Learn Storytelling in 72 Minutes — Will Storr

David Perell interviews Will Storr, a storytelling expert and author, focusing on character development rather than plot-driven narratives. Storr emphasizes that stories help simplify complex realities and enable humans to imagine the future. He introduces the concept of a character's "theory of control," a flawed belief about how to navigate the world, using examples from literature and film like Scrooge, Willy Loman, and Fleabag. They discuss the importance of identifying this flaw in advance and how it drives the story's conflict and character transformation. Storr outlines a five-act plan for structuring stories around character change, emphasizing the roles of obstacles, goals, survival, connection, and status. He also touches on the pacing of stories, the impact of suspense, and how these principles apply to leadership, business, and personal well-being.