Margot Leitman Storytelling Guidelines

Storytelling Guidelines from “Long Story Short: The Only Storytelling

Guide You’ll Ever Need” by Margot Leitman
• Keep it true.
• Change names and identifying characteristics of other people in your story
if you feel it’s necessary.
• Make sure your story has a universal theme that is relatable, not self-
indulgent or overly personal.
• Have multiple points of entry.
• Don’t be heavy-handed with your message. Let the story speak for itself.
• If you’re not “over it,” don’t tell it.
• Tell us what you were thinking at the time of your story.
• Reveal your inner monologue, from A to Z.
• Cut the fat when introducing external characters. Use composite
characters and nickname them when you can.
• Make sure we root for you. Be an underdog.
• Show us your flaws and use them to your advantage when telling your
story.
• If there are full-circle connections within your story, be sure to use them.
But don’t force a connection.
• Be the star of your story.
• Add nostalgia (songs, television shows, fashion styles from the time of the
story).
• Keep us on our toes by incorporating the unexpected.
• Keep it conversational, not presentational. Cut out anything you wouldn’t
say to a group of your friends. You want your story to sound natural.
• Make sure you aren’t just listing things, going on a rant, or making a
political speech.
• Make sure you get to the “meat” of the story.
• If you care, we care. Passion will take you far. Emotionally respond to the
tale you are recounting, but don’t yell at us!