10 Storytelling Elements (Found in Almost All Great Stories)

What are the typ­ic­al storytelling elements?

In storytelling, some things work — again and again. 

As a PR pro­fes­sion­al since 2005, I find the study of dra­mat­ic com­pos­i­tion fascinating.

I’ve dis­tilled some of the most widely used storytelling ele­ments from the basic “Hollywood-style” format into one infographic.

Here we go:

Infographic: Storytelling Elements

“Dramaturgy is the study of dra­mat­ic com­pos­i­tion and the rep­res­ent­a­tion of the main ele­ments of drama on the stage.”
— Wikipedia ¹Dramaturgy. (2023, April 2). In Wikipedia. https://​en​.wiki​pe​dia​.org/​w​i​k​i​/​D​r​a​m​a​t​u​rgy

Some storytelling ele­ments keep com­ing back in both old and new stor­ies. No need to fix it if it ain’t broken, right? Now, here they all are, col­lec­ted in one infographic.

The magic­al ingredi­ents found in almost all great stories:

10 Storytelling Elements

Here are some of the most widely used storytelling ele­ments (in chro­no­lo­gic­al order):

1. The Contract

In the very begin­ning, you have to make a prom­ise. Will this be viol­ent? Scary? Fun? Tense? Dramatic?

2. The Pull

Provide con­text to pull the audi­ence into your story.

3. The Incident

The event sets everything in motion. It should occur early and keep the story mov­ing forward.

4. The Reveal

Allow your char­ac­ters to learn what the story is about — and what’s at stake.

5. Point of No Return

The forces of good face an impossible decision that con­cerns fear, safety, love, hate, revenge, or despair.

6. Anti-Climax

Sorry, but you must allow the forces of evil to have an epic win.

7. All-is-Lost Moment

The moment where all is lost. It would help if you por­trayed the most pro­found des­pair for the forces of good.

8. News of Hope

A pos­sib­il­ity for a side char­ac­ter to shine. A light that shines into the total dark­ness of the moment.

9. The Climax

The shit hits the fan, and the good puts everything at risk but over­comes — des­pite impossible odds.

10. The Pay-Off

Public dis­plays of relief and hap­pi­ness, love, and for­give­ness. We also learn that the hero has evolved.

Update: Want to see these storytelling ele­ments applied to an actu­al story? Read also Storytelling Elements in Star Wars: A New Hope.