Are you a creative writer trying to get your head around freelance writing styles? Here’s something for you! Tiffany Anderson is sharing her insights about the storytelling framework and how we can apply it to the writing we do as freelancers.
Did you know there’s a story lurking in every piece of content you write? As a freelance writer, providing knowledge is not enough to turn prospects into paying clients. This post will teach you how to incorporate the storytelling framework to create content that builds an authentic connection with your audience.
This framework is used by novelists all over the world and is designed to work across all types of content creation from social media posts, to blog posts, and even your website copy.
You have a sea of prospective clients waiting to spend their hard owned money on your services. Why not show them you can help fulfill their wants and needs?
Exposition/Introduction
When you read the first page of a novel, have you ever been so intrigued by the storyline you yearn to continue reading?
When it comes to creating content, start by giving the audience an exposition, or introduction to the information you are sharing.
To do this successfully, you need a good hook. This hook will be the first sentence and will be written in a way that captures your audience’s attention via a question or unique statement.
[Ashley’s tip: Pick up 5 books near you and read their opening lines. The opening line is one of the most carefully scrutinized lines in the whole book, so they tend to be really good hooks.]
Once you have your hook, it’s time to introduce your topic and mention the main focus points to establish the tone.
If you were writing a novel, this would be introducing the story by providing the character, setting, and background information that set the scene.
You want this introduction to resonate with your audience by acknowledging their struggle and what you are going to provide as a solution.
By writing an eye-catching introduction, you will capture your prospective client’s attention and interest in the information of the post.
Rising Action/Main Focus Points
To continue a novel’s storyline, an author must include a rising action. This encompasses the main events which the main character must interact with in the outcome.
This usually is made up of 3 major events that give the readers knowledge about the character’s journey and how they will overcome the obstacles.
When writing content for your business, you can do the same thing! Pick 3 solutions to the problem, mentioned in the introduction, and showcase your expertise.
[Ashley’s tip: These solutions can be anything… a tip, a resource, a new perspective or contextual understanding….]
By choosing 3 topics, you are giving your audience a satisfying amount of information to digest as they delve into your story.
There is a way to make these solutions seem even more appealing to your audience.
When offering these solutions, be sure to write in a personable way. You could incorporate your own experiences within the solutions and how they helped you.
People will connect with you if you are relatable. Show your prospective clients you have the answers to their problems, and have experienced the same struggles.
Resolution/Conclusion With Next Steps
Eventually, an author’s story has to end. The resolution is the outcome where every struggle the main character has gone through gets resolved.
As a freelance writer, you want to make sure your content has a solid conclusion with next steps.
This conclusion begins with a summary of the solutions and why they are important. You can then move into next steps to continue the connection.
These next steps can be in the form of liking/sharing a post, booking a call, buying a product, visiting your website, etc. Let them know right now what action they need to take to continue connecting with you.
[Ashley’s tip: Look familiar? This part is the call to action! I love how Tiffany frames the CTA as the next step to continue the connection. That’s what great content does!]
You now have the storytelling framework to write exceptional content for your prospective clients.
Like a novel writer, you can now tell stories that will resonate with your audience and turn them into paying, loyal clients.
Tiffany is a freelance content writer and copywriter who helps creatives and beauty brands sell out their products/services through organic, high-converting marketing methods. Outside of writing, she can be found reading a Jana Deleon novel or listening to 80s music. You can connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
