Madison

free spirit with a wild heart.

[Nathan Baugh @nathanbaugh27]

In 4 minutes, Kurt Vonnegut explained stories better than anyone I’ve ever heard.

“The shape of the curve is what matters. Not their origins.”

He plots stories on 2 axes:

X: Time
Y: Good fortune / ill fortune

He goes on to say,

“Somebody gets into trouble, then gets out of it again. People love that story. They never get tired of it.”

Point 1:

Stories have defined patterns.

In Joseph Campbell’s Hero of a Thousand Faces, he makes the case for the Hero’s Journey.

Since then, it’s become the most famous storytelling structure in the world.

Vonnegut argued stories could be divided into 8 shapes.

Each story, he said, fit one of the 8.

Point 2:

Vonnegut says,

“Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them — so the reader may see what they're made of.”

To see who your characters really are, you have to make them suffer.

Only then does your audience have someone worth cheering for.

Point 3:

End on a high note.

Vonnegut says, “It’s not accidental that the line ends up higher than where it began. This is encouraging to readers.”

The way a story makes people feel when they finish is how they remember it.

It’s called recency bias.

Lift people up and they will love you.

***

“There are people. There are stories. The people think they shape the stories, but the reverse is often closer to the truth.”

I wrote this with @RobbieCrab. Follow him for lessons on storytelling + fundraising.

And I talk about creative storytelling. Follow @nathanbaugh27 for more like that.

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

@b_meredith11 No it’s white and comes in a pump.

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

@b_meredith11 Olaplex No. 6 will change ya life.

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

what an absolute terrifying time to be the mother of two AFAB kiddos. I feel like if there were ever a time to fight for the safety and security of the next generation, it’s now.

[todd bonzalez @doinkpatrol]

can’t really explain it but elon buying twitter is huge jimmy pesto energy

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

I’ve been in Chicago for work the past couple days and my babies welcomed me home by pooping in the bathtub today. Both of them. Both of them pooped in the bath.

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

@b_meredith11 DMing you a thing I bought on Instagram!

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

I was today years old when I found out Diplo and Major Lazer were the same person. Don’t text.

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

I can tell this guy (and every guy who likes this tweet) are acting a little too tall for their actual height.

[sara @ramblings_and]

Found out I was making 20% more than my coworker so we spent lunch drafting an email for her to renegotiate her contract. Talk about your pay!!

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

My oldest has never called me “mom” so now she calls me “Bob” or sometimes “bop” if I’m not moving quickly enough. So there’s that.

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

I told my baby cousin that I’d take him skydiving when he turned 18 one time when he was like 6, and this fool texted me and asked when we’re going skydiving today and it’s 4 days before he turns 18. 😅😅😅

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

@TommieSunflower treat yo self baby! 🤘

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

I feel like 2022 is gonna be my year. I went from a once a week therapy girl to a twice a month therapy girl. #growth

[Trixie Mattel™ @trixiemattel]

you want some lip chap?

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

I haven’t shaved my legs in probably 2 weeks and I’m wearing shorts and Andy just walked up to me and pet my leg like a dog. Toddlers are ruthless.

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

I’ve had to say “get your butthole off the furniture” way too many times today.

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

@b_meredith11 Giiiirl sleep is developmental. Every baby is different. And idk what’s worse being told to give them melatonin or benedryl 😂😂😂

[Madison @MadisonPate8]

“How’re they sleeping? Sleeping through the night yet? Well my kids slept through the night when they were 2 weeks old. Oh have you tried giving them melatonin? Oh well idk if your pediatrician knows what she’s talking about bc the Facebook mom group I’m in told me it was ok.”