Sound Judgment Elaine Appleton Grant

Marketing might get you new listeners, new readers — new audiences for whatever kind of content you create. But to hook those new people and keep them coming back? To create a relationship with them? That's a whole other thing. Today on the show: six storytelling techniques for making unforgettable work.

When award-winning podcast producer, host, actor and The Moth storyteller Sam Mullins describes a place, a character, or a situation, you'll never see him simply say: "John Doe was of average height, with brown hair, a sad face, and a slight paunch." Not for him are conventional descriptions. Sam, who hosted Chameleon: Wild Boys, searches for the telling phrase, the sensory description, the thing you've never heard, seen, or felt before. Which just might be why he's award-winning in the first place. Learn how to use specifics in the last episode of our six-part series on storytelling strategies to hook your listener and keep them coming back.

Today's episode dives into critical storytelling technique that you may not be thinking about — but you should.