This One Word Will Transform Your Writing Forever

This episode uncovers the vital role of the word "because" in storytelling and creativity. It highlights how this seemingly simple word enhances narrative flow, connects characters to their choices, and serves as a persuasive tool in communication.

• Exploring the significance of the word “because” 
• How “because” links actions and meaning in storytelling 
• The concept of voltage in narrative flow 
• Persuasive power of “because” in arguments 
• Understanding personal motivations for creativity 
• Importance of knowing your “because” for meaningful storytelling

Thanks for listening.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:03

It's Chris McHale, and welcome back to Creativity DGD, the podcast. We're going to do something a little bit different. I'm going to just talk about one thing today. Get right to it. And that one thing is a word, a special word, and if you're interested in creativity and why it works, this particular podcast is for you, because you're going to get the essence of voltage in storytelling.

Speaker 1: 0:35

We explore creativity and how we create things and why we make them and how they influence us. It's kind of an interesting topic and how they influence us. It's kind of an interesting topic. You're exploring that word that shapes every sentence I write, whether it's fiction or fact or ad copy or song lyrics or scripts or anything else. This word lies at the heart of all my writing. This simple word carries immense power in writing storytelling and creativity. Bet you can't wait to hear what it is.

Speaker 1: 1:10

You may already know it, but for those of you that don't, what is that word? Because, because, because, that's the word. It's a word we often overlook Small, functional, straightforward, you know, easy to dismiss, humble, only two syllables, because. But it's in fact the glue that binds meaning together. It serves as the bridge between ideas, the rational fraction and the essence of causality in storytelling I sound like a professor. The rational fraction Well, it's heavy stuff, but it's true, because we end up with fragments and with it we have purpose. So, think about it, because, think about it, the engine of storytelling that's Rita, a robotic interface, talking assistant, or something like that.

Speaker 1: 2:39

Okay, consider the stories that linger with you. Every compelling narrative relies on cause and effect. The princess fled because the castle was ablaze. The scientist defied the odds because he believed in the impossible. The hero returned home because they finally grasped what home truly meant. Yeah, because adds meaning to action, it links characters to their choices and transforms a sequence of events into a journey. Without it, we're merely left with random occurrences, and randomness is not storytelling. No, it's just noise. And noise is fun, for sure, I like noise, but we're talking about stories. Stories need a voltage, a propulsion forward. Okay, dwight Swain, dwight Swain. Voltage, a propulsion forward. Okay, dwight Swain, dwight Swain, you should know him, I love him. He's one of the greatest writing teachers I've ever come across and he is the author of a book called Techniques of the Selling Writer. You know what? I've actually got it on the studioggio website. You can go there and you can buy it right from there. It's a pretty amazing book and pretty essential book.

Speaker 1: 4:13

Dwight emphasized this principle in his discussions on scene structure. He pointed out that a scene must follow a motivation-reaction unit. A motivation-reaction unit when something occurs, that's your motivation and then the character reacts. The connective tissue between these two elements guess what it is. That's right, because Without it, action lack context. Your story flows seamlessly with it and your characters decisions listen to this feel inevitable. The decisions feel like logical, like that's the decision the character has to make. By the way, if the character doesn't make that decision and makes the wrong decision, that's even cooler. Eventually, he's got to make the right decision. Or he's going to make the right decision or he's going to fall off the cliff and die and that will be the end of the story, because the cliff is very high. Persuasion and connection.

Speaker 1: 5:35

Okay, let's step outside of storytelling for a moment, because I've done a lot of copywriting. You know, which is my confession. Have you ever noticed how the word because can make almost any argument more persuasive? Right, for example, which sounds more convincing or more compelling Give to our campaign. Or give to our campaign because your support helps children, because your support helps children in need. Here's another one Drive a BMW if you want. Drive a BMW because it's the ultimate driving machine. Because, drive it, because the power of because is that it connects our need to logic, justification and understanding reasons. Justification and understanding reasons, whether you're a writer or a marketer, or simply trying to persuade a friend to watch your favorite movie. Let's watch Star Wars, because I made popcorn, because serves as your secret weapon. Yeah, I'm telling you it really works.

Speaker 1: 7:09

Why we create? And that leads us to creativity itself. Thank you, rita. Why do we create? Creativity itself? Thank you, rita. Why do we create? Why do we write, compose, build or design?

Speaker 1: 7:34

It's not enough to just say I create. The true significant lies in the reason. I create because I have something to express. I create because the world needs this story. I create because it's the only way I know how to make things. I create because the rent is due.

Speaker 1: 7:51

Dwight Swain reminds us that a story is a chain of cause and effect relationships driven by needs and desires of characters. That's a quote. A story is a chain of cause and effect relationships driven by the needs and desires of characters. That's it. That's it. That's all a story is. And when you grasp your because your work gains depth. It becomes more than just words, notes or brush strokes. It transforms into a statement Understanding our own because is crucial for meaningful work.

Speaker 1: 8:38

Without it, we risk creating an avoid and with it, we risk creating an avoid. Our work truly resonates. So, as you write, tell stories and craft anything, pay attention to the word, because every character needs a reason, every idea requires a foundation, every creation has to have a purpose. Mastering this one word unlocks deeper storytelling. Wow, stronger arguments. Whoa and meaningful arguments. Whoa and meaningful creativity. Stop, you're killing me with this word, and that's why because might be the most critical word in writing.

Speaker 1: 9:20

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, you know? Do you agree? Do you disagree? Why do you create? What's your reason? You can connect with us at StudioJudijiio or on your favorite socials. We're almost everywhere and we're nowhere at the same time. And thanks for listening to Creativity, jijiji. And thanks, rita, for the H2 headlines. Thank you, chris, thank you Rita. If you enjoyed today's episode, subscribe yeah, it helps us in our work and leave a review, because the pod people tell me that's an ask you have to make. So I do and share it with fellow creators, because you're a beautiful person. We are a community of creators building a new audio. Treats for you. Song in Space is coming up Call Me. Moby is right behind it and there's something weird about Dr Jekyll. Oh, that's my favorite because it's really fun and we love to build them together, you and me together. So go to studio2ggio and join, no cost. We just like to keep in touch with you. I'm Chris McHale and until next time, keep creating, because