Chapter 22: How I Hit 1M Views

A “razor” is a rule of thumb that simplifies decision making.

I collect these kinds of ideas obsessively. 

Tiny frameworks. Mental shortcuts. Simple models that make life smoother.

Today, you’re getting one that’s changed my life.

Not for productivity.

But for storytelling.

If you’ve been following along — I’ve been telling a lot of stories lately.

Over the past 80 days, I’ve scripted and shared ~60 short stories, grown my Instagram by 10,000+ people, and started getting DMs from strangers saying, “your words hit me in my soul ... thank you for sharing these stories.”

But, I have a secret…

This wasn’t luck. It was calculated.

All because I learned to structure stories in a way that actually lands.

You ready to learn how?

Cool. Let’s dive in.

The Wrong Way to Tell Stories

Most people have no idea how to tell a story.

They focus on what happened.

They give you a bullet point list of events.

There’s no tension. No pacing. No transformation.

Just “This happened. Then this happened. Then this.”

It’s not compelling. And it’s definitely not memorable.

Let me show you what I mean:

Bad version: I quit my job. I took a trip. It was great.

Better version: I was burnt out, but unsure what to do next (But). So I hit the road to think (So). That time gave me clarity to find the answer I needed (Therefore).

Huge difference, right?

And it all comes down to one framework.

The Storytelling Framework: But → So → Therefore

Credit to South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for this one.

Here’s how it works:

1. But – Introduces the tension or problem

2. So – Reveals the action taken in response

3. Therefore – Delivers the outcome, insight, or transformation

Let’s break it down with a real example:

Why This Works

Great stories are like songs.

They need rhythm, contrast, and a hook you remember.

Most people don’t connect with facts.

They connect with tension, action, and meaning.

“But” creates stakes.

“So” shows momentum.

“Therefore” explains the transformation.

That’s the architecture of every good story.

Simple, but effective.

Start paying attention and you’ll start to see it everywhere.

Try This Today

Want to use this framework yourself?

Start simple:

1. Pick a moment from your life that left an impression (even a small one)

   • A random conversation? A walk that shifted your mood? A win at work?

2. Ask:

   • What was the unexpected twist? (But)

   • What did you do in response? (So)

   • What did you learn or gain? (Therefore)

3. Write it out in 5–7 sentences

   • Bonus: Reply to this email with yours and if you’re one of the first 10 to respond I’ll give you direct feedback on it

Don’t overthink. Just start. The clarity comes from the writing, not before it.

Frameworks like this take a fuzzy “story” and turn it into something structured, meaningful, and worth remembering.

Wrapping Up

This framework changed how I write, speak, and share ideas.

It’s how I’ve told stories that have reached 1M people in the past 30 days and made strangers on the internet say, “I love how you tell stories”

And now?

I’m working on a full Storytelling Starter Kit — everything I’ve learned broken down into a simple system. Hooks, templates, idea generation, my workflow, and more.

200+ people have asked for it. So I’m building it.

If you want to be the first to know when it drops, hit reply and let me know.

In the meantime, remember this:

You are a storyteller. We all are.

The only question is … what story will you tell?

Rooting for ya,

—Dodds

A Disclaimer

This framework is powerful — but it’s not the whole game.

Even the best story won’t land if no one stops to hear it.

That’s where hooks come in.

The hook is the first line — the curiosity gap that pulls people in.
The initial tension that makes them say: “I need to hear where this is going.”

We’ll go deep on hooks in a future letter.

But for now, just know: structure is what makes your story land, but the hook is what earns the right to tell it.