Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Between the Lines: In Storytelling, Simplify to Amplify - Premium Sampler

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Dec 5, 2024

Hilary Price, cartoonist and creator of the daily comic strip Rhymes with Orange, shares her insights on storytelling through humor and minimalism. She emphasizes starting at the action moment to engage the audience effectively. Price discusses the importance of surprise and leaving space for readers' interpretations, ensuring clarity in communication. With her unique approach to narrative crafting, she illustrates how simplicity can amplify impact, reminding us that the magic often lies in the unsaid elements of a story.

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INSIGHT

Elements of a Good Story

Good stories require change, surprise, and stakes.
They disrupt common knowledge or clichés to create unexpected twists.

ANECDOTE

Easter Comic Example

Hilary Price's Easter comic involved a magician's bunny asking for the day off.
She uses visual cues like a basket to subtly indicate Easter, letting the reader infer the context.

ADVICE

Simplify and Amplify

Simplify and amplify your message in cartoons and communication.
Avoid spoon-feeding the audience; let them co-create meaning and enjoy the discovery.

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"Start with the action moment or right before it," advises Hilary Price whose one-panel comic strips offer insights far beyond humor—they’re lessons in concise storytelling that resonate with anyone seeking to communicate effectively. “Simplify and amplify,” Price advises, emphasizing the art of clarity and impact. Every stroke of her pen strips away the unnecessary, letting the essentials shine through.

Creating her daily comic strip, Rhymes with Orange, Price starts with the game of “what if,” merging unexpected ideas to surprise and engage her readers. “You want to start at the action moment—or just before,” she notes, pointing out how the unsaid often speaks louder. Price extends this philosophy beyond cartoons: whether crafting a presentation, a joke, or a story, it’s essential to leave room for the audience to co-create meaning. “Don’t spoon-feed your readers,” she says. “The joy comes from not getting it, then getting it.”

In this bonus episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Price joins host Matt Abrahams to explore the power of surprise, stakes, and shared experience in storytelling—reminding us that the punchline, whether in humor or communication, is where the magic happens.

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Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(03:25) - What Makes a Good Story?
(04:18) - Crafting a Story
(05:38) - Auditioning the Characters
(08:42) - Stories in Daily Life
(10:30) - Visuals in Storytelling
(12:17) - The Power of a Punchline
(15:37) - Admired Storytellers
(17:34) - Communicating with Titles
(19:06) - Conclusion

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