August 7, 2025
What if I told you there’s a simple storytelling technique that can turn any average moment into a captivating story?
In this blog, I’ll show you exactly what that technique is and share three easy ways to use it in your own storytelling.
But first, let’s take a look at this short clip from Salma Hayek. Can you spot what makes her story so captivating?
“I called him up and I said, ‘We need to talk.’ And I’m not that kind of girl. I never do the ‘we need to talk’ thing.
So he was scared when I said it.
So he called me and I said, ‘Listen, this breaks my heart to tell you this news because I know I’m going to disappoint you, and it’s been really hard for me to come up with the courage to say this to you.
But I cannot take it any longer. I have to tell you.
And you just have to understand that I’ve been here working so much. I’m so tired. I’m so overworked.
And I’m so lonely.’”
“The combination is lethal — when you’re so lonely and so overworked, you don’t think straight.
And in this moment of madness, he goes, ‘Oh, please don’t tell me you picked up another dog.'”
Salma is a master at raising questions.
With every line, you’re thinking:
“Wait, what happens next?”
“What is she going to tell her husband?”
That’s what makes it so captivating — not just what she says, but the questions she plants in your mind.
Here are three simple ways to raise questions and build curiosity in your stories just like Salma.
If you want people to lean in, start your story with a teaser line that sparks a question. Think of it like a movie trailer. Just one sentence that makes people wonder what happens next.
Examples:
“Last week, something happened that completely changed how I see the world.”
“A year ago, I had one of the most surprising moments of my entire life.”
These lines don’t give away too much, but they raise questions and now the listener needs to hear what comes next.
Early in your story, tell us what you were trying to do. What was your goal? What were you hoping for?
Example:
“I really wanted to finish that marathon. I wanted to show my kids that anything is possible.”
Now we’re hooked. Instantly, the listener is wondering:
Did you make it?
Did you manage to make your kids proud?
We keep listening because we need to know the answer.
One of the easiest ways to build anticipation is to tell us what you thought would happen.
What were you expecting? Hoping for? Afraid of?
Even if those thoughts are naive or totally unrealistic share them. That’s what makes your story human.
Example:
“I thought — this is it. This is going to be the best presentation of my life. They’ll love it. Someone’s probably going to offer me a job after this.”
Boom. Now we want to know:
Did it go the way you imagined or did it all fall apart?
When you share what you expected, you build suspense.
“It was a few years back. We were down at Bondi Beach in Australia, and Oscar was already like, ‘You sit over here, Dad. I’m going to sit over there.’
I look over and he’s chatting to this girl who looked about 14 or 15. He was about 11 or 12.”
“Next thing I know, he’s walking over with the girl to me, pointing at me. He runs the last bit, goes, ‘Dad, Dad, I told her you’re Wolverine — sign something, do a photo, do whatever you got to do. Oh, hi Charlotte, this is my dad.’”
“I was like… I’m the wingman for my 11-year-old.”
What a wonderful storyteller. Again, he raises a question early:
“What is this kid doing walking over with a girl?
Raising questions is the secret to keeping your listeners engaged from start to finish. Whether it’s:
A teaser line (hook)
A personal goal
A foreshadowed outcome
These storytelling tools keep people hanging on every word.
If you want to take your storytelling to the next level, check out this check out this article where I share three simple frameworks to better articulate your thoughts.
Storytelling has helped me more than anything else boost my retention, go viral, and grow my business in the end.
Enjoy.
P.S. Want to become a stronger communicator?
Here are two ways I can support you:
👉 Want to tell more engaging stories? Join our next Storytelling Workshop.
👉 Want to speak with confidence and clarity? Check out our Communication Skills Training.
Both are fun, practical, and designed to help you grow fast.
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
Discover how your storytelling skills score and uncover useful insights to help you become a charismatic storyteller:
