Pinky: “Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?”

The Brain: “The same thing we do every night,

Pinky—try to take over the world!”

Pinky and The Brain

How many of you knew those lines as soon as you saw the world’s most famous lab rats? 

C’mon, don’t be shy; raise your hands up high.

Do you know why you know those 3 lines – so well? It’s because their story is our story. Many of us wish to take over the world, even if we have to do it from our ‘laboratory cages.’

But I have a confession to make.

I’ve never seen 1 episode of “Pinky and The Brain.” Nope, not one, but that doesn’t stop me from knowing their story. Not only do I know their story, but I also spread it like I’m a loyal fan.

Pinky and The Brain’s story is empowering. Even though we know they might fail, we hope they will succeed.

Having a compelling story to be ‘share-worthy should be the goal of every author. Well, that is if the author wants millions of potential readers to talk about their book.

Think about every absolute bestseller. What’s the common denominator? They all have a ‘shareable’ story that goes a little something like this:

“Gurrrrrl, did you hear about that book that suggest Jesus was married to Mary Magadelene?”
What? Who? The prostitute?!
“Um-hmm. I hear the book is based on facts too.”
“So there’s proof?”
“Um-hmm.”
“Do you know what’s going to happen to The Church if this gets out? “
“Lawd, hah mercy.”
“Well I’m reading it right now. I’ll let you know what’s up.

~ THE DAVINCI CODE

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Or what about this one? I know you all got the e-mail with the message there was a book teaching our children about devil-worshiping. It warned everyone who read the e-mail NOT to let our children read this new book about wizardry.

~HARRY POTTER

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And my personal favorite –

“Only in America can a  skinny black man with a funny name, raised by white single mother become a US Senator.”
“Only in America can a skinny black man with a funny name and an African father run for president and win”

~PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA 44TH US PRESIDENT.

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Do you get it? We enjoy a good story. We’ll buy books, elect a president, and even buy an overpriced computer if there’s a good story attached.

Have you heard this one? “He stole the original computer design from his partner. And get this, today, they’re both college-dropout billionaires.”

Have you figured out what all these stories have in common?   They all upset the apple cart. These stories shake up the Status quo.

Your story should have the same goal. It should somehow break the mold.

If you’re an author, your book must contain a story that rattles a few cages. That is if you want a friend to tell another friend. So, you can “try to take over the world”…

Copyright (c) 2010 MH

TL: DR So there you have it. “recognizing and developing story angles that get people gossiping, er…I mean talking.