Tell the story
The art of storytelling for people who build things. Why your work matters, said in a way people remember.
Write your story in four lines: where you started, what went wrong, what you learned, what you do now.
Your learning checklist
0 of 6 steps marked · opening your workspace
Start here: the shape of a story
Every pitch, post and case study works better when it follows a shape people already know.
articleKurt Vonnegut on the Shape of Stories (Big Think)
Short lecture on plotting good and bad fortune over time: trouble, rising, Cinderella. Page returned a block to the fetch tool, but search results confirm it.
- Cost / access
- free · Service usage, hosting, or model access may be separate.
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
articleThe 22 rules of storytelling, according to Pixar (Gizmodo)
All 22 rules compiled by storyboard artist Emma Coats. Treat them as guideposts, not company law.
- Cost / access
- free · Service usage, hosting, or model access may be separate.
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
Make the customer the hero
Most brands tell their own story. The fix is a clear message where the customer is the one with the problem.
siteStoryBrand
Donald Miller's messaging framework site; lists the free 'The 4 Rules of Messaging' guide and the StoryBrand Podcast. Other tools there may be paid.
- Cost / access
- free tier
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
articleThe power of strategic narrative (Lenny's Podcast with Andy Raskin)
Episode page with summary and transcript on building a story about a change in the world, then your product's place in it.
- Cost / access
- free · Service usage, hosting, or model access may be separate.
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
Use And, But, Therefore to tighten any message
Park Howell's three-word template (from Randy Olson) turns a flat list of facts into a story with tension.
siteBusiness of Story (Park Howell)
Park Howell's site and podcast home; lists the ABT course, workbook and a free StoryCycle Genie that reviews a site's brand story. Which items are free is not stated.
- Cost / access
- unknown
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
articleArtful Intelligence and brand storytelling (Park Howell blog)
Explains the ABT framework and how it builds trust in marketing and sales.
- Cost / access
- free · Service usage, hosting, or model access may be separate.
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
Structure a talk or brand narrative that moves people
Nancy Duarte's work shows how to move an audience from 'what is' to 'what could be'.
videoThe secret structure of great talks (Nancy Duarte, TED)
18-minute talk on the shared structure of speeches that changed minds.
- Cost / access
- free · Service usage, hosting, or model access may be separate.
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
siteDuarte resources
Free templates and short diagnostics, including a Storytelling Maturity Scale, plus a 7 storytelling tips post.
- Cost / access
- free · Service usage, hosting, or model access may be separate.
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
Write your founder story
A founder story is part of go-to-market because buyers trust a person with a clear reason for doing this.
articleHow to write a founder's story that stands out (Tolstoy)
Practical tips and examples for building trust. Vendor blog.
- Cost / access
- free · Service usage, hosting, or model access may be separate.
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
articleFounder story guide (Copy.ai)
Four parts to cover: problem, spark, journey, vision. Vendor blog.
- Cost / access
- free · Service usage, hosting, or model access may be separate.
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
Turn a client result into a case study
A case study is your proof story: a customer in trouble, what changed, and the measurable result.
docsCreate and manage case studies (HubSpot Knowledge Base)
Shows the building blocks of a case study page: summary, metrics, testimonial, company overview, body and call to action. Note: HubSpot says this feature is being sunset on December 12, 2026.
- Cost / access
- free · Service usage, hosting, or model access may be separate.
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
article27 case study examples (HubSpot blog)
Real examples with a note on what each does well, so you can see the structure in use.
- Cost / access
- free · Service usage, hosting, or model access may be separate.
- Setup
- Follow the linked provider’s current instructions; check account and runtime requirements.
You have made a start when…
- You can tell your story in thirty seconds.
- Each piece of content has a beginning, a turn and an end.
- A stranger can say what you do after one read.
Take this into your assistant.
Additional curriculum comes from the supplied AI Frontiers playbooks. Resource descriptions and cost labels are source guidance, not a fresh verification of pricing, compatibility, or results. Open the official instructions before using a tool. Checklist marks are your own progress notes.