I love the smell of deadly grapes in the morning

“Every year people die doing this,” Lara whispers next to me. 

“Really??”

She nods. 

“Why are we doing it then?!?” 

Before I get an answer, Elisa barks from the front of the room: 

“Alright, everyone! Have you all got your grapes?”

Everyone shouts back, “Yes!”

“Great. As soon as the countdown on TV starts, we will eat one grape per second. That is 12 grapes, one for each month of the year. As you eat each grape, make a wish. Everyone ready?”

The “yes” is less enthusiastic this time. 

I look around and the room is full of my friends, all together to celebrate the New Year. Some look really excited but some look nervous, a few are almost panicky. 

That’s when I notice that some people’s bowls have the tiniest grapes I’ve ever seen–while my bowl has these huge grapes, each the size of an eyeball. 

I’m about to complain, but before I get a chance the ridiculously overdressed people on Spanish TV start counting, and the first grape goes in my mouth. 

I chew as fast as I can, reach for the second one and hear Lara choking next to me–we lost someone already. 

I want to go to her, make sure she’s fine, but there’s just no time. 

I keep going through the grapes, and I hear another friend, Carla, tell her son, “Chew carefully, honey, I don’t want you to die.”

People are dropping all around me. Some are coughing, some are giggling, but halfway through the count I realise we might not make it. 

We’re down to the last few numbers on TV, so I make a final push and, breathing through my nose, swallow the last grapes just as I hear the first fireworks going off outside. 

My friends did better than I thought, there are empty bowls all around, but there are also bodies all over the room. I’m about to check everyone is ok when Elisa shouts, 

“Happy New Year!!!”

Soon I’m being hugged and kissed, there’s lots of happy noises so I guess we’re all still alive. 

That’s when I hear someone asking, 

“Did you make all your wishes?”

Damn. The wishes. I completely forgot about them. That was all for nothing…

I guess if I want fame and fortune this year… 

I’ll actually have to work for it 😅

The Imitation Game

When you tell a story, don’t try to have “style”–a particular way of expressing yourself that feels unique and interesting. That can easily come off as artificial or forced, especially when you’re telling a story instead of writing it. 

But one way to make a story more interesting is to imitate the style and tropes of a very well-known movie genre

It was probably obvious I was thinking of a war movie for the story above, something like a Saving Private Ryan-scene of soldiers landing on the beach or taking over an enemy position. The subject line of this newsletter is an Apocalypse Now quote, in case you missed that ;-)

But you can also imitate: 

• A mystery, where the weird or disillusioned detective tries to solve the unsolvable crime 

• A horror movie, with the haunted house or cabin, the scary basement and the stupid choices the protagonists make 

• A romantic comedy, with the best friends who don’t realise they’re right for each other or the silly misunderstandings that keep them apart 

• The indie drama, where almost nothing happens but people’s relationships and conversation get way too much importance 

• The 90’s comedy, where the protagonist gets into all sorts of absurd and ridiculous situations they really shouldn’t have (this one feels very familiar to me 😂) 

You’re not writing fiction, so just borrow a few elements that are easily recognisable and go for it. Even if it’s not completely obvious what you were imitating, it will still add enough “style” to your storytelling to make it more fun. 

Not all stories need to be fun, of course, but no one has ever complained of a story being too short or too funny! 

That’s enough for this week. 

Happy New Year, ya filthy animals 🤘

-Francisco 

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. Getting clarity through your story to stand out from all the other coaches, speakers and entrepreneurs out there 

2. If you dream of speaking on the Red Dot, take this Scorecard and instantly discover how likely your idea is to be accepted by a TED-style organizing committee

3. If you (or your team) got any storytelling challenges, I’m sure there’s something we can do together ;-)

Thanks for reading! Reply any time.