Step-by-Step Plan to Ruin Your Story (Don’t Do This)

This is how to make sure no one remembers your story.

Author

Stephen Stanberry
June 27th, 2025

In partnership with

friend, I haven’t been feeling like myself lately…

Truth? I’ve been feeling like a big load of 💩.

But that’s a story for another time.

Today, let’s talk about how to absolutely ruin a story.

It’s called:
“How to Butcher a Story in 6 Easy Steps.”

Here’s the play-by-play:

Step 1: Choose a moment that really mattered
Step 2: Overthink every line
Step 3: Remove the part that made you cry
Step 4: Edit until it sounds “professional”
Step 5: Add 3 lessons you think people want to hear
Step 6: Post it with a generic hook like “3 things I learned about storytelling”

Congrats.

You just turned your real, powerful moment into beige wallpaper.

And nobody sticks around for beige.

If your story didn’t land, it’s probably not because you’re bad at storytelling.

It’s because you killed the emotion trying to sound impressive.

Here’s a better way:

  1. Keep the messy line

  2. Say the thing that still stings

  3. Anchor it to one clear truth

Every great story comes down to one line you believe deeply.
One thing you needed to learn and someone else needs to hear.

Here’s an example:

I once gave a school talk about media careers.
Came in buttoned-up. Slides prepped. Voice rehearsed.

But halfway through, I saw it
Blank stares. Heads down. Nobody cared.

What stung?
I wasn’t connecting. I was performing.
Trying to impress instead of relate.

So I told them the truth:
“I used to record fake radio shows with a water bottle.”

They lit up.

Here’s what I learned:
Your story hits harder when it’s human, not perfect.

So next time, start there.

Then let the rest fall into place.

—Stephen

P.S.
What’s one story you butchered trying to make it “perfect”?
Hit reply. Let’s trade battle scars.

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