The Best Trick to Make Your Stories More Impactful

This article was updated February 2026.

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Storytelling has a lot of different looks. From sci-fi and fantasy to historical fiction and biographical narratives, each genre has its own story aesthetics that make it entertaining, engaging, and memorable. 

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No matter what medium you’re crafting your story for, the fundamentals of storytelling stay the same: 

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• Start with action to draw your audience into the story immediately. 
• Choose a solid storytelling structure (like the three-act structure) with a strong narrative arc.
• Use specific descriptions and clear details to make your story relatable. 
• Add contrast, characters, and emotion for maximum impact. 

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But when you’re crafting stories for the stage, there’s one specific technique that will really make your story stand out. 

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This storytelling trick is simple, yet powerful—and will help you create a fully experiential performance for your audiences.

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The same story, but something’s different. 

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See if you can spot the difference between these two different versions of the opening act of a story. They’re both about the same situation and have the same general flow, but something’s different (you’ll probably quickly notice what it is). 

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Version One

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“When I was 22 years old, I had my first major serving job at a hotel restaurant by the airport. It was completely understaffed, barely supervised, and I was often way out of my element. On this particular day, there was no host, no busboy, and the manager was nowhere to be found. But it was looking to be a slow day (as usual) and I figured I could manage just fine. That is, until my coworker from the catering department ran downstairs and pulled me aside. She told me there was a conference of 200 people about to get out of their morning session and they had nowhere to go for lunch. She was going to send them down to my restaurant in ten minutes…”

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Version Two

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“I’m 22 years old and I arrive for another shift at my first major serving job—a hotel restaurant by the airport. This place is always understaffed, barely supervised, and I’m way out of my element. On this particular day, I walk in the doors to find there’s no host, no busboy, and the manager is nowhere to be found. But it’s looking to be a slow day (as usual) so I figure I’ll be able to manage just fine. That is, until my coworker from the catering department runs downstairs and pulls me aside. She tells me there’s a conference of 200 people about to get out of their morning session and they have nowhere to go for lunch. She’s sending them down to my restaurant in ten minutes…”

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What makes these two stories different—especially when performed live onstage as both an auditory and visual experience—is the verb tense. The first story uses past tense, while the second story is told entirely in present tense.

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The Power of Present Tense 

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Most people tell stories in the past tense. It’s only natural. After all, if something happened 15 years ago and you’re talking about it today, it makes sense to use past tense. 

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But onstage, as you craft a transformational experience for your audience, telling stories in the present tense can be much more effective. Using present tense:

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• Makes it seem like your stories are unfolding at that very moment. 
• Draws your audience in and keeps them engaged throughout your story. 
• Brings your stories to life—both for the storyteller and the audience. 

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When you tell your stories in present tense, it helps you achieve two important storytelling goals that can make your stories more memorable, more helpful, and more powerful.