Answers · By Sun Yi, creator of the Myth Sandwich
How do I come up with myths and examples that people agree with?
Short answerStart with a wrong belief your audience already holds right now. Then find an example so clear that if you asked 100 people, all 100 would agree with it.
Finding the Right Myth
- Ask what your specific audience already believes right now, not what was true years ago.
- Do not make up a myth only a few people believe, it has to be widely held.
- Check: do people consciously believe it, or does everyone already know the opposite?
Finding the Right Example
- Use personal stories first, moments when you used to believe something and then stopped.
- The example must be undeniable: if 100 people read it, all 100 should agree.
- Sun lists seven ways to find examples: personal stories, putting yourself in the audience's shoes, two opposite truths, overcorrection of truths, books and studies, popular content, and case studies.
In Sun's words
A lot of people state the myth and stop there. That's not enough. You have to give me an example I can actually understand that shows why the myth is wrong. Without the example, I might still believe the myth. The example is what makes it real.
▶ Watch Sun explain thisTry itOpen Story Bank and jot down one belief your audience holds right now, then write one personal moment that proved it wrong.
This answer comes from Sun Yi's Story Bank Library.
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