I recently listened to a podcast on the rise and fall of the Vine app called "Vine Six Seconds That Changed The World."

Biggest takeaway: they failed because they didn’t think of monetization within the concept.
I think this is a bit of a recurring theme in tech and entertainment.

With traditional products we think about how to solve a problem or meet a desire of consumers, because if we can do that we automatically build in the perceived monetary value.

With tech and entertainment though, often these things are after thoughts. We’re thinking more about, “Wouldn’t it be cool if___” instead of “this is something people will be looking for.”

I think a lot of indie stuff is suffering from this. We’re meeting a need that’s never been expressed in any big way.

If we can drill down into what those needs and desires are, we can find a tribe willing to buy what we’re selling. But that sort of research and discovery should happen alongside or even before the development of the entertainment or product, rather than rationalized after the fact.
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This also applies to not for profit projects, albeit differently. Even if you're a church or non-profit project, you still need to ask "what need am I meeting?" rather than thinking of that after the fact while we scratch our heads wondering why no one attends our church services or utilizes our non-profit.

Experience does not make one right, it makes one biased in favour of that which brought them the most success or helped them avoid the most failure.


It is the inexperience of the experienced person, in being experienced, to assume that the conditions of those they advise are similar enough that they will achieve the same outcomes if they follow in their footsteps.


Experience is valuable insofar as it teaches one about oneself. That experience can be shared insofar as one is willing to hold it loosely and non-authoritatively, recognizing that regardless of how superficially reminiscent one situation or life may be to another, that no two people or paths are the same.


What works for one does not prove that it will work for all. Conversely, what did not work for one does not necessarily mean it will work for none. This is the causation vs. correlation fallacy.


“There is no greater teacher than experience,” only applies when the experience is personal and applied personally, not transposed to others without consideration for their unique differences and situations.

Recently, YouTuber MKBHD released a video showing a peek behind the curtain of his team’s creative process. In that video, team member David outlines how he approaches story telling, finding the thesis, context, and details. Here’s a link to that video https://youtu.be/3dQ6yKSttEc?feature=shared

For my purposes, I’d like to borrow this framework and illustrate how it can be used when writing.
Every script, story, chapter, scene, sermon, communication, should have these 3 questions answered before you start.
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ThesisA thesis is a main point with a singular focus which you set out to prove. It’s important that there is only a singular focus. You should be able to sum up your thesis in one sentence. If you can’t sum it up in one sentence, it’s likely you’re trying to cram multiple ideas into your thesis, which can make for an unfocused story or scene which can get lost on rabbit trails, and leave your audience confused.
 
By way of explanation, I’ll use the third chapter of my novel in progress, Scroll of the Last Empire. The thesis of that chapter is “Uyanga has experienced betrayal which colours how she views people.” Now I had to set out to prove this thesis to the audience by the use of context and details.
 
ContextThe context is the circumstances in which an event occurs; a setting. This includes when and where your story takes place and at what point in the timeline of the story. In my novel the story is set over a thousand years ago, between what is now Mongolia and Russia in the Great Eurasian Steppe. Chapter three opens nine years earlier than the “present” period of the story, during a Mongolian raid on China. We also learn early in the chapter what characters are present (further context).
 
DetailsThe details are any of the further elements that are needed to flesh out the story and give it flavour, and the events that take place. What happened (the details) while Uyanga was in China (the context) which led to her betrayal (the thesis)? Without spoiling much more, I’ll say that some details include their raid on the Great Wall being counter attacked in such a manner that implied prior knowledge of their arrival. Uyanga and her comrade in arms are imprisoned and one of them is given the opportunity to make a deal for their release.
 
ConclusionThe thesis of this chapter (Uyanga was betrayed) feeds back to the context of the larger story, as it explains her motives. This feeds into challenges to the thesis of the whole story, is love enough when the entire world, and the world beyond, conspires against it? Fleshing out how we explore that thesis are the details of the story itself.
 
These principles apply to all stories and all forms of communication.
 
Are you writing a sermon? The thesis might be, “God sent His son to die for sinners so they may have eternal life.” The context would then be the fall of mankind in Genesis and the redemption in the gospels. The details? Chapters and verses outlining evidence for the thesis (such as John 3:16).
 
What about this entire mini essay of mine? It has a thesis, context, and details as well. The thesis? “The three questions you must answer when writing is what is the thesis, context, and details.” The context? I place this within the context of writing stories, particularly my novel. The details? All the specific examples I use throughout (such as the raid on China).


This also can help us learn to communicate in person as well. Do you ever find yourself trying to make a point and going in multiple directions or losing people’s interest before you’ve even made your point in full? Start by stating your thesis. “I’d like for you to join me for pizza for dinner,” will get better results than, “Hey, so I’m pretty hungry, are you? You know one time I was so hungry and blah blah blah.” Start with your point, then add the context, then add the details, as necessary.
 
Hope this helps! Happy writing!