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 your sessions feel disjointed or participants lose focus
Your meetings or sessions need better pacing, clearer transitions, or more engaging sequences to keep participants engaged.
Building the key story inside a talk, pitch or update; helping speakers turn a case or a change into a story fast.
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.
Creates natural rhythm and momentum that keeps energy high throughout.
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.
- 1Vary the pace between high and low energy activities
- 2Use clear transitions between sections
- 3Build complexity gradually throughout
- 4End with actionable takeaways
- Story moments in talks
- Pitches
- Change and town hall updates
- Speaker and storytelling workshops
- Each step causes the next
- Start from an ordinary routine
- One clear disruption
- End on the new normal
- Fill the frame first, polish later
- 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