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OutKast wasn’t wrong.

Storytelling is an art, and it’s the kind that’s already living inside of you.

And yet, so many changemakers freeze when asked to “tell a story.”

They overthink it. Overwork it.
And forget that stories, at their core, are simple.

But not you. Not anymore.

This issue isn’t about perfection.
It’s about making you powerful, with the minimum ingredients every story needs.

A story that connects.
A story that moves.
A story that works.

Every story needs a character

And no, that doesn’t always mean one person.

Sometimes the “character” is a community. A coalition. A classroom.
The someone (or someones) navigating the thing.

If you can name who’s affected, you’ve already got your starting point.

Every story needs a conflict

But it doesn’t have to be some grand, soul-wrenching struggle.

Here’s an example…

I wrestled with whether to keep this newsletter on LinkedIn or move it off the platform.
That was a conflict. A real one.

It had tension. It had stakes.
It had me Googling and YouTubing things at midnight like: “Beehiiv vs Mailchimp vs Constant Contact vs Substack.”

When you hear “conflict,” just think villain.
But villains don’t have to be people, either.
Sometimes they’re norms. Narratives. Silences. Systems.

They’re the visible (or invisible) hands shaping the choices people can or can’t make.

Be conscious of the conflict; it’s important for your story(and without one, ain’t no story)

And every story needs a resolution

A change. A shift. A choice. A spark.

Even if that spark is still flickering.

I am always rooting for happy resolutions.
But a story doesn’t have to be wrapped in a bow to be worth telling.

If something moved, shifted, or clicked…that counts.

It doesn’t have to be endgame.

But it should give people somewhere to go.

Even if it’s just a different way to see what’s happening. Events unfolding are still storyworthy.

And yes, in case you didn’t know…
I picked Beehiiv.

You don’t have to try to be the next Toni Morrison or Ava DuVernay.
(Though if that’s in the cards, go off.)

You’re trying to tell stories that build trust.
That helps people see themselves.
That moves the conversation somewhere new.

Start with character.
Name the conflict.
Point to a resolution, even if it’s still becoming.

And trust:
That’s enough.

🛠️ The PHacilitator’s Corner:

Let’s make it real.
Take a moment and think of a story—big or small—that you care deeply about. (Remember, picking my newsletter provider was a story; it can be low-stakes.)

Maybe it’s your own.
Maybe it’s from your community.
Maybe it’s a headline that made you pause.

Now try this:

🧍🏾‍♂️ Step 1: Name the Character
Who’s navigating the challenge?
Is it you? A community? A parent? A movement?
(Think: Who do you want us to root for?)

💥 Step 2: Identify the Conflict
What’s in the way?
Is it a choice? A circumstance? A system?
(Think: What’s the thing they’re up against?)

🔁 Step 3: Spot the Resolution
What shifted, even if just a little?
Was there a decision? A turning point? A new insight?
(Think: What makes this a story, not just a situation?)

Start recognizing the storybones in everyday moments—and soon you’ll start seeing stories everywhere.

This is where storytelling mastery begins:
In noticing.
In naming.
In practicing.

Peace out Cub Scout