Common Storytelling Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

All people are born storytellers.

As kids, we create imaginary worlds; as adults, we revisit memories at family reunions. Storytelling is in our nature.

But something funny happens when we sit down to write a new story. We set aside our natural instincts in search of the "complex skill" of storytelling.

We get rigid, our minds go blank, and we try too hard—doing something natural in an artificial way.

Today, let's talk about common storytelling mistakes and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: You announce you’re going to tell a story.
This happens all the time on stage. You’ll transition from a main point with, “Let me tell you a story about that.” It’s as bad as starting your book with “Once Upon a Time.”

Don’t waste the most important moment—the hook—by telling the audience the story is starting. That part is obvious.

Mistake #2: You abstractify your story.
We all want to be as clever as Jesus with our storytelling. His teachings have been revealing new insights for thousands of years. But, newsflash: you’re not Jesus.

Storytelling is human-to-human communication. When everything becomes a metaphor, your audience is left with nothing practical. Bridge the gap between your story and your readers with characters who have names and real, relatable problems.

Mistake #3: You try too hard to be funny or sad.
Unless you’re a trained comedian, skip trying to manufacture funny moments. Humor is organic; it’s born from the follies and frustrations that ordinary people experience.

People are likelier to laugh at you losing luggage or stumbling around your yard in a bathrobe with a flashlight than at a forced punchline.

Mistake #4: You hide your stories.
I call the opposite of this "practicing in public," which is the quickest way to become a better writer and storyteller. When you keep everything hidden until you think it’s perfect, you invest time and tears into something that might not even resonate.

How do you avoid wasting your time? Share your writing with others. This could mean printing handouts for close friends or (as I recommend) putting pieces of your story online—on platforms like X, Threads, or Wattpad.

Mistake #5: Wanting to make an impact or inspire with the story.
Everyone wants to inspire with their story, but you have to let that go and let the story do the work for you.

As a Christian, you have the most incredible story in the world—a gem in your pocket. But so many Christian stories come off as preachy or cheesy because they care more about the impact than the story itself. Good stories will carry their own weight.

To summarize: We’re all born to tell stories. We’ve been doing it since childhood. But when we overthink the process, we often stumble into common mistakes. Loosen your grip on making an impact and focus more on crafting a compelling story.

That’s all for now. Write on!

Payton