I
How do you get people to say, “I relate to that story? That could be me!”
Or “That story makes me want to know more about her.”
Versus
“That seems weird. I can’t imagine doing that.”
“I don’t share that person’s values.”
In my experience, here’s what makes a personal story relatable.
(1) Spouses (of the opposite sex) and children.
(2) Dogs (sorry, not cats).
(3) Hobbies: Gardening
(4) Going to a pop concert (usually not classical) or a movie
(5) Driving and cars
Here’s what makes your story NOT Relatable:
(1) Being single and never-married
(being part of a gay couple or being divorced are very relatable to some audiences)
(2) Blog posts and stories about your beloved cats (“crazy cat lady” is still a thing)
(3) Hobbies: most crafts (wheel throwing in ceramics is sometimes ok), reading for fun, taking classes
(4) Going out: Ballet, chamber music, some classical; also going to an indie film that nobody’s heard of or visiting an art museum
(5) Transportation: taking buses in the city (and sometimes the subway)
Exception: If you’re a Celebrity archetype, you don’t have to be relatable. You have to be someone that other people want to be. Or someone who fascinates your fans.
Want more?
A podcast with a Role Model archetype who tells a relatable personal story. Click here.
A podcast about how you’re more relatable when you set your story in a familiar place. Click here.
A podcast about how they don’t get you because you’re not relatable. Click here.
