The 5 Key Story Moments in a Song

Do you want to write captivating song lyrics that hook your listeners from the beginning and keep them engaged throughout?

The secret lies in storytelling.

In this guide, I'll take you through five key moments that every story (and storytelling song) needs.

These moments, which we at Story Grid call the five commandments of storytelling, are crucial for crafting lyrics that tell a story and connect deeply with your audience.

Let's dive into these five commandments, or waypoints, as I like to call them, and explore how they help shape your narrative.

At the heart of every story is an initial disturbance—an event that disrupts the balance of your protagonist's world.

This is the inciting interaction.

It can be something that was caused by another person and now affects the protagonist directly, or it's correlational. Or maybe it's pure coincidence. Nonetheless, it's an objective disruption to their way of life in one particular area.

For our song's protagonist, this moment brings chaos and the need to restore order.

This disturbance is initially seen as a potential opportunity or a threat, but the protagonist only sees one side of it. They don't realize that the opportunity can also pose a threat, and the threat can also be an opportunity. They see the disturbance as a one-sided problem with one possible solution.

After the initial disturbance, your protagonist faces progressive complications—obstacles that raise the stakes and tension. Or maybe they encounter affordances that help them move closer to their goal.

The turning point is another unexpected event that forces them to reevaluate their situation.

In a prescriptive story, this moment brings clarity, helping the protagonist see their problem from multiple angles.

However, in a cautionary tale, they remain fixated on their initial perspective, failing to see the complexity of their situation. They don't see that they indeed face a double-factor problem—a problem where they have to weigh competing values in their set context.

Next comes the crisis—a moment of intense pressure where the protagonist must make a decision.

It's a this-or-that choice with no clear path forward, forcing them to weigh the potential gains and losses of each option.

In a prescriptive tale, the protagonist understands the full scope of their dilemma and makes an informed choice.

Yet, in a cautionary tale, they remain unaware of crucial aspects, often leading to a harmful decision.

The climax is the point of action where the protagonist's choice is put into motion.

They act decisively, accepting the risks involved.

In a prescriptive tale, this moment often leads to growth and a positive resolution.

In a cautionary tale, however, the protagonist's choice typically results in negative consequences because they failed to fully understand their problem.

Finally, the resolution shows the aftermath of the protagonist's decision. The world responds, and we see how their choice has reshaped their life.

In a prescriptive tale, this moment confirms the positive outcome of their journey, offering hope and enlightenment to the audience.

In a cautionary tale, it reveals the dire consequences of their misguided decisions, serving as a warning.

Understanding these five waypoints can elevate your songwriting, making your lyrics more compelling and impactful.

Let's break this into actionable steps:

By incorporating these five story waypoints into your songwriting, you can create lyrics that resonate deeply with your audience.

Each song becomes a journey, guiding listeners through an emotional and transformative experience.

And remember, practice makes perfect.

Study other songs, analyze how they use these storytelling techniques, and apply your insights to your own work.

Happy songwriting! If you want to dive deeper into these concepts and see them in action, check out my other resources and videos for more detailed guidance.