The Storytelling Lab

Two Simple Words from South Park's Creators to Improve Your Storytelling


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"South Park’s creators cracked the code on storytelling, and their method will instantly improve your stories." - Rain Bennett


In this episode of the Storytelling Lab podcast, Rain discusses the common pitfalls that storytellers face, particularly the challenge of tying together various elements of a story to maintain audience engagement.


But there is a simple yet powerful storytelling principle to help avoid this, straight from the creators of South Park: the "But, Therefore" model. This method ensures that every event in your story is causally linked, keeping your audience engaged and eager to know what happens next.


Through examples from popular films and personal anecdotes, Rain illustrates how effective storytelling requires a clear cause-and-effect relationship between events, urging listeners to apply these techniques in their own storytelling endeavors.


Whether you’re crafting a film, writing a LinkedIn post, or creating short-form content, this approach will transform how you structure your stories. Tune in to learn how to ditch the "And then…" trap and create stories that truly captivate.


In this episode, you will learn:


  • What simple model made the South Park creators excellent storytellers
  • The "and then..." trap and how easy it is to fall into
  • How to structure stories for maximum engagement
  • How effective stories are made up of cause-and-effect chains
  • Why rearranging your story in creative ways doesn't sacrifice the connection of story events



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The Storytelling LabBy Rain Bennett

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