The 5-Element Storytelling Framework: Deep Dive
Based on the video analysis, here’s a comprehensive breakdown of each element and how to use them effectively:
The Five Elements
1. LOCATION (Where)
Purpose: Helps your audience immediately visualize the scene and feel present in the moment.
How to Use:
- State the specific physical location at the beginning
- Keep it simple - just enough for visualization
- Avoid over-describing details
Examples from Video:
- ✅ Good: “I’m sitting on my couch in my living room”
- ✅ Good: “September 2019, I’m standing in front of the conference room”
- ❌ Avoid: “In the conference room with the big wooden table, television, and wooden floor…”
For Learning Contexts:
- “I’m in my home office, laptop open, coffee getting cold…”
- “Standing in the workshop room, 20 participants looking at me…”
- “Sitting in the back row of the conference, taking notes on my phone…”
2. ACTIONS (What You’re Doing)
Purpose: Creates forward momentum and takes listeners directly into the moment.
How to Use:
- Use specific verbs and present tense
- Focus on the exact physical actions in that moment
- Avoid giving too much context - just the immediate actions
Examples from Video:
- ✅ Good: “I open my laptop and start reading a message”
- ✅ Good: “I’m waiting and lining at security”
- ✅ Good: “I walked around to the coffee, made him his coffee”
For Learning Contexts:
- “I’m clicking through the course modules, trying to find…”
- “I’m scribbling notes frantically, trying to capture everything…”
- “I’m staring at the blank document, cursor blinking…”
3. THOUGHTS (Internal Dialogue)
Purpose: Gives access to your inner world, making the story relatable and human.
How to Use:
- Share raw, unfiltered thoughts - not polished or professional
- Use the actual words that went through your head
- Make them a bit “ranchy, juicy, neurotic” as the video suggests
Examples from Video:
- ✅ Good: “I thought, ‘This will be so cool, finally I can see her after all that time’”
- ✅ Good: “I thought, ‘Oh man this is bad, everyone will think I’m stupid’”
- ❌ Avoid: “I thought this represents a supreme opportunity” (too professional)
For Learning Contexts:
- “I’m thinking, ‘There’s no way I can remember all this…’”
- “My brain is going, ‘Wait, this actually makes sense!’”
- “I’m thinking, ‘Everyone else gets this except me…’”
4. EMOTIONS (Shown, Not Told)
Purpose: Creates emotional connection and makes the story visual and memorable.
How to Use:
- Instead of naming emotions, describe physical manifestations
- Show what the emotion looks like on the body/face
- Make it visual so people can “see” the feeling
Examples from Video:
- ✅ Good: “I lean backward and let out this big sigh” (instead of “I was relieved”)
- ✅ Good: “He kept tapping his pen and glancing at the clock” (instead of “he was anxious”)
- ✅ Good: “I watched the color drain from his face” (instead of “he was shocked”)
For Learning Contexts:
- “My shoulders drop and I exhale slowly” (relief)
- “I’m leaning forward, eyes wide” (excitement/curiosity)
- “My hands are gripping the desk” (tension/concentration)
- “I’m nodding rapidly, scribbling notes” (understanding/engagement)
5. DIALOGUE (Exact Words)
Purpose: Brings other characters to life and makes the story dynamic and engaging.
How to Use:
- Use the exact words that were spoken (or close to it)
- Make dialogue natural and conversational, not formal
- Include the setup (“he looked at me and said…”)
Examples from Video:
- ✅ Good: “My friend looked at me and said, ‘Phillip, what on Earth was that?’”
- ✅ Good: “My manager looked at me and said, ‘Wow, that was really the best presentation you’ve ever given’”
- ❌ Avoid: “My manager said he was very dissatisfied with the inadequate execution”
For Learning Contexts:
- “My colleague turns to me and says, ‘How did you figure that out so fast?’”
- “The instructor pauses and asks, ‘Does anyone actually understand this?’”
- “I call my friend and say, ‘You have to try this system…’”
How to Apply the Framework
The Minimum Viable Story
You don’t need all 5 elements every time. Start with:
- Location + Actions + Dialogue = Engaging basic story
- Add Thoughts and Emotions for deeper impact
The Checklist Approach
Before telling any story, ask:
- Where was I specifically?
- What was I doing in that moment?
- What was I thinking (raw thoughts)?
- How did I feel (what did it look like)?
- What did people say (exact words)?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-describing location - Keep it simple
- Professional thoughts - Use your actual inner voice
- Telling emotions - Show them through physical description
- Formal dialogue - Use natural, conversational speech
- Summarizing - Stay in the specific moment
For Learning Professionals
Transform This Summary: “I learned about the Second Brain method and it changed how I organize information.”
Into This Story: “I’m sitting in my home office at 11 PM, surrounded by scattered notes from three different courses. My desk looks like a paper explosion. I’m thinking, ‘There has to be a better way to make sense of all this.’ That’s when I click on Tiago’s course and hear him say, ‘What if your notes could actually think with you?’ I literally stop mid-sip of my coffee and lean toward the screen…”
The Result:
- Location: Home office at 11 PM
- Actions: Sitting, surrounded by notes, clicking, sipping coffee
- Thoughts: “There has to be a better way…”
- Emotions: Stopping mid-sip, leaning forward (curiosity/excitement)
- Dialogue: “What if your notes could actually think with you?”
This framework transforms abstract concepts into vivid, memorable experiences that your audience can visualize and connect with emotionally.
