Premium

Why Some Stories Just Don’t Land—and How to Fix It

2026 Update: For more engagement and suspense, avoid these common storytelling mistakes.

Storytelling

On Stage

Public speaking

Russell

Ewing

Creative Director, Lead Performance Faculty

minute read

Published on

March 16, 2026

At CORE | The Breakthrough Experience, students are introduced to a foundational storytelling structure that engages, entertains, and moves audiences.

This article was updated in March 2026.

‍

Some traditional speaking advice suggests opening with a story.

‍

What better way to connect with your audience and pique their interest than with an exciting tale of triumph?

‍

Now, you certainly don’t have to begin your speech with a story (and often it’s not the best option). But if you do decide to start with a story, it must be a great one.

‍

Most speakers don’t realize that there are two parts to storytelling: (1) the content and structure of your story, and (2) the delivery and performance of your story.

‍

Let’s start with the structural aspect of storytelling. Once you’ve mastered this, it’s much easier to amplify it through performance to make your story even more entertaining and memorable.

‍

The Storytelling Structure That’s Worked for 2,000 Years

‍

There are many different storytelling structures you can choose from when crafting your story. But there’s one that’s extremely effective—so effective that it’s been used in almost every award-winning movie, TV show, and Broadway production.

‍

It’s been around for 2,000 years—and it’s worked for 2,000 years. People are hard-wired to receive and respond to stories structured this way. It’s called the Three-Act Structure. Here’s how it works:

‍

Act 1: Exposition. Set the stage and give the audience the information they need to know for the story to make sense. Introduce them to the characters and show them what those characters want.
Act 2: Conflict. This is where the majority of your story takes place. It kicks off with an inciting incident that changes things, creates action, and introduces a problem to be solved. Every sequential action creates more conflict and tension for your characters. ‍
Act 3: Resolution. Wrap it all up in a satisfying resolution that feels whole, complete, and, most importantly, worth it. The story’s resolution must be worth the amount of time the audience invested in it.

Full Transcript

Don't

gloss over the conflict in your story—tension is critical for driving your story forward and captivating your audience.

add a relevant moment of reflection after you tell your story to build a bridge between your story, your message, and your audience.

Download

Six Storytelling Slip-ups to Avoid

‍

After working with hundreds of speakers and helping them turn good stories into unforgettable ones, I noticed six common mistakes speakers often make. To tell your story more powerfully, you’ll want to steer clear of the following storytelling slip-ups:

‍

#1 Too Much Exposition

‍

When you have too much exposition in your story, your audience becomes bored. When you have too little exposition, your audience becomes confused—they don’t have the information necessary for the rest of the story to make sense.

‍

However, more often than not, the problem is too much exposition. Take a look at the beginning of your story:

‍

Which details are absolutely necessary?
What information is important to you—but not to your audience?
What can you cut away to make your story more exciting and impactful?

‍

The structure of your story is what allows you to increase its urgency. Less exposition creates a story with more speed, more importance, and more weight.

‍

#2 Past Tense

‍

When writing for the stage, telling stories in present tense can be much more compelling than past tense. It can help you stay in the moment and relive the story. This makes your audience feel as if your story is unfolding right then, and fosters a deep sense of connection, understanding, and emotion.

‍

Try it yourself. Rewrite your story in present tense and practice it during your rehearsal sessions. Test it out onstage and see how your audience responds.

‍

#3 Revealing the Insight Too Early

‍

Many speakers tell stories from a place of safety, on the other side of the conflict. After all, you know how the story ends, what the character learned, and how they were changed because of it. But telling stories this way eliminates the sense of growth, struggle, and tension.

‍

It can also lead to an early reveal of the insight or lesson learned. Stay in the moment. Wait until the revelation actually comes to the character in your story.

‍

Try removing phrases like “when I realized” or “suddenly it dawned on me” from your story. Instead, perform those moments onstage and live them with your audience.

Don't

tell your story from the perspective of the transformed character who learned the lesson, conquered the giant, or sold the company.

let your audience wonder—powerful stories build suspense that leads to a satisfying resolution.

#4 Low Stakes

‍

The stakes in your story are what’s on the line, what’s hanging in the balance, what could go wrong. The tension and drama in your story come from the idea that something could be lost, that something could go horribly wrong, that someone could fall from a high place.

‍

But here’s the thing: sometimes what you perceive as dramatic, stressful, and challenging might not be high-stakes enough for your audience. That’s why so often as we work with speakers, we push them to raise the stakes. Ask yourself:

‍

What conflict is present?
How can you amplify the conflict?
What could be lost? What can be gained?
What is at risk? What’s hanging in the balance?

‍

#5 Failing to Make It Human

‍

When you omit certain small but relatable details, it might result in surface-level stories that don’t connect deeply with your audience. Instead, describe those common human qualities in a tangible way.

‍

As you engage your audience’s senses through visceral descriptions, you’ll access their sense of humanity. They’ll be able to relate and connect precisely because of how accurately you describe details of the shared human experience.

‍

Sometimes you get so used to telling your own story that you fast-forward through the very elements that make it compelling. When I notice that a speaker skips over certain parts of a story, I stop them and ask: “What happened there?” or “Tell me more about that person.”

‍

Nine times out of ten, they light up and share valuable details with humor and passion—they reveal a golden storytelling nugget hidden in plain sight.

Don't

skip over the details that make your story feel human and relatable.

engage your audience’s senses as you describe relatable human experiences.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

#6 Burying the Turning Point

‍

The turning point is the moment in the story when a mindset shift leads to a behavioral shift. It’s the moment of realization that changes everything. It’s often a frustrating or humbling moment, and it’s a great spot to start your story.

‍

However, in a lot of stories, this important moment is buried under too much exposition, unnecessary details, and fluff.

‍

Maximize your story’s impact by identifying the turning point, and getting there faster. Don’t be afraid to kill your darlings. Play around with your story and try to move the turning point closer to the beginning. This almost automatically makes your story better.

‍

Craft Stories that Resonate

‍

As you examine your stories and steer clear of these six storytelling slip-ups, you’ll be able to both craft and perform stories that resonate deeply with your unique audience. Your stories won’t just be heard, they’ll be consumed, experienced, and remembered in the hearts and minds of your audience.

‍

Your audience wants to feel a vast array of emotions throughout a story. Take them on a compelling storytelling journey, filled with twists and turns that lead them to a rousing finale. A story that resonates can be the spark that changes everything—both for the audience and the speaker.

Don't

|

Helpful Links

Everyone has a story to tell.

CORE

|

The Breakthrough Experience

Learn how to tell yours in the most transformational, authentic, and inspirational way possible.

Learn more

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Six Storytelling Slip-ups to Avoid

‍

#1 Too Much Exposition

‍

However, more often than not, the problem is too much exposition. Take a look at the beginning of your story:

‍

Which details are absolutely necessary?
What information is important to you—but not to your audience?
What can you cut away to make your story more exciting and impactful?

‍

The structure of your story is what allows you to increase its urgency. Less exposition creates a story with more speed, more importance, and more weight.

‍

#2 Past Tense

‍

Try it yourself. Rewrite your story in present tense and practice it during your rehearsal sessions. Test it out onstage and see how your audience responds.

‍

#3 Revealing the Insight Too Early

‍

It can also lead to an early reveal of the insight or lesson learned. Stay in the moment. Wait until the revelation actually comes to the character in your story.

‍

Try removing phrases like “when I realized” or “suddenly it dawned on me” from your story. Instead, perform those moments onstage and live them with your audience.

Dont

tell your story from the perspective of the transformed character who learned the lesson, conquered the giant, or sold the company.

let your audience wonder—powerful stories build suspense that leads to a satisfying resolution.

#4 Low Stakes

‍

What conflict is present?
How can you amplify the conflict?
What could be lost? What can be gained?
What is at risk? What’s hanging in the balance?

‍

#5 Failing to Make It Human

‍

Nine times out of ten, they light up and share valuable details with humor and passion—they reveal a golden storytelling nugget hidden in plain sight.

Don't

skip over the details that make your story feel human and relatable.

engage your audience’s senses as you describe relatable human experiences.