The 11 Irresistible Storytelling Elements
Stories that Resonate on a Primal Level
As writers and storytellers, we strive to not only engage readers’ intellect, but also their instincts, emotions, and evolutionary psychology.
Stories that hold them captive, refusing to let go until the last word. Stories that stay with them long after they’ve moved on.
But how does one accomplish such a feat? What is it that weaves the mystical connection between our minds and the narratives in front of us?
A couple of years ago, I listened to a talk by bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes (multiple times, in fact). In it, she argued that the reason we crave stories is the same reason we we evolved to crave desserts: they provide concentrated doses of elements important to our survival.
In the case of something like cheesecake, these elements are fat and sugar.
But when it comes to stories, these are elements we are drawn to because they teach us how to survive. Learning to solve mysteries, emulate wealth and power, and foster connection are tools that lead to an easier (in the biological survival sense) life.
Because of this, these elements in stories act as triggers, tapping into our evolutionary growth, primal instincts, and emotional landscapes. They serve as a gateway between a narrative on the page (or, before such a thing existed, by word of mouth) and our innermost selves.
Story Cheesecake
Furthermore, in her talk, Barnes challenged her audience to come up with their own list of tropes or elements they are drawn to in storytelling. She called it tapping into the “id,” as in the base, biological part of our brain.
She pointed out that for many, a story can be messy when it comes to technique, craft, and structure, but still pull people into its narrative over and over. (Think Christmas Hallmark movies.)
Why? Because the story skillfully accomplishes the most important thing: tapping into those instinctual, primitive, evolutionary elements we are all drawn to.
Of course, people are different! Some readers love dark mysteries and some love fluffy romance. Just like some people love cheesecake and some love peach pie.
But after a considerable amount of study and observation, I’ve noticed 11 umbrellas that tend to cover all of our basest, most biological, juiciest cravings when it comes to story. I refer to this list often as a way to double check that every chapter/scene/page of my story is tapping into something readers love—something I love.
Hopefully, you’ll see something that tends to capture your fancy, as well.
Eleven Instinctual Storytelling Elements
1 | Desire
At the heart of every captivating story lies the spark of desire. We connect with characters who embark on journeys to fulfill their desires because they reflect our own yearnings.
This is the most basic umbrella, covering things like character goals, the emotion of longing, and our search for identity. It’s the heartbeat of every single story.
Tropes:
The Too Big for This Small Life (Beauty and the Beast)
The Obsession (Misery)
2 | Danger
Danger mirrors our instinctual response to survival, pushing us to the edge of our seats, heartbeats racing in unison with the characters we root for. We are designed to crave danger in the stories we consume because it acts as a safe container—a practice round, if you will—for any actual danger we might encounter.
Under this umbrella, I categorize things like dangerous characters, worlds, and moments; the emotion of fear or horror; life and death scenarios; the threat of losing something important; and the ever-important ideal of tension and conflict.
Tropes:
The Star-Crossed Lovers
The Spy Thriller
The Small Town Secrets
The Group Crime Coverup
The Abduction (Stranger Things)
The Government Conspiracy (Stranger Things)
The Reluctance to Heed the Call (Star Wars: A New Hope)
The Almost Miss the Train/Plane/Boat
The Wrongly Accused (The Fugitive)
The Mean Drunk
The Puppet Master
The Slasher
The Haunted House
The Stranger Who Blows in One Night
The Locked Room
The Monster Unleashed
The Man-Made Monster
The Zombie (Warm Bodies)
The Possession
The Descent Into Madness
The The Game is Real (Ready or Not, Jumanji)
The Stepford
3 | Escapism
From fantastical realms to different time periods, settings ignite our imagination. They offer a sanctuary where we can explore the unexplored, a parallel world where we can find everything from solace to adventure.
In this umbrella, I tend to group anything having to do with setting or “vibe.” For example: time period (regency, 80’s), world condition (dystopian, fantasy realm), structure (gothic manor, magical boarding school, pirate ship), temporary state (road trip, summertime, baseball season, globe-trotting), atmosphere (workplace, battlefield, dance competition, small town), location (New York City, Paris, Pacific Northwest).
Tropes:
The Boarding School (Truly, Devious)
The Gothic Manor (Jane Eyre)
The Farm
The Masked Ball (Ella Enchanted)
The Summer (The Summer I Turned Pretty)
The Workplace
The Small Town
The Big City
The Regency
The Haunted House
The Dark Academia
4 | Connection
Our social natures crave connection - bonds of family, friendships, love, and romance, as well as a deeper connection to ourselves. We immerse ourselves in stories that echo the warmth of relationships, the comfort of belonging, and the vulnerability of intimate connections.
Think things like: family, friends, sacrifice, love, romance, loyalty, pining, belonging, touch, intimacy, vulnerability, easter eggs (we feel more connected to a story when it rewards us), relatability.
Tropes:
The Fake Dating (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before)
The Toxic Friend Group
The Beloved Mentor (Good Will Hunting)
The Beauty and the Beast
Nerdy/Popular
Rich/Poor
Evil/Pure
Ugly/Beautiful
The Enemies to Lovers
The Friends to Lovers
The Rivals to Friends
The Sacrifice
The Workplace Romance
The Second Chance Romance (Happy Place)
The City Slicker in a Small Town
The Love Triangle
The Celebrity/Royalty Romance (A Christmas Prince)
The Opposites Attract
The Forced Proximity
The First Love (Love and Other Words)
The Girl/Boy Next Door
The Group Crime Coverup
The Friends that Drifted Apart
The Chosen Family (The House on the Cerulean Sea)
5 | Surprise
Secrets, mysteries, and plot twists spark curiosity. They delight. The allure of the unknown propels us forward, satisfying our innate desire for discovery. Surprises weave complexity into narratives, a mirror to the multifaceted layers of life. Needless to say, we love as much surprise in a story as we can get.
These are the keywords I have highlighted in my personal notes for this section: secrets, mystery, surprise (in reader or character), scandal, reveals, gossip, puzzles, plot twists, complexity, intricacy, layers.
Tropes:
The Fake Dating
The Secret Romance (The Kissing Game)
The Psychological Thriller
The Unexpected Health Diagnosis
The Whodunit (And Then There Were None)
The Surprise Inheritance (The Inheritance Games)
The Small Town Secrets
The Mysterious Benefactor
The Unreliable Narrator
The Rashomon (multiple conflicting accounts of the same event) (Gone Girl)
The “Telephone” Rumor
The False Friend
The Amnesia (Memento)
The Truth Comes Out
The Burying Something in the Ground
The Secret Package
The Found Footage
6 | Joy
Joy and Growth (below), especially, are elements that make life meaningful. Humor, happiness, and comfort draw us close. We revel in whimsy, bask in nostalgia, and embrace the simple pleasures that bring a smile to our faces. Simply put, we crave a lot more of it, and stories are a great place to bask in all kinds of joy.
Again, here are some of my keywords: whimsy, hygge, nostalgia, warmth, comfort, happiness, humor, hijinks, sunshine, holiday, hope, welcome, coziness.
Tropes:
The Friends to Lovers
The First Love
The Chosen Family
The Bookstore/Bakery Setting
The Fish Out of Water (Elf)
The Unexpected Parent (Raising Helen, The Guncle)
The Cozy Mystery
The Practical Joke
The Funny Drunk (The Wedding Singer)
The Misunderstanding
7 | Power
Status, influence, and success fuel our aspirations. We feel drawn to power and authority, whether we’re trying to create it for ourselves or appreciating the expertise or leadership of someone else. These tropes mirror our yearning for growth and prosperity, mirroring the path we at least attempt to tread in our own lives.
Again, here are my personal keywords: status, success, reputation, fame, influence, connection/networking, prestige, authority, respect, strength, knowledge, cleverness, skill, wealth, prosperity, luxury, heists.
Tropes:
The Celebrity/Royalty
The Sudden Rise to Fame (Yesterday)
The Hard-Boiled Detective
The Expert/Mentor
The Sudden Rise to Fame
The Training Montage (Divergent, The Hunger Games)
The Surprise Inheritance (Knives Out)
The Mysterious Benefactor
The Golden Child
The Mansion/Castle
The Heist (Six of Crows, The Italian Job)
The Fat Cat
8 | Competition
Rivalries and competitions ignite our competitive spirit. Think survival of the fittest—except in stories, it goes so much further.
Keywords: rivalries, love triangles, battles, wars, contests, races, games, sports, bets, jealousy, protectiveness.
Tropes:
The Secret Bet (She’s All That)
The Enemies to Lovers
The Love Triangle
The Spy
The Sibling Rivalry
The Jealous Ex
The Cat and Mouse (Catch Me If You Can)
The Magical School (Fourth Wing)
The Set of Trials (Fourth Wing)
The Protect Her At All Costs (The Vampire Diaries)
9 | Bittersweetness
Ethical dilemmas, justice, and honor awaken our sense of morality. Victories, freedom, and inspired transformations echo our quest for integrity and purpose. Think of the feeling you get when you’re feeling especially patriotic or when you see the underdog come out on top, as well as feelings of heartbreak, hurt, and longing. They’re almost addictive (in short bursts). They’re bittersweet.
Keywords: patriotism, truth, hurt (moral high ground), victory, freedom, justice, inspired, overcoming odds, revenge, satisfaction, ethical dilemmas, tradition, myth.
Tropes:
The Underdog
The Chosen One
The They Underestimated Her (The Queen’s Gambit)
The Band of Brothers
The Comeback
10 | Spectacle
Fantastical elements captivate our imagination. Spectacle delivers the awe, excitement, and beauty we crave, transporting us to realms beyond our reality.
Keywords: magic, supernatural, innovation, fantastical, action, wonder, awe, beauty, larger-than-life, horror, discovery.
Tropes:
The Action Sequence (Mission: Impossible)
The Enchanted Forest/Castle
The Magical Creature
The Possession
The Portal (The Chronicles of Narnia)
The Nature Setting (Avatar)
The Popular Kid
11 | Growth
In my humble opinion, transformation is the heartbeat of our existence. It’s what we’re here to do: transform; become. We evolve, we change, and stories that showcase growth mirror our own journeys of redemption, vulnerability, and forgiveness. Whether big or small, they teach us how to expand into our highest potential, one vicarious journey at a time. And, of course, they can go both ways—transforming into something better…or worse.
Keywords: transformations, makeovers, epiphanies, training montage, hard work paying off, unexpected soft side/hard side, new emotions/experiences, watching from the sidelines —> playing in the game, grief, vulnerability, forgiveness, redemption.
Tropes:
The Makeover (The Princess Diaries)
The Beauty and the Beast
The Secret Heart of Gold
The Anti-Hero (Batman)
The Corruption
The Fallen Idol
The Chosen One (The Matrix)
ANY CHARACTER ARC
Keep in mind, these lists aren’t exhaustive, they’re meant to be a reference tool. (Even though they aren’t just tools; they’re the essence of storytelling!) In addition, you’ll notice that some of the tropes fit into more than one category.
For example, The Fake Dating trope can foster deep connection, be funny/joyful, provide surprises (maybe there’s a secretbet going on?), involve power (if one of the partners is popular or wealthy, for example), etc.
The point is, by weaving these 11 components together, we create narratives that resonate on levels deeper than conscious thought. Stories become mirrors reflecting our desires, fears, and aspirations. They draw us in and keep us engaged. They become the vessel through which we experience the world, explore our innermost landscapes, and engage with the very core of what it means to be human.
They’re the candy readers crave, and the ingredients that help us become.
Final Bonus Tip:
The tropes I included are just a way to illustrate the types of things that call to us as readers. They might be big, overarching story tropes (like the Chosen One), or they might be smaller details that build out a single scene.
In Barnes’s talk, she asks people to come up with their own “Id” lists and then lets several audience members read theirs out.
To illustrate this for you bhere, some of the details I love that might make me fall a little deeper in love with a story are:
romantic water scenes (for example, with the characters swimming in a pool or standing in the rain)
scenes that take place under a full moon
fairy godmothers
camping scenes
tiny dragons
magical sweets
funny dinner parties where several people are talking over one another while having their own conversations
lovable giants
unconventional male friendships
The point is, these tropes/cravings/details/etc. are the things that make a story feel like dessert. They’re important elements because they call to us at a deeper, more instinctual level than when we’re talking about simple plot structure.
Of course, your story is much more likely to work if the plot is seamless, the characters are interesting, and the twists are surprising. But you’ll notice more and more as you start looking for it, that there are plenty of examples of stories you probably love, even if the craft itself leaves something to be desired. Simply because it pushes your personal buttons, making the story feel like gobbling candy.
Don’t forget to grab your Story Map!
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