# Storyteller Tactics

> Apply storytelling tactics to craft narratives, recommend story structures, and transform content (threads, pitches, posts). Based on Pip Decks Storyteller Tactics by Steve Rawling. Use when the user asks to tell a story, write a pitch, craft a narrative, improve content with storytelling, create a compelling post, or mentions story arcs, storytelling, or Pip Decks.

- Skill: `razbakov/storyteller-tactics` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add razbakov/storyteller-tactics`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/razbakov/storyteller-tactics/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: razbakov (https://skillmd.com/u/razbakov)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/razbakov/storyteller-tactics

---


# Storyteller Tactics

Apply proven storytelling tactics to craft, recommend, and transform content.

## Quick Start

1. **Identify the situation** — What does the user need? (sell, motivate, convince, connect, explain, lead, impress)
2. **Pick a recipe** — Use the Recipe Matrix below to find a combination of tactics
3. **Apply tactics** — Follow the tactic's key questions to shape the story
4. **Structure it** — Choose a story arc (Man in a Hole, Rags to Riches, No Easy Way, etc.)
5. **Style it** — Add hooks, vivid moments, and memorable elements

## Recipe Matrix

Use these curated combinations for common goals:

| Goal | Steps (in order) |
|---|---|
| **Sell** | Audience Profile → Simple Sales Stories → Social Proof → Rags to Riches → Pitch Perfect |
| **Motivate** | Dragon & City → Drive Stories → Three Great Conflicts → Innovation Curve → No Easy Way |
| **Convince** | Three is Magic Number → That's Funny → Data Detectives → Trust Me I'm an Expert → Hero & Guide |
| **Connect** | Story Listening → Abstractions → Universal Stories → Story-ish Conversations → Circle of Life |
| **Explain** | Order & Chaos → Good & Evil → What's it About? → Rolls Royce Moment → Story Hooks |
| **Lead** | Curious Tales → Man in a Hole → Emotional Dashboard → Thoughtful Failures → Story Bank |
| **Impress** | Movie Time → Five Ts → Story Hooks → Show & Tell → Cut to the Chase |

## Story Building System

Guide the user through these questions in order:

1. **Why** do you need a story? → use **Concept** tactics
2. **Where** to find your story? → use **Explore** tactics
3. **Your role** in the story? → use **Character** tactics
4. **What** your story needs to do? → use **Function** tactics
5. **How to plan** your story? → use **Structure** tactics
6. **How to tell** your story? → use **Style** tactics
7. **How to share** your story? → use **Organise** tactics

---

## Concept Tactics

### Dragon & the City
Get people excited. Frame your project as an epic adventure.
- **City** = status quo (safe but limited). What's good? What's wrong? Who's in charge?
- **Dragon** = threat/opportunity. Where's the threat? Is there hidden gold?
- Three options: **Escape** (find safer place), **Defend** (strengthen walls), **Attack** (face the dragon)

### Three Great Conflicts
Raise stakes by identifying which conflict drives the story:
- **Hero vs Nature** — disease, weather, accidents (Jaws)
- **Hero vs Society** — fighting others over resources/values (Black Panther)
- **Hero vs Self** — struggling to do what's right (Trainspotting)
- Find your Dream vs Nightmare, locate the greatest conflict, show how it resolves

### Order & Chaos
Clarify your mission: impose order on chaos, or disrupt a rigid system.
- **Known world** (orderly, safe, restricted) vs **Unknown world** (chaotic, risky, full of potential)
- How does Chaos disrupt Order? You are the Hero — how do you respond?

### Secrets & Puzzles
Get attention with information gaps:
- **Secrets**: new info you discovered, how it was hidden, what audience gains
- **Puzzles**: anomalies, ironies, inconsistencies that demand explanation
- Keywords: secret, hidden, insider, mystery, paradox, bizarre, unexpected

### Rules, Cheats & Rebels
Tell a rule, show someone breaking it — will they be punished or vindicated?
- **Rebels** act selflessly, break rules for a higher purpose, don't hide (Rosa Parks)
- **Cheats** act selfishly, break rules others follow, hide actions (vindication vs punishment)

### Good & Evil
Tap into moral conflicts (Jonathan Haidt's six):
- Care/Harm, Fairness/Cheating, Liberty/Oppression, Authority/Subversion, Loyalty/Betrayal, Purity/Filth
- Simple: pick a side. Complex: two rights collide or lesser of two evils

### Universal Stories
Build on traits everyone recognises:
- Free Will, Conflict & Cooperation, Inconsistencies, Fear & Bravery, Right & Wrong, Rites of Passage

### Curious Tales
Explain what drives you through:
- **Curiosity** (anomaly + potential benefit), **Caution** (anomaly + threat)
- **Flow** (absorption in task), **Envy** (wanting what another does), **Sacrifice** (giving up something valuable)

### Circle of Life
Relatable character archetypes at life stages:
- **Child** (innocent/naive), **Adult** (adventurous/rebellious), **Parent** (wise/dominant)
- Focus on: Conflict between stages, Change/rites of passage, Character fitting or fighting the cycle

### Shock of the Old
Find inspiration in stories from the past. Watch how people relate to old objects:
- Obvious vs hidden purposes, ownership, feelings, symbolic power, connection to deep nature

---

## Explore Tactics

### Story Listening
Gather wisdom by listening (Gary Klein method):
1. Is this memorable? Why does it stick? What's the emotion?
2. Basic timeline: what were you trying to achieve? What happened?
3. Add key decisions: what were your options? What if you'd tried something else?
4. Identify expertise: where might a novice have failed?

### Emotional Dashboard
Find strong emotions as story seeds:
- Positive: happiness, confidence, love, delight, trust, pride, excitement, joy, conviction
- Negative: sadness, fear, doubt, disgust, distrust, shame, boredom, anger, hate
- Template: "I felt [emotion] when I realised [change] because I wanted [goal] and so I [reaction]"

### Data Detectives
Turn data into stories using three methods:
- **Data Zoomer**: zoom out (big trend) → zoom in (vivid example)
- **Data Detective**: body on floor → search for evidence → vital clue → identify the killer
- **Data Sceptic**: how might we be wrong? Alternative conclusions? What can't be measured?

### Thoughtful Failures
Extract wisdom from mistakes (Google's method):
- What went wrong? (focus on decisions, not blame)
- Check: Goals, Assumptions, Insights, Skills, Communication
- "What could we do differently?" → "Who else needs to hear this?"

### That's Funny
Find "that's funny..." moments:
- **Funny ha-ha**: what made you laugh? How did your mental model change?
- **Funny peculiar**: contradictions, coincidences, unexpected connections
- **Acting funny**: someone out of character — what does it reveal?

### Abstractions
Observe users in action (don't just ask questions):
- Levels: Action → Imitation → Ritual/Play → Narrative → Rationalisation
- Look for contradictions between what people say and do

### Social Proof
Establish credibility through:
- **Trends**: data showing many people acting a certain way
- **Prototypes**: tests/trials and people's reactions
- **Testimonials**: "What would you say to persuade a friend to work with us?"

---

## Character Tactics

### Trust Me, I'm an Expert
Win trust by showing character and values in action:
- What matters more than money? What projects would you refuse?
- When have you done the right thing at personal cost?
- What values do you share with your audience?

### What's My Motivation?
Figure people out using Method Acting (Stanislavski):
- Who am I? Where am I? When is it? What do I want? Why? How? What must I overcome?
- Map cooperation and conflict between actors

### Drive Stories
Explore inner motivation through:
- **Autonomy**: control over how you work
- **Mastery**: skills steadily improving
- **Purpose**: worthwhile work serving a greater good
- Get positive and negative examples for each

### Hero & Guide
Make the user the Hero; you play the Expert Guide:
- Map the user's journey: where now? → problem → where they want to be
- Guide types: Explorer, Rebel, Sage, Defender, Muse, Warrior

### What's it About?
Escape the curse of knowledge — answer "what are you working on?":
- **Change**: responding to threat or initiating opportunity
- **New information**: you realised something new or spotted something wrong
- **Personal benefit**: "I'm helping [X] achieve [Y]"

### Cut to the Chase
Emergency escape when losing the audience:
- **Cut to action**: "What happened was..." / "Suddenly..."
- **Cut to emotion**: "I was amazed/shocked/disappointed..."
- **Cut to meaning**: "That's when I realised..."
- Or: stop talking, ask the audience a question

---

## Function Tactics

### Pitch Perfect
Sell your idea with structure:
- **Elevator pitch**: Problem → Solution → Why trust me?
- **POPP arc**: Problem (negative) → Opportunity (positive) → Practical Steps (negative) → Promise (positive)

### Simple Sales Stories
Three approaches:
- "Someone **like you** buys this" — relatable customer
- "Someone **you like** buys this" — influential endorser
- **Old, Regular, Tricky** customers — loyalty and service stories

### Story-ish Conversations
Make conversations more story-ish by asking:
- "What might it look like in action?" (vivid moments)
- "Where were you? Who was there?" (specifics)
- "What's the strongest feeling?" (emotion)
- "Who did you need to win over?" (conflict)
- "What forced you to change?" (change)

### Innovation Curve
Adapt story to audience risk tolerance:
- **Pioneers**: stories about process and breakthroughs
- **Early Mainstream**: tested in niche, proven results
- **Late Mainstream**: ready for mass market
- **Traditional**: everyone's doing it, we made it easy

---

## Structure Tactics (Story Arcs)

### Man in a Hole
5 beats: Comfort Zone → Trigger → Crisis (find treasure in the dark) → Recovery → Better Place
*"Nobody ever lost money telling the story of a man in a hole." — Kurt Vonnegut*

### Rags to Riches
3 beats: Hidden Value (hero in bad place but has inner worth) → Trigger & Struggle (outside help, then on their own) → Deserved Recognition

### No Easy Way
6 beats: Problem → Early Success → Setback → Crisis → Recovery → Better Place
*The ultimate rollercoaster. Use when "too good to be true" won't fly.*

### Pride & Fall
5 beats: Bad Place → Pride (defy limits) → Warning → Fall (ignore advice) → Worse Place
*Use to get ahead of scepticism and address it honestly.*

### Downfall
3 beats: Flawed Power (hidden selfish flaw) → Desperate Denial → Deserved Disgrace
*Defend against your own downfall, or exploit a rival's.*

### Epic Fail
6 failure narratives: Catharsis, Hubris, Betrayal, Mechanistic, Zeitgeist, Nemesis
*Pick the honest frame for what went wrong.*

### Voyage & Return
Home (safe/dull) → Voyage (strange new world, dangers, opportunities) → Return (changed, making home better)

### Happy Ever Afters
Hero changes by: **Growing Up**, **Finding Home/Love/Respect**, or **Doing the Right Thing**

### Five Ts
Quick story shaping:
- **Timeline**: beginning, middle, end ("At first... Then... Now...")
- **Turning Points**: "Everything changed when..."
- **Tensions**: start with maximum conflict
- **Temptations**: easy way out vs right thing
- **Teachable Moments**: "What this taught me is..."

---

## Style Tactics

### Movie Time
Make us "see" the story: Action (where, what's happening, what next?) → Emotion (who, stakes, feelings) → Meaning (what changed, why it matters)
*Movie-check: "What's the movie playing in their heads now?"*

### Story Hooks
Two types:
- **Unexpected**: when everyone zigs, you zag. "Why you'll fail" instead of "How to succeed"
- **Knowledge**: rules, explainers, listicles, life-hacks, secrets (expertise + insider status)

### Three is the Magic Number
- **Attention Three**: repeat core message 3 times
- **Reversal Three**: setup, setup, reversal (Little Pigs)
- **Moderate Three**: extreme, extreme, just right (Goldilocks)

### Rolls Royce Moment
Find one vivid, exemplary, relatable detail that tells everything:
*"At 60mph, the loudest noise comes from the electric clock."*

### Leave it Out!
Create mystery by omitting what's expected. Let audience fill gaps.
*Hemingway's 6-word story: "For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn."*

### Show & Tell
Washing line method: show image → tell what it is → tell what we can't see → new image → refer immediately

---

## Organise Tactics

### Story Bank
Track stories with: What's the story? Why tell it? Who finds it useful? Who heard it? Whose story? Still current?

### Big, Small, Inside, Outside
- **Small Inside**: team habits, appraisals, culture
- **Small Outside**: blog/social, brand values
- **Big Inside**: induction, awards
- **Big Outside**: pitch, recruitment, conference

### Audience Profile
Know your audience before choosing tactics:
- Basic info, problems, hopes, fears, what they already say about your idea
- Who should tell the story? (customer > you)
- Get permission to share others' stories

---

## Application Workflow

When a user asks for storytelling help:

1. **Clarify the goal**: What's the situation? (sell, motivate, convince, connect, explain, lead, impress, or specific content format)
2. **Identify the audience**: Who will hear this? What do they care about?
3. **Select tactics**: Use the Recipe Matrix or Story Building System
4. **Draft the story**: Apply selected tactics' key questions to the user's material
5. **Choose a structure**: Pick a story arc that fits (Man in a Hole for lessons, No Easy Way for realism, Rags to Riches for optimism, etc.)
6. **Add style**: Movie Time for vivid scenes, Story Hooks for attention, Three is Magic Number for memorability
7. **Review**: Does it have conflict? Emotion? Change? A teachable moment?

## Tactic Selection Guide

| User's Situation | Start With |
|---|---|
| "I need to pitch my idea" | Pitch Perfect + POPP arc |
| "I need to explain what I do" | What's it About? + Dragon & City |
| "I need to build trust" | Trust Me I'm an Expert + Hero & Guide |
| "I need to share data/research" | Data Detectives + Three is Magic Number |
| "I need to write a post/thread" | Story Hooks + Movie Time + Five Ts |
| "I need to motivate my team" | Drive Stories + Man in a Hole |
| "I need to handle a failure" | Thoughtful Failures + Epic Fail + No Easy Way |
| "I need to convince sceptics" | Pride & Fall + Innovation Curve + Social Proof |
| "I need a compelling opening" | Secrets & Puzzles + Cut to the Chase |
| "I need to understand users" | Story Listening + Abstractions + Emotional Dashboard |

*Based on Storyteller Tactics by Steve Rawling, Pip Decks (2021).*