The key of a compelling mystery

12th May 2017 | for Creatives | mystery, writing, storytelling, magazines, Hank Phillippi Ryan  |       

The key of a compelling mystery

"News stories are compelling mysteries.  Life is a compelling mystery.  The key of a compelling mystery is—as it is in journalism—to constantly advance the story.  No tangents, no digressions, no fancy tricked-up writing. Just a straight-ahead and irresistible tale."

— Hank Phillippi Ryan

Similar for Creatives

nothing could have been better practice than investigative journalism

"In learning how to tell a story, and learning how to develop my craft and skill as a storyteller, nothing could have been better practice than investigative journalism. ... From the standpoint of keeping the reader/viewer interested, and being riveting, suspenseful, educational, and entertaining, it's the same thing.  Choosing exactly the right word, choosing exactly the right sound bit or dialogue, making sure the setting is vibrant and that the conclusion is life-changing.  That's exactly the same."

evoke the sense of wonder in your audience

"Your goal, as a storyteller, is to evoke the sense of wonder in your audience.  You start by evoking the sense of wonder in yourself.  Where one person is awestruck, others are also likely to be amazed."

Stories come out of living

"Stories come out of living, and looking, and reacting, and observing and thinking.  I can't explain what the source is. ... That's the experience of being alive and trying to render it coherent somehow."

power of a story

"We become the stories we listen to, read, and tell. That is the power of a story."

Join my mailing list!

Don't miss a single, riveting word! Be the first to hear of new releases, special promotions, and other news and nifty things...