Building a blockbuster story
1. Building a blockbuster story
How do you build a blockbuster story? It starts with an understanding of the most effective structure for a data story. Gustav Freytag outlined a dramatic structure with five stages in his book, Technique of the Drama (1895).2. The exposition or problem
The exposition or problem is introduced in the first stage. Sometimes this stage is called the setup or prelude, but regardless of the name, it involves introducing a problem that must be solved. This usually includes the point of view from which the story is presented, the main character(s), and the setting. Some examples include opening lines from novels, the start of a movie, or an introduction to a presentation on data. We want to place a problem upfront because it tells us, “why are we here?” An example is a dragon kidnapping a princess.3. Rising action
The second stage of the story is the rising action. This is where many events of the story take place. These events cause tension. This, in turn, creates suspense that the story will end in a way that is different from how it began. Examples of events that take place during the second stage are the discovery of a secret or the introduction of a new character, such as a knight on a quest to save the kidnapped princess.4. The climax of a story
In the third stage, the climax of the story is reached. This is when all the tension that has been built up during the rising action is released dramatically. At this point in the story, the reader is on the edge of their seat and wants to see what will happen next. The main characters overcome obstacles in their path. It resolves the main conflict within the story and the heroes achieve a victory. An example of an event that takes place during the story's climax is a successful battle against a dragon by a knight.5. Falling action
The fourth stage of the story is the falling action, or the period that occurs after the climax in the story. Most of the events that occur during the falling action tend to contribute to the foreshadowing of events at the end of the story. Examples of events during the story's falling action include the hero's journey home from a victory. There may be a hint of a reward for our knight at the end of the story.6. The resolution or conclusion
The fifth and final stage of the story is called the resolution or conclusion. The conflict that has been occurring throughout the story is finally resolved. In many cases, the story's resolution will involve an explanation of outstanding details and provide a path forward for the main characters. The resolution will also include some sort of happy ending for the main characters. Data stories can use this structure to great effect by making it the basis of a narrative. This is then combined with data insights and appropriate visualizations.7. TV Advertisements as stories
The Super Bowl is a well known televised sporting event with millions of viewers each year. Advertisements shown often tell a story.8. Research shows this structure is effective
Researchers have used the Freytag model to analyze Super Bowl advertisements. They found 30-second Super Bowl ads that closely matched it rated significantly higher and were more memorable than others. Each part of the model can be lengthened or shortened as needed. The key parts of a data story are the narrative, data and visuals.9. Let's practice!
Once upon a time there was a DataCamper that had completed a lesson and was challenged with exercises. Did they succeed? What is the outcome? That person is you, and now is your time to show your knowledge of effective story structure.Create Your Free Account
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