How to Use Stories in Your Writing (Even If You Think Yours Are Boring)
It’s not the size of your story—but how you use it
Many times I've deleted entire articles because the story in them felt too…ordinary.
One that sticks out was about a jar of pesto (yes I'm terribly middle class).
Specifically, how I couldn’t open it while my son watched, eyebrows raised like I’d just failed an Olympic event.
Not exactly Pulitzer material.
But here’s the thing...
When I linked that small moment to how creators struggle to “open” their writing process each morning—how that stuck feeling is just like trying to do something easy that suddenly feels hard—it clicked.
That email hit a nerve, with a few readers saying it captured exactly how they felt too.
That’s when I realised:
It’s not just the story. It’s the segue.
Your Stories Don’t Need to Be Epic
This is where most of us get stuck.
You wait until something big happens…
Losing your job, moving home, or having your heart broken.
You think that’s what makes a good story.
But the truth is, people don’t connect with cinematic.
They connect with familiar.
The burned toast.
The missed alarm.
The awkward silence in a meeting.
Because those are the tiny truths that reflect their lives.
Try This Instead: Use the S.A.L.T. Formula
Here’s a simple framework I use to turn everyday moments into magnetic content.
S.A.L.T. = Story → Analogy → Lesson → Tie-in
Story: Share something real. Doesn’t have to be dramatic.
Analogy: Link it to a universal emotion or struggle (your avatar’s pain point)
Lesson: Offer a shift in perspective. Not advice-insight-with actionable tips.
Tie-in: Connect it to your offer, tool, or next step with a soft CTA.
Let’s apply it to my pesto jar story:
Story: I couldn’t open it. My son watched and I felt ridiculous.
Analogy: That’s how it feels trying to write when you’re stuck—something that should be easy, suddenly isn’t.
Lesson: Momentum matters more than mastery. Don’t aim to be perfect—just get the lid to budge.
Tie-in: That’s exactly what my daily writing practice is for—showing up and turning the lid, one rep at a time.
See how simple that is?
You don’t need to “be interesting.”
You need to be human.
“But My Life Is Too Boring…”
No—it’s not.
You’re just used to it.
To someone else, your daily challenges, quirks, wins, and worries are mirrors. They want to see themselves in your world.
Not because it’s impressive, but because it’s recognizable.
That's what creates authenticity in your writing - even when using templates and drafting with AI.
So next time you’re tempted to delete a story because it feels too “small”...
Don’t.
Jut add a sprinkle of S.A.L.T.
Want More Like This?
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