What will I learn about: how the human brain constantly constructs reality as a narrative, automatically casting you as the morally superior hero and forcing cause-and-effect relationships onto random events?

Discover how the human brain constantly constructs reality as a narrative, automatically casting you as the morally superior hero and forcing cause-and-effect relationships onto random events.

What will I learn about: why audiences are irresistibly drawn to flawed characters, which provide a safe psychological space to explore our own hidden faults and deeply ingrained beliefs?

Understand why audiences are irresistibly drawn to flawed characters, which provide a safe psychological space to explore our own hidden faults and deeply ingrained beliefs.

What will I learn about: keep your audience hooked by emphasizing meaningful goals, a technique proven by best-selling novels that use action words like 'do,' 'need,' and 'want' twice as often as other books?

Learn how to keep your audience hooked by emphasizing meaningful goals, a technique proven by best-selling novels that use action words like 'do,' 'need,' and 'want' twice as often as other books.

What will I learn about: the art of plotting by giving your protagonist a 'flawed theory of control,' allowing a rich storyline to naturally unfold when their warped worldview is tested by unexpected change?

Master the art of plotting by giving your protagonist a 'flawed theory of control,' allowing a rich storyline to naturally unfold when their warped worldview is tested by unexpected change.

What will I learn about: why confronting a character's deeply held beliefs creates such gripping conflict, triggering a neurological response in the brain that feels exactly like surviving a physical attack?

Find out why confronting a character's deeply held beliefs creates such gripping conflict, triggering a neurological response in the brain that feels exactly like surviving a physical attack.

The Science of Storytelling

The scientific underpinnings of a good story

Will Storr

★ 4.2 / 5(570 ratings)

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Categories:

Communication Skills Science Creativity

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Did you know that your brain is biologically hardwired to crave specific narrative patterns, and that mastering them can give you near-total control over an audience’s attention?
💡Have you ever wondered why the most unforgettable characters are always the most flawed, and how you can use neuroscience to craft a protagonist that feels hauntingly real to your readers?
💡What's the secret to using 'stimulating details' to bypass your audience's logic and speak directly to their subconscious mind?

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Key Takeaways from The Science of Storytelling

✓Discover how the human brain constantly constructs reality as a narrative, automatically casting you as the morally superior hero and forcing cause-and-effect relationships onto random events.
✓Understand why audiences are irresistibly drawn to flawed characters, which provide a safe psychological space to explore our own hidden faults and deeply ingrained beliefs.
✓Learn how to keep your audience hooked by emphasizing meaningful goals, a technique proven by best-selling novels that use action words like 'do,' 'need,' and 'want' twice as often as other books.
✓Master the art of plotting by giving your protagonist a 'flawed theory of control,' allowing a rich storyline to naturally unfold when their warped worldview is tested by unexpected change.
✓Find out why confronting a character's deeply held beliefs creates such gripping conflict, triggering a neurological response in the brain that feels exactly like surviving a physical attack.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from The Science of Storytelling

Mind Map

The Science of Storytelling

The Brain's Reality Narrative+

The Power of Flawed Characters+

Character-Driven Plot+

Uncovering True Identity+

Stimulating the Brain+

The Drive for Status+

Changing Worldviews+

Actionable Advice+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 9

How does the human brain handle our perception of objective reality?

A. It processes reality objectively but struggles to communicate it to others.
B. It creates a narrative simulation where it casts us as the hero.
C. It relies on stories from our community to form an accurate picture of the world.
D. It filters out emotional events to maintain a strictly logical timeline.

Question 2 of 9

According to the text, why do humans have an overwhelming, deeply rooted urge to understand the minds of others?

A. It is a biological byproduct of our brain's capacity for complex language.
B. It allows us to feel morally superior to our peers by judging their flaws.
C. It is rooted in survival, as human cooperation and social skills were essential for early settlements.
D. It provides endless material for creating entertaining fictional narratives.

Question 3 of 9

What happens in the brain when a person is confronted with evidence that contradicts their deeply held beliefs?

A. The brain's logic centers activate to objectively analyze the new data.
B. The brain triggers a response similar to being physically attacked by a wild animal.
C. The brain immediately rewrites its narrative to incorporate the new perspective.
D. The brain shuts down its emotional centers to prevent psychological distress.

Question 4 of 9

In storytelling, a character's 'theory of control' refers to:

A. The conscious strategies they use to manipulate other characters.
B. Their ability to suppress their emotions during a crisis.
C. The specific set of rules the author uses to dictate the character's fate.
D. The way they believe they must act in order for the world around them to stay stable.

Question 5 of 9

The text suggests that the central question driving our curiosity about a character—'Who is this character, really?'—is ultimately trying to determine what?

A. Whether the character is selfless or selfish.
B. Whether the character will achieve their conscious goals.
C. Whether the character's personality is highly neurotic or agreeable.
D. Whether the character is capable of intense physical bravery.

Question 6 of 9

How can writers effectively utilize the brain's natural curiosity when describing characters and their environments?

A. By providing exhaustive, highly detailed descriptions so the reader doesn't get confused.
B. By giving away just enough information and letting the brain fill in the gaps.
C. By exclusively using dialogue to explain a character's backstory.
D. By avoiding poetic descriptions, which can distract from the main plot.

Question 7 of 9

Why do audiences tend to root for the underdog in a story?

A. We naturally empathize more with low-status individuals because we see ourselves as underdogs in our own goal-based struggles.
B. We believe that low-status characters are inherently more moral than high-status characters.
C. High-status characters rarely experience meaningful plot developments or character arcs.
D. Our brains are wired to reject any narrative where the protagonist starts with an advantage.

Question 8 of 9

What psychological effect occurs when a reader experiences 'transportation' (becoming completely engrossed in a story)?

A. They lose their ability to distinguish between historical fact and fiction.
B. Their attitudes and beliefs become more susceptible to change.
C. They project their own personal flaws onto the protagonist.
D. Their brain's language processing centers temporarily shut down.

Question 9 of 9

What is a recommended strategy for developing a compelling, flawed character regarding their desires?

A. Give them a conscious want that perfectly aligns with what they subconsciously need.
B. Ensure their primary need is to achieve high status, regardless of what they want.
C. Have them consciously want something, but subconsciously need the complete opposite to heal their worldview.
D. Make their wants and needs entirely unpredictable to keep the reader guessing.

The Science of Storytelling — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
2Human brains are wired to love stories.
3We’re especially drawn to flawed characters.
4A well-crafted character is essential; if you shape the right one, a rich plot will inevitably follow.
5A compelling plot should spur us to ask, “Who is this character, really?”
6You can further energize the story by giving the brain room to fill in the gaps.
7In the end, most great stories are fundamentally about a change in status.
8Stories possess a singular power to reshape our view of the world.

The Science of Storytelling Summary & Overview

The Science of Storytelling (2019) shows you how to craft a compelling story using lessons from psychology and neuroscience. These blinks walk you through the steps of creating a narrative that grips your audience by subtly manipulating their brains. From demonstrating how to create a perfectly flawed character to explaining the power of stimulating details, Will Storr reveals the crucial elements that go into building a great story.

Who Should Listen to The Science of Storytelling?

Aspiring writers
Creatives whose work involves storytelling, like journalists or advertisers
Anyone who wants to look at stories more critically

About the Author: Will Storr

Will Storr is an award-winning writer and journalist who has won prizes such as the AFM award for Best Investigative Journalism and a National Press Club award for excellence. His writing has appeared in outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian and he is the author of several critically acclaimed books, such as Selfie: How the West Became Self Obsessed, and his novel The Hunger and the Howling of Killian Lone. In addition to writing, he teaches storytelling classes and leads workshops on the Science of Storytelling.

The Science of Storytelling

If You're Curious About These Questions...

Listen to The Science of Storytelling — Free Audiobook

Key Takeaways from The Science of Storytelling

Learning Tools

Mind Map

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

The Science of Storytelling — Full Chapter Overview

The Science of Storytelling Summary & Overview

Who Should Listen to The Science of Storytelling?

About the Author: Will Storr

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