Test Stories Like Stand-Up Comics Do
Stop thinking about story development as a solitary intellectual exercise.
Let’s explore Paul Schrader’s unconventional approach to story development — and the fascinating method he uses before writing a single page…
Here’s his groundbreaking perspective on testing narratives:
“I don’t give a damn what they think of my story. All I care about is: are they sitting in my narrative moment?”
Let’s break down his core principles:
1. The Coffee Shop Method
- Casually share your story in informal settings
- Watch body language over gathering verbal feedback
- Test engagement through natural conversation
2. Physical Truth-Testing
- Read unconscious signals of attention
- Look for the lean-in moment
- Monitor eye contact and presence
3. Development Before Writing
- Let the story percolate through human interaction
- Only write when the “well-spring is bubbling over”
- Trust physical responses over intellectual feedback
The game-changing insight: Success in story development isn’t about protecting your ideas — it’s about testing them through genuine human connection before investing months in writing.
His advice for writers:
- Share stories widely and often
- Focus on engagement over feedback
- Wait for critical mass before writing
Quick mindset shift: Stop thinking about story development as a solitary intellectual exercise. Instead, treat it as a living process of human connection and response.
Keep writing,
- Brock Swinson
