Stop making sense (it's killing your story)

The waves lapped gently against the shore, a rhythmic backdrop to the quiet stretch of beach. Darius and Eddie sat drankin' and talkin' on a somewhat sunny Chicago day.

“You getting the work done on that novel, man,” Eddie said, breaking the silence.

“Not in the mood to write anything right now,” Darius said, slightly exasperated, before leaning back to stare at the sky.

“Let me ask you a question,” he said, his tone casual but curious. “If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one of your ex-girls, who would it be?”

Eddie paused, considering. “Yeah, I don’t know,” he said with a shrug.

“That’s the thing, man,” Darius replied, his voice tinged with a mix of regret and humor. “With the exception of Felicia, man, I can’t stand to be around any of them more than a few hours at a time.”

Eddie laughed, the sound low and warm. “Ooh, now that’s a name I ain’t heard in a while.”

Darius nodded, his expression fading into something softer. “Yep. I messed that up, man. Trying to be a mufuckin' player. I used to love that girl, but you only get one, two tops.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow. “One what?”

“True love,” Darius said, his voice heavy with realization.

Eddie scoffed, shaking his head. “True love, my ass, man. Love is what you make and with whom you make it. That’s it.”

Darius chuckled, but there was a weight behind it. “Yeah, well, I think I messed up twice. You’d think by now I’d have a little more insight. I don’t know, man. I don’t know what to think.”

Eddie turned to him, his expression steady and sure. “That, my friend, is your problem right there. Physics, this shit ain’t. It ain’t supposed to make sense. Love, passion, it is what it is.”

The Myth of "Making Sense"

Storytelling has a problem: we keep trying to make it make sense.

Like the scene from Love Jones above, where Eddie tells Darius, "Physics, this shit ain't. It ain’t supposed to make sense," we often find ourselves tangled up in the need for logic in our stories.

We get stuck in our heads, obsessing over logic and structure, thinking that if we explain the story “correctly,” people will be blown away. But here’s the truth:

No one cares how “correct” your story is. They care how it makes them feel.

Think about your favorite movie line, your favorite song lyric, or the story someone once told you that still lingers in your memory. Chances are, it wasn’t the most sensical or rational story - it was the one that spoke to you.

Chasing Clarity at the Cost of Connection

We’ve been taught to prioritize clarity, to tidy up the mess, to make sure every story has a logical takeaway. And while clarity has its place, overdoing it strips stories of their humanity.

Research shows that emotions drive decisions far more than reason. Stories resonate when they activate primal responses - fear, joy, regret, hope. But when we prioritize perfection, we cut off access to those visceral triggers, leaving stories flat.

The "Physics Method" for Storytelling That Sticks

To craft stories that hit people where it counts, stop aiming for their brains. Instead, aim for their gut.

Here’s how:

1. Focus on the Emotional Core
   Don’t start with what happened. Start with how it felt. Ask yourself: What’s the emotional heartbeat of this story? Build everything else around that.

2. Embrace the Mess
   Let your story be imperfect. Don’t worry about tying up every loose end. When you share a story that feels raw and real, people lean in.

3. Keep It Simple and Visceral
   Strip away the fluff. Use visceral imagery and gut-level phrases that make people feel, not just think.

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The Psychology of Gut-Level Storytelling

1. Emotions Override Logic
   Neuroscience shows that our emotional brain processes experiences faster than our rational brain. Hit their emotions first, and the logic will follow.

2. Relatability Is Found in Imperfection
   Polished stories can feel distant. When your story has raw edges, people see themselves in it.

3. Visceral Stories Are Memorable
   Details fade. Perfect logic fades. But people never forget how a story made them feel.

Let’s Amplify Your Emotional Storytelling

1. Write a Story Without Overthinking
Skip the polished framework and lean into authenticity. Start with:

• A vivid sensory moment.
  Example: The smell of your grandma’s kitchen on Sundays, the rush of adrenaline during your first big pitch.

• The emotional reaction you felt in that moment.
  Example: “I felt a mix of excitement and terror, like standing on the edge of a cliff.”

Don’t edit. Don’t overanalyze. Just get the moment onto the page in raw form.

2. Add Emotional Depth
After drafting, highlight where you can deepen emotional cues:

• Add dialogue to make the moment feel alive.
  Example: “She said, ‘This might not work, but I believe in you anyway.’ That’s when I knew…”

• Layer in sensory details that evoke visceral reactions.
  Example: Instead of ‘It was cold,’ try, ‘The wind cut through my jacket like tiny knives.’

Ask yourself: Does this feel true to the moment?

3. Test It for Impact
Before sharing broadly, test your story with a trusted listener:

• Don’t give any context. Let them hear or read it as-is.

• Ask only one question: What stood out to you?

This helps you identify if the emotional beats are landing or if something feels flat.

4. Refine for Resonance
Instead of fixing logical gaps, focus on amplifying:

• Emotional beats: Does the audience feel the highs and lows as you did?

• Relatable anchors: Are there moments they can see themselves in?

Cut anything that feels “nice” but doesn’t serve the emotion. Keep it raw and focused.

Bonus Points: Take It Public

1. Post the story on your platform of choice, unedited.

2. Include an open question at the end, inviting your audience to share their own related experience.

Your goal isn’t to spark engagement for the sake of metrics - it’s to foster connection through shared emotion.

Start today. Share a story that makes you feel first - and trust the connection will follow.

Prefer listening to reading sometimes? Want an extra layer?

Press play for the ‘Narrated Insights’:

Today’s Mega-Prompt: "Emotional Impact Story Creation"

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Here’s a sneak peek:
"Adopt the role of a Creative Writing Coach specializing in emotional storytelling and micro-narratives.… your task is to guide users in creating powerful 100-word stories that evoke strong emotional responses.”