Video summary

The Proven Formula That Makes a Story Irresistible

Main summary

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Educational

Summary of “The Proven Formula That Makes a Story Irresistible”

This video explains the concept of a high concept book and how it serves as the “secret sauce” behind many wildly successful novels. A high concept premise is an attention-grabbing, easily summarized idea that makes a book immediately appealing and marketable. The video breaks down what high concept means, dispels common misconceptions, provides examples, and offers a detailed framework to help writers craft their own high concept stories.

Main Ideas and Concepts

Definition of High Concept Books

  • Stories with an attention-grabbing premise that can be summarized in a single sentence.
  • Easy-to-grasp plots that essentially “pitch themselves.”
  • Broad appeal and large potential audiences, making them attractive to agents and publishers.
  • Not limited to action or plot-driven stories; many high concept books also have strong character development.
  • Can exist in any genre, though some genres like thrillers and sci-fi may lend themselves more naturally to high concept ideas.
  • Literary fiction may or may not be high concept but can still be successful.
  • High concept alone isn’t enough; execution must be excellent.

Examples of High Concept Books

  • The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides: A woman murders her husband and refuses to speak.
  • The Martian by Andy Weir: An astronaut stranded on Mars must survive until rescue.
  • The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood: A dystopian society where women are forced into servitude amid a fertility crisis.

These examples span multiple genres and explore deep themes beyond their high concept premises.

Four Proven Techniques to Craft a High Concept Premise

  1. Re-imagine a Familiar Trope Take a well-known storyline or trope and twist it to create something fresh yet recognizable. Examples:

    • Star Wars = classic Western set in space
    • Pride and Prejudice and Zombies = classic romance with a zombie twist

  2. Ask “What If?” Pose bold, intriguing questions that challenge reality or explore unique human experiences. Examples:

    • What if dinosaurs existed today? (Jurassic Park)
    • What if you could stop JFK’s assassination? (11/22/63)
    • What if two teenagers with cancer fell in love? (The Fault in Our Stars)

  3. Create an Unexpected Mashup (X meets Y) Combine two wildly different stories, genres, or elements to generate originality and intrigue. Exercise: List favorite stories, note what you love about each, then mix elements. Examples:

    • Before I Fall = Groundhog Day meets Mean Girls
    • Cinder = Cinderella meets The Terminator

The goal is to help agents/publishers quickly conceptualize your story.

  1. Experiment with Structure Use a unique narrative format or storytelling method to make a normal plot feel high concept. Examples:

    • Daisy Jones and The Six uses an interview/documentary style.
    • Sadie is told via podcast transcripts.

Additional Notes

  • High concept pitches help attract attention but must be paired with strong writing and execution.
  • The video creator offers a free “story self-assessment worksheet” to help writers evaluate and improve their drafts.
  • There is also a newsletter called Chapter Break featuring interviews with literary agents and bestselling authors.

Methodology / Instructions for Crafting a High Concept Premise

  1. Re-imagine a Familiar Trope

    • Identify a well-known trope or storyline.
    • Put a unique twist on it to create something fresh yet familiar.

  2. Ask “What If?”

    • Brainstorm bold, intriguing hypothetical questions.
    • Use these questions to frame your story’s premise.

  3. Create an Unexpected Mashup

    • List favorite stories from different genres.
    • Identify key elements you love (setting, characters, plot points).
    • Combine elements from different stories to form a new premise (X meets Y).

  4. Experiment with Structure

    • Consider unconventional narrative styles (interviews, transcripts, podcasts).
    • Use structure to differentiate your story and add intrigue.

Speakers / Sources Featured

  • The video is presented by a developmental book editor (name not given) who shares writing tips and publishing industry insights.
  • Examples of authors and books mentioned:
    • Alex Michaelides (The Silent Patient)
    • Andy Weir (The Martian)
    • Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale)
    • Stephen King (11/22/63)
    • Other referenced titles/authors: Jurassic Park, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Before I Fall, Cinder, Daisy Jones and The Six, Sadie, The Fault in Our Stars

Overall, the video teaches writers how to create a compelling, marketable story idea by developing a high concept premise using proven creative techniques, supported by examples and practical exercises.

Original video