I’ve been thinking about how our brains actually process stories—whether it’s a lesson plan or a news article. It seems there’s a precise structure that makes the information stick, and I’d love to explore that with you. What do you think?

Let’s start with the very first layer: context. Without a clear setting—who’s involved, what’s at stake, where the action takes place—the brain has no map to latch onto. We’ll look at how a few sentences can anchor that map and then see where the deeper hooks pop up. Ready?

A good trick is to use the “Who‑What‑Why” triplet. First, name the key character or group—who is involved. Next, state the situation—what’s happening. Finally, hint at the stakes—why it matters. Keep each part to a single clause, and use a vivid verb or adjective to make the image pop. For example, “The stray cat, soaked in rain, waits in the alley for a warm hand.” That gives the brain a picture, a character, and a reason to care, all in one sentence. Try it with your own story and see if the reader feels the map right away.