more but then…

The girlfriend of one of the guys in the losing group screams his name. She shouts, "You can do it!" Your gaze shifts from the girlfriend to the boyfriend. You see his pained contorted face turn to an evil grin. You see his massive muscles stiffen like a vice and like Hercules, single-handedly stops the losing streak.

He shouts at his fellows, "Ladies dig your legs into the ground!" They begin to chant, "Dig, dig, dig, dig." Their legs dig deeper into the ground, channeling the immovable strength of the earth into their weary bodies. And then the worries on their faces disappear.

Slowly, the tide changes.

They are pulling the other guys - one strong pull at a time like a motor gear. They keep pulling and pulling. Now, the other guys look like they are about to lose.

You are tense. Your muscles are stiff and you are sweating profusely as if you were a part of the warring groups. You are exhausted. Secretly, you hope that one of them - any of them would lose so that you can relax.

You are about to get your wish but then one little guy with his small high pitched voice speaks. He says, "Guys, they are using the ground to support themselves. Let us dig too." They burrow their legs deeper into the ground but it doesn't work. It looks like they are going to lose after all and you're beginning to feel relieved.

The little guy screams again, "Don't give up. Let's try again." They try again with much more vigor than the last time. They strain their muscles to the limit and then it clicks - they are standing their ground.

Pause

How do you feel?

Do you want to know how it ends?

This almost win - almost lose cycle is the secret of irresistible stories. Instead of worrying about climax, anti-climax, reversals and all other big grammatical crap, think about tugs of war instead

Irresistible stories are tugs of war

3-Step Process to Writing Irresistible Stories

First, locate the opposing forces - the good guy and the bad guy, the actor and the boss, the hero and the villain. Whatever it is, locate it.

Second, make the pull - the villain usually starts out stronger and that is fine. Make one force pull the other to the line. When it seems like the weaker force is about to be pulled across the line, make a reversal.

Give the other force enough strength to slow down, stop and reverse the tide.

Repeat this pull-reversal cycle as many times as you can. This will hook your readers from the beginning to the end like I just did.

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