Welcome back to Christian Story Lab! Last week, we hooked our readers with open loops and kept their attention like the TikTok feed on a Friday night.

But good storytelling doesn't come from a single stroke of genius—it's a skill you build.

Today, we're talking all about building that story muscle.

Why Should Everyone Build The Story Muscle?

Maria Popova, the brilliant writer and cultural critic, puts it this way: "A great storyteller... helps people figure out not only what matters in the world, but also why it matters. A great storyteller dances up the ladder of understanding, from information to knowledge to wisdom."

That dance is one everyone should master because all humans are wired for stories:

• Our sense of identity revolves around the story we tell ourselves.

• We buy from businesses that tell stories we relate to.

• We ground our children in reality through stories of made-up lands and our past.

• Our faith is built around the story (life and teachings) of Jesus.

Stories are essential for entertainment, business, art, faith, and identity. But not all stories are equal. Some people tell extraordinarily bad stories and lose attention, business, and souls in the process.

You don't want this, and neither do I. Nobody wants this. So, let's build that story muscle like meat-heads in the gym: small progress, consistent action, lasting results.

Top 3 Ways To Build Your Story Muscle

These are my personal writing exercises:

1️⃣ Copywork 

2️⃣ Fiction Writing 

3️⃣ Daily Writing Challenge

Let’s talk about each one 🤙

1️⃣ Copywork: Learning from the Masters

"Copying is the highest form of flattery," my parents would tell me when I complained about friends "copying" me. I didn't believe them. I was eight.

But as I've spent more time in the art and science of writing, I've discovered the power of copying the words of great writers and thinkers.

Copywork is simply taking a piece of great writing and copying it down word for word.

In 1991, researchers asked: "What's the most effective way to learn a new language?" After testing various techniques—books, grammar lessons, expensive courses—the most effective proved to be dead simple:

Have the beginner speak with and mimic a native speaker, every day.

The same is true for writing. You can learn all the grammar rules and memorize flowery vocabulary, but if your writing lacks style and flow, it will fall flat.

With copywork, you absorb exceptional writing by writing it with your own hand.

Who's done copywork?

• Ernest Hemingway

• Jack London

• Isaac Asimov

• Yours truly

No, my name doesn't belong with these greats, but I do copywork nearly every day to improve my writing.

Pluck your favorite book from the shelf and try it for 30 minutes.

I love the process so much that I took it to the next level.

2️⃣ Fiction Writing: Vent Your Creativity

I believe that if you can write fiction, you can write anything.

While I spend a lot of time writing nonfiction, writing fiction opens a part of my brain unlike anything else.

What I learn from fiction writing:

• A sense of pacing

• Emotional resonance in your work

• More dynamic characters—even in non-fiction

Fiction writing forces me to flex brain muscles as I consider:

• Dialogue: How would this character say this? What makes this person’s speech different than that person's speech? Where is the personality in their words?

• Character building: What color are their eyes? Do they walk with a limp or shuffle their feet? Does the mole have 1 hair or 3 hairs sticking out from it?

• Scene placement: Is this in a bustling city of blaring horns and chattering bystanders or a suburban neighborhood with a band of 80s bicycling kids?

• Story structure: Will we send our hero on a journey of self-discovery, or do we need to do some Quentin Tarintino mastery work of non-linear storytelling?

I’m not telling you to be the next J.K. Rowling and release a sprawling epic tale of a young wizard in a 7-volume story.

I’m simply suggesting that fiction writing can open parts of your brain that might have some cobwebs and icky spiders crawling on it.

So, open up a Google Doc and try this:

1. Prompt-Based Story: Write a 200-word story using the prompt, "A stranger knocks on your door with an odd request." Focus on building a vivid scene and character emotions.

2. Character Dialogue: Write a 200-word conversation between two characters. No narration—just pure dialogue to strengthen character voices.

3. Describe a Setting: Write 200 words describing a fictional setting. Focus on sensory details—including smell! Nobody ever thinks about the smell of a scene.

Here is a screenshot of my personal fiction project so you know I’m not completely full of beans.

[Exciting project with this coming soon! Stay tuned!]

3️⃣ Daily Writing Challenge: Consistency is Key

I recently completed a 30-day writing challenge and I'm jumping into a 90-day challenge.

Here's my accountability post to my mastermind group:

🛑 FULL STOP. I'm not talking about creating a writing routine that takes more time to perfect than writing itself.

Writing routines often become an honorable excuse to avoid the hard task of writing.

Just look at how wild writing routines can be:

• Lewis Carroll wrote at a standing desk using purple ink.

• Sir Walter Scott wrote in a notebook while riding a horse.

• Sir Terry Pratchett had BBC on a loop in the background.

• Dr. Seuss chose from 500 hats to wear while writing.

The point? There's no magical routine that will make you write more.

Here's the only routine that works:

Sit down. Write.

It's three words long, and actually, the first two are negotiable. I do a lot of writing standing up. Right now, I'm at my kitchen table with a dirty waffle iron and a pile of folded laundry within arm’s reach.

Magical, I know.

You don't need a writing routine; you need a writing challenge.

Make writing happen by establishing:

1. The length (30, 60, 90 days)

2. The task (200 words, 500 words, 30 minutes)

3. The accountability (publish on social media, send a newsletter, text a writing partner)

So, set your challenge and start writing!

Your Story Muscle: A Powerful Investment

Building your story muscle is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. It's not something many people think about, which is why it will set you apart.

• People give business to those who move them emotionally.

• People lean in and give their attention to captivating storytellers.

• Lives change when people connect to a story on a personal level.

The person who tells the better story has more influence.

If you want to harness this influence, start with these three exercises:

1️⃣ Copywork

2️⃣ Fiction Writing

3️⃣ Daily Writing Challenge

Now, go write a story.

Pssst. Let me pop in here like a pop-tart from the toaster to remind you to join the FaithWork email course today and begin building your story muscle while deepening your faith.

Did I mention you can Pay What You Want?

This Week’s Christian Creator Highlight!

Butch Hartman, the creator of popular animated shows like "The Fairly OddParents" and "Danny Phantom," has recently ventured into biblical-themed art. I've been following his work for a while and am excited to see what else he creates within the Christian space.

As always, feel free to submit your stories, illustrations, or videos by replying to this email or tagging me on X (@thepaytonminz). Let me know if you’d prefer to remain anonymous.

Write on 🤙

Payton