I’m trying something new over the next few days. I’ve lined up blog posts from content writers I know—all phenomenally talented and darn good people—and I’m going to reinvent headlines for them.
Now, I want to make it clear that there is nothing wrong with their current lines. In fact, quite the opposite. This is not a critique. It’s strictly an exercise for me. Gotta build that blog line muscle.
Doug Paton is content writer in the education and outdoors space. He’s got a knack for storytelling, and he’s an all-around nice guy to boot. (He’s Canadian, so he has to be by law. Also, I want credit for not making the obvious “boot / boat” joke.)
He was kind enough to let me take a crack at one of his signature posts, Are You Telling Your Story Correctly? It’s a fun piece that sums up everything Doug.
…so, fishing & stuff.
source: Daniel J. Cox/Natural Exposures.com
Give it a read. Add a few claps, then come back and read these lines I wrote for him.
| 1 | How a polar bear taught me to tell my story |
| 2 | Here’s the story telling technique that made Tarantino famous |
| 3 | Why I start stories from the end, even when they involve my brother & a bear |
| 4 | How to become a better storyteller (taught to me by a polar bear) |
| 5 | 3 small changes for people who want to tell a better story but don’t know where to start |
| 6 | How to bore people to tears with your best story (and why you shouldn’t do that anymore) |
| 7 | Bug bites, polar bears & storytelling: The common thread between all 3 |
| 8 | the polar bear turned my 10-day trip into a 5—and taught me these 3 story techniques |
| 9 | People you tell your story to really wish you knew this trick |
| 10 | This intro will bore you to death (and when you see the way I change it, you’ll be revived) |
| 11 | Want to really engage your audience? Start with the polar bear. |
| 12 | How to make your best stories better |
| 13 | My boring story of almost being eaten by a bear (and how I made it interesting) |
| 14 | Why you should ever start your stories at the beginning |
| 15 | You don’t have a bad story. You’re just telling it wrong. |
| 16 | Where should you position the hook of your story? |
| 17 | what camping taught me about telling a better story |
| 18 | Stop burying your lead (and other lessons learned from being chased by a bear) |
| 19 | Can you help me place the polar bear in this story? |
| 20 | Do you know where to start your story? Are you sure? |
| 21 | 3 tips to make your stories more listenable |
| 22 | The secret to better storytelling lies in this polar bear’s mouth |
| 23 | You’ve got a good story. You’re just telling it wrong. |
| 24 | 3 ways to pump some energy into your lazy story |
| 25 | The way you’ve been telling your story is wrong. Here’s how to fix it. |
| 26 | How changing the subject of your best story makes it better |
| 27 | My polar bear story (with a twist) |
| 28 | To get people’s attention in 2 seconds, start with this part of your story |
| 29 | You don’t need a polar bear in your story to make it interesting |
| 30 | The polar bear that chased me doesn’t want you to know this story-telling technique |
| 31 | How to apply a mixed-up style to your storytelling techniques |
| 32 | Why your story isn’t all that interesting and how to fix it |
| 33 | The little known method for making stories better |
| 34 | The interesting fact about storytelling |
| 35 | Telling your stories wrong might get you eaten by a polar bear |
| 36 | 3 secrets to better storytelling |
| 37 | 3 mistakes people make when telling their story |
| 38 | Stop telling your story wrong—and make it interesting |
| 39 | Here’s the reason why you’re boring to talk to |
| 40 | The secret to better stories? Start at this part. |
| 41 | The sooner you know these 3 storytelling techniques, the faster you’ll learn if the bear got me |
| 42 | How almost being eaten by a polar bear taught me to be a better writer |
| 43 | 3 little secrets to telling a better story |
| 44 | Here’s how to make your story more interesting |
| 45 | Are you focusing on the wrong parts of your story? |
| 46 | Here’s how to tell your polar bear story |
| 47 | Your secret to better storytelling? Bears. |
| 48 | People didn’t want to hear my polar bear story until I started doing this |
| 49 | How to make your lead-in stronger than polar bear (written by a guy almost attacked by one) |
| 50 | Mixing story your up engaging is |
| 51 | What I learned about storytelling from almost being eaten by a bear |
| 52 | Starting with this part of your story will make people snap to attention |
| 53 | How something like being eaten by a bear can change your life (and your story) |
| 54 | Your secret to a better story may involve a polar bear |
| 55 | The story of Morgan Freeman, a bear & my brother |
| 56 | What do meeting people, story telling and polar bear all have in common? |
| 57 | Asking this one question makes meeting people easy |
| 58 | I wonder how the polar bear tells his side of this story? |
| 59 | Even my story about almost being attacked by a polar bear was boring until I did this… |
| 60 | Who else wants to know what a polar bear taught me about storytelling? |
| 61 | Skip to the good stuff (and 2 other storytelling tips) |
| 62 | How to hook your audience from the very beginning |
| 63 | Does your story zig when you should zag? Here are 3 ways to find out. |
| 64 | 3 storytelling tips about 2 brothers, 1 canoe and a gigantic polar bear |
| 65 | Starting at the beginning may actually be a terrible idea |
| 66 | What’s worse? The bugs, this bear or your story? |
| 67 | The good news about your terrible storytelling |
| 68 | Why you stories are boring (and how to fix them with a polar bear) |
| 69 | Camping, bugs and man-eating polar bear. This is how you tell a story. |
| 70 | 3 tips that will have your readers saying thank you |
| 71 | Here’s the trick I use to make conversations more interesting |
| 72 | When to drop in the polar bear to create a better story |
| 73 | Why other stories sound better than yours: 3 tips to make your audience stick around |
| 74 | Storytelling as easy as 3,2,1 |
| 75 | How to tell stories in the Tarantino method |
| 76 | 3 quick tips to make you a better story teller |
| 77 | This is the story of how I escaped death (and how I learned to tell it better) |
| 78 | You’re not still telling your story from the beginning, are you? |
| 79 | Where would you put the polar bear in this story? |
| 80 | See how easily you can punch up your story |
| 81 | Where should you put the good parts of your story? Ask the bear that almost ate me. |
| 82 | How to tinker your story and rearrange the best part |
| 83 | Story hacking with a polar bear |
| 84 | How to make people cling to every word of your story |
| 85 | The ugly truth about your most interesting story |
| 86 | The ultimate 3-tip guide to better storytelling (and a polar bear) |
| 87 | Here’s the mixed-up method that Tarantino used to tell Reservoir Dogs |
| 88 | My story about being chased by a bear was boring until I did this |
| 89 | How to tell your story better (and have people listen until the end) |
| 90 | Fact: All stories are better with a polar bear. |
| 91 | 3 tweaks to make your story more interesting |
| 92 | What’s your polar bear story? |
| 93 | How to mix-up your story order to make it more interesting |
| 94 | 3 tips for better stories |
| 95 | The best way to tell your story probably isn’t how you think |
| 96 | Does your story conjure up Ben Stein or Morgan Freeman? |
| 97 | Does your story have a twist? Try using this polar bear technique |
| 98 | Don’t take the polar bear out of your storytelling equation |
| 99 | Quentin Tarantino changes the order of his story and you should too. |
| 100 | This polar bear taught me storytelling. Then he tried to eat me. |
| 101 | Running from a polar bear can teach you a few things. Like this storytelling technique |
| 102 | Everyone’s got a polar bear story. This one’s mine |
Overall: This was fun! Doug selected the bolded options—and judging by the number chosen, I’d say I did all right.
Lessons: It’s clear the polar bear is the hook. So there’s no reason not to highlight it in the headline. And it’s worth noting that Doug has an alternate name for this piece on Medium; Are You Telling Your Polar Bear Story? I didn’t want to copy it too closely, but damn if it just doesn’t make sense.
- There were a few times my brain strayed to directions not included in the story—the Tarantino lines, specifically. I had to reel it back in. Stupid brain…
- It’s tough to get into another writer’s head. You’ve got to keep their personality and brand in mind as you write. That’s not easy if you’re not like them. (More on this in a few days)
- Bears are mean. Glad I’m an indoors guy.
- Canada seems pretty
If you want outdoor or education content, give Doug a shout. Tell ‘em Large Marge sent ya.
Time: 2 sessions, 55 minutes
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