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Do Stories REALLY Create Connection to Your Reader?

Maybe this is you:

You’ve written MOST of your book. You’ve poured your heart, soul, and your best teaching into the book.

You’ve explained your concepts.

Then you’ve said, “In other words…”

And you’ve explained your concepts again.

That draft is nearly done – and it’s damn good. The writing is tight, sparse even, and every word counts.

But now…

You’ve got me, whispering in your ear. Whispering about… storytelling. Telling you that your hard-won book isn’t going to be effective, that the writing you’ve done, while brilliant, won’t actually make the difference in your reader’s life that you want it to make.

And you’re a little bit angry at me.

But mostly… you’re a little bit worried that I’m right. That your book ISN’T what you wanted it to be – the book that can change a life – but you’re not 100% sure how to take it from where you are now to where you want it to be.

Are stories the missing piece?

My darling fellow author, I would never tell you to do something if it didn’t matter! When was the last time I fussed at you about learning better grammar? Um… never! Why? Because THAT can be fixed in editing.

What can’t be fixed is the lack of stories. They aren’t something you can shoehorn in, after the fact.

How do I know?

First off, I have a degree in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. So yes, I’ve done the studying of writing and storytelling in a University setting. I’ve also attended writer’s conferences around the world and studied writing with some of the top names in current literary work.

I’ve written more than 20 books OF MY OWN. The ones that outsell the others, that get the best reviews, and that have people contacting me – even years later – are the ones with the most stories. The “cut-and-dry” ones are just that… dry.

But more than that, I’ve got thousands of articles under my belt. Yes, thousands. I used to blog nearly daily at TheOutdoorPrincess.com (which… kinda still exists. More on the tech stuff in a day or two.)

Plus NINE YEARS of writing to you, here. At least weekly, often times more.

People will TELL you that they want cut-and-dry articles, pithy things like: Five Ways to Keep Readers Turning Pages (and then a short article with JUST the five ways.)

But here’s the thing:

Search engines may love that crap.

But PEOPLE don’t.

People want to connect. They want to know you’re a real person – with strengths, weaknesses, idiosyncrasies, dreams, hobbies, and flaws. They want to read your word and feel like they know YOU.

My least-received articles are the bland, here are your steps, articles.

The best? The ones where I share about me. About my spiders, about that time my computer blew up, stories about my kids.

Now, here’s where I KNOW that stories actually teach people:

When my clients quote my stories – and their teaching points – back at me.

Sometimes this is from my live teaching, i.e. my courses, where they HEAR me.

But it also happens from students who have read my articles for YEARS and then quote the stories there back at me – either in their emails or on our calls.

So yes, your book needs stories. It’s not a nice-to-have, it’s the difference between a book that makes and impact and one that doesn’t.

It all starts when you join me for “Storytelling for Non-Fiction Authors: Learn to Write Captivating, Emotion-Invoking Stories that Keep Your Reader Turning Pages and Get Your Message Across.”

And I want you to enroll. Here. Now.

This is a 5-part LIVE course that is kicking off November 8. You’ll join me and a small, dedicated group of authors who are ready to share their message – and have it be heard and received. By using the power of storytelling so share small stories, vignettes, and anecdotes that help people feel – and REMEMBER.

And like with any of my training, you get lifetime access to the materials!

During this five-week course, you’ll learn:

  • How to craft compelling stories that will have your readers’ emotions change – without needing to be laugh-out-loud funny OR so dark that they are crying.
  • When to use a story and when a summary or teaching point is better.
  • How to tell your own personal stories to show your journey and in a way that still creates credibility and authority.
  • Why stories are more effective than an acronym and how to use your named system, process, or method and stories to facilitate more learning in your reader.
    And more.

To sweeten the deal, the first 10 authors who enroll get a half-day virtual storytelling retreat with me. During our time together, you’ll get live, hands-on writing exercises that will move your storytelling skills forward – fast!

Enroll Now >>> Live Course + Lifetime Access

Facts tell, stories sell. And your story can change the world!

 

Kim Galloway
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