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The Incredible Power of a Great Story

Beth Ann Erickson

She was an unwanted individual. Discovered in a ditch on a cool Minnesota morning, duct taped inside a box with her siblings, life didn't look very promising for her. Just a few weeks old, doctors worried she wouldn't make it.

But she survived and was immediately adopted when she gained enough strength. Bad news, though.

The next morning, her new family returned her, citing her lack of traditional beauty as the reason this little girl couldn't live with them.

That's when we met.

I arrived at the facility to drop off a check, never dreaming I'd wind up adopting little Rudie. But it was love at first sight. It was probably the chocolate eyes, wagging tail, perky ears. But mostly, I fell in love with her gentle spirit. And the three stitches in her tiny belly ignited every single mother instinct within me.

That was three years ago. Today Rudie's the muse in my pocket, the keeper of Filbert Publishing, the beautiful soul who oversees this publishing house every day.

Interesting story? Perhaps. Perhaps not. How's this one:

Dateline 1982. Just a tiny sapling, they purchased the evergreen to fill the sparse lawn of their new house. However, as most stories go, everything didn't work out as planned. Financing fell through. House didn't pass inspection (hence the financing tanking), we'd already sold our previous home, so we needed to find a new place.

The house we finally chose already had a lawn full of lively vegetation. Yet we had this tiny sapling waiting for a home.

I stuck it in the front yard, half hoping it wouldn't thrive and we could simply mow 'er over. We didn't pamper it. We straddled it with the pickup as we maneuvered to the large back doors to move our possessions into the new abode. We all but abused the tiny growth, waiting for it to shrivel, die, and vanish.

That didn't happen.

The darned tree took root, grew, and (seemed to) thrive in its unlikely location.

A couple decades later, this strong, full grown pine shades our house and nourishes our souls. It watches over me as I work. It cools our house in the summer, and shields the frigid north wind in the winter.

Standing at nearly 30 feet tall, this beautiful adult tree has become a beloved and permanent fixture of everyday life.

End of story.

So... good? Bad? Reaction?

My point: everything and everyone has a story to tell. Whether you're dealing with a human, animal, plant, or inanimate object... every one of 'em has a unique story. Find the story, and you've got more material than you'll know what to do with. You can develop it, expand it, refine it, tinker with it, enjoy it, and relish the process.

Ferreting out the story may, on the surface, seem to be a skill that fiction writers should acquire. True. However, nonfiction writers and (especially) copywriters should develop this as well.

I've developed (hopefully) compelling stories for everything from colon cleansing products to stray cats, from newsletters to websites. Simply said, a compelling story can sell nearly anything... whatsoever... any time... any place.

You can craft a story out of anything.

One of my favorite movies is called, “The Red Violin.” A multi-generational story, this movie tells the story from the point of view of... well... a violin. Well, it was kinda the violin's tale. The story's ending may disturb you to the core, just consider yourself warned if you decide to watch it. It's a haunting tale, to say the least, one that gives me pause every time I pick up my own violin to play.

Nothing captures attention more than a compelling story. Nothing keeps your reader glued to the page more than an intriguing story. Some of the best nonfiction ever written is based on true-life experiences. The most lucrative sales letter ever written (over a billion in sales) chronicles the life of “two young men.”

Stories contain power.

Now harness this power for yourself.

Assignment: Grab any object off your shelf and tell its story. If you don't know the story, make one up.

Now grab a product from your kitchen shelf and tell its story.

Do this each day this week and build a top notch journal.

We'll see you next month!

The 3 Chix

Victoria (with Beth and Donna)