Session Flow · 2-minute story inside a talk; 15-30 minute story-building activity
Story Spine (Kenn Adams)
An eight-sentence story template created by improviser Kenn Adams, later taught to Pixar's writers. Its sentence starters give any speaker a ready-made beginning, middle and end, which makes it a fast way to turn a case, a change or a product into a story.
When to use Story Spine (Kenn Adams)
Building the key story inside a talk, pitch or update; helping speakers turn a case or a change into a story fast.
How Story Spine (Kenn Adams) works
Use it as the structure of a story block inside a talk, pitch or town hall, or as a preparation activity where speakers draft their key story. Short talks can use the whole spine as their running order.
Phases of Story Spine (Kenn Adams)
- Once Upon a Time: Set the scene and introduce the main character, team or customer.
- Every Day: Describe the normal routine before anything changed.
- But One Day: Introduce the event or problem that broke the routine.
- Because of That: Show the chain of consequences, usually two or three steps, each caused by the last.
- Until Finally: Reach the turning point or resolution.
- Ever Since Then: Show the new normal and what it means for the audience.
Key principles
- Each step causes the next
- Start from an ordinary routine
- One clear disruption
- End on the new normal
- Fill the frame first, polish later
Best for
- Story moments in talks
- Pitches
- Change and town hall updates
- Speaker and storytelling workshops
Considerations
- A scaffold for a story, not a full talk structure for longer formats
- Can sound formulaic if the starter phrases are spoken aloud
- Often wrongly credited to Pixar; credit Kenn Adams
Attribution & sources
Developed by Kenn Adams, late 1980s
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