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"What color was the ball?"
I'm about to test something. And I bet you'll be shocked by the result..
Stephen Stanberry
December 30th, 2025
In partnership with
Hey friend,
Quick question before we get started:
Do you remember the two statistics I mentioned in yesterday's email about storytelling?
Take a second. Think about it.
What were they?
...
Don't remember?
That's okay. Most people don't.
But let me ask you something else:
If I told you a story about waking up at 4 AM to walk my dogs...
And I mentioned they had a favorite orange ball with a big number "4" written on it...
What color was the ball?
Orange, right?
What number was on it?
Four.
Why did I write that number?
Because I wake up at 4 AM.
You remembered every single detail, didn't you?
Even though I just made that example up right now, your brain stored it perfectly.
But the statistics from yesterday? Gone.
That's the power of specificity.
And today, I want to show you exactly how to use it in your own stories.
Because here's what most people get wrong:
They think being vague makes them more relatable.
"I was nervous before the meeting."
Okay, cool. We've all been nervous. But that doesn't stick.
Now listen to this:
"My palms were so sweaty, the paper in my hands started wrinkling from the moisture. And when I tried to hold them steady, they just shook harder."
Feel the difference?
You're not just hearing ABOUT nerves. You're experiencing them with me.
The detail makes it real.
So here's the framework I use in every story I write:
The 5-Sense Story Framework (Plus One Secret 6th)
When you're telling a story, ask yourself:
What did I SEE? Example: "I walked into the conference room and three people were sitting in a row, all in dark suits, staring at me like I was about to go on trial."
What did I HEAR? Example: "The only sound was someone clicking their pen. Over and over. It felt louder than my own heartbeat."
What did I SMELL? Example: "There was this strong coffee smell in the room. Like it had been sitting in the pot way too long."
What did I TASTE? Example: "My mouth was so dry, it felt like I'd been chewing on cardboard for an hour."
What did I TOUCH/FEEL? Example: "My hands started getting clammy. My collar felt like it was shrinking around my neck."
And the 6th sense most people forget: EMOTION Example: "Before they even asked the first question, I felt this wave of panic wash over me. My whole body was screaming: 'You don't belong here!'"
Here's why this works:
When you use specific sensory details, you activate something called mirror neurons in your reader's brain.
That's science talk for: their brain doesn't just process your words it simulates the actual experience.
If you describe the smell of burnt coffee, their brain lights up like they're smelling it too.
That's why stories with detail stick.
They bypass logic and hit experience.
And when someone experiences your story with you? They remember it.
Not just for five minutes. For weeks.
Here's What I Want You to Do:
Think about a moment from this week. Any moment. Doesn't have to be dramatic.
Now answer these questions:
What did you SEE in that moment?
What did you HEAR?
What did you FEEL (physically or emotionally)?
Pick at least 2 of those senses and write them out.
Then reply and send it to me.
I'll read every single one and tell you which detail made it come alive.
Let's turn your vague stories into ones people can actually picture.
Talk soon,
Stephen
P.S. - "You had to be there" is what bad storytellers say. With this framework? You're taking them there. Big difference.
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