I wasn't always a writer. So, when I started, I had only one question. Where the do I even start?

With no mentor to guide me, I did what I did best: I hit the local library. Not fiction this time, but books about how to write. That's how I discovered storytelling frameworks—a lifeline for a clueless newbie like me! 

Turns out there's structure to this art, and these frameworks gave me a way to write compelling, publishable stories that landed me ghostwriting gigs.

Today, we'll cover 3 essential storytelling frameworks that will help you write stories that grab attention, get readers invested, and inspire them to take action.

Framework 1: The Hero's Journey

The Hero's Journey is an archetypal story pattern identified by Joseph Campbell. It features a protagonist who leaves the ordinary world, faces trials, and returns transformed. It’s a common trope in books, movies, mythology, & religion.

It has 12 stages, but I've distilled it down to a 3-step process for effective storytelling on LinkedIn.

How it Works:

1. Departure

• Ordinary World: The protagonist's known environment.

• Call to Adventure: A disruption, challenge, or inner yearning disrupts the status quo.

• Refusal of the Call: Initial hesitation or fear.

• Meeting the Mentor: Guidance or wisdom to face the unknown.

• Crossing the Threshold: Leaving the comfort zone and entering the unknown.

2. Initiation

• Tests, Allies, Enemies: Facing challenges, gaining insight, & finding those who help or hinder.

• Approach: Preparing for the central crisis.

• Ordeal, Death, & Rebirth: Major setback, leading to transformation.

3. Return

• The Road Back: Integrating lessons learned.

• Resurrection: The final, transformative confrontation.

• Return with the Elixir: Returning changed, with newfound wisdom or abilities.

Framework in Action

1. Departure

"Ever feel like your work should speak for itself? I tried that, it didn't go well.

I'd tuck my short stories into random novels, hoping some unsuspecting reader would find them. And something magical would happen. Maybe they'd hunt me down or a publisher down in the dumps would discover me. I did the same thing with anonymous blogs..."

The opening line, "Ever feel like your work should speak for itself?" hints at dissatisfaction, the implied call to action.

The initial attempts to hide work in novels and anonymous blogs signify the fear-based resistance to stepping outside the comfort zone.

2. Initiation

"Why this absurd charade? Fear. The paralyzing fear of putting my work out there. Of being judged, & worst of all, being found not good enough. But here's what I learned the hard way: Hiding your work hides your potential. No one discovers hidden gems. You have to be brave enough to step into the spotlight. Feedback is a compass, not a weapon. Criticism hurts, but it's the fastest way to improve. Seek feedback from people you trust, not anonymous reactions."

Crossing the Threshold: This phase is clearly marked by the realization, "Hiding your work hides your potential."

Tests, Allies, Enemies: The fear of judgment is the enemy. The writer gains wisdom as an ally ("Feedback is a compass...").

3. Return

"Self-doubt is a writer's eternal companion. Even the greatest writers wrestle with it. Don't let it silence you, let it fuel your determination. I'm not a 'library ghost' anymore. I am building my brand through my storytelling, messy drafts and all. That's the thing about growth—you've got to get comfortable with the uncomfortable."

The return with acceptance of the ongoing struggle, but with a commitment to growth and action. 

Framework 2: In Medias Res

Latin for "in the middle of things," In Medias Res is a storytelling technique that plunges the reader directly into a pivotal moment, then fills in the backstory later for context. It creates immediate engagement & tension.

How it Works:

• Open with a hook: A crisis, a turning point, a surprising realization – make the reader urgently want to know what led to this moment.

• Backstory: Provide the context needed to understand the present situation. What challenges led up to this, and why does it matter?

• Resolution/Insight: Show the outcome of the pivotal moment, and the lessons learned or changed gained as a result.

Framework in Action

Hook

“I'd tuck my short stories into random library books. Hoping some unsuspecting reader would find them.”

The opening line drops the reader into a moment of desperation & unusual actions, immediately prompting questions about what led to this behavior, setting the stage for the backstory.

Backstory

“Maybe they'd hunt me down or a publisher down in the dumps would discover me. I did the same thing with anonymous blogs. Why this absurd charade? Fear. The paralyzing fear of putting my work out there. Of being judged, & worst of all, being found not good enough.”

This section reveals the root cause of the opening action: fear. It highlights the attempts to hide and seek external validation, setting up the tension for the turning point to come.

Resolution/Insight

“But here's what I learned the hard way: Hiding your work hides your potential. No one discovers hidden gems. You have to be brave enough to step into the spotlight. Feedback is a compass, not a weapon. Criticism hurts, but it's the fastest way to improve. Seek feedback from people you trust, not anonymous reactions…” 

Here, we see the shift enabled by the In Medias Res approach. The backstory's tension makes this resolution and the hard-earned lessons all the more impactful.

Framework 3: The Three-Act Structure

A classic storytelling model that breaks down a story into three parts: Setup (introducing characters, setting, and initial conflict), Confrontation (rising tension, the protagonist tackles the challenge), and Resolution (the climax, where the conflict is resolved, and there's growth or transformation).

How it Works:

• Setup: Establish the protagonist's world, their desires, and the obstacles they face.

• Confrontation: Increase the stakes, show the protagonist struggling, reaching a turning point or pivotal moment.

• Resolution: Resolve the main conflict, highlight the protagonist's growth, insights gained, or changes in their world.

Framework in Action: Analyzing Your Story

Act 1: Setup

"Ever feel like your work should speak for itself? I tried that, it didn't go well…”

This establishes the desire for my work to be discovered, and the problem 

Act 2: Confrontation

"Why this absurd charade? Fear. The paralyzing fear of putting my work out there. Of being judged, & worst of all, being found not good enough… "

This is where the tension rises, showcasing the struggle, growing desperation, and the root cause – fear.

Act 3: Resolution

"But here's what I learned the hard way...I am building my brand through my storytelling... That's the thing about growth - you've got to get comfortable with the uncomfortable."

Here is the turning point (realizations about hiding work), decision to change, and the embrace of growth as an ongoing process.

Note: Aren't the 3-Act Structure and the Hero's Journey the same?  

They seem similar, but there are key differences in focus and the impact they create.

Want to know how to choose the right framework for your LinkedIn stories? Stay tuned for the next issue, where I'll break it down and show you the unique power of each. 

That's it for today! 

Pick one of these frameworks and analyze a previous LinkedIn post you've written. Was it a Hero's Journey? In Medias Res? Three-Act-Structure? 

Loved this issue? Hit reply with a YES and let me know. Your insights help shape future content.