More to the Story

February, 2026

What is the magic ingredient that keeps us turning pages? Let’s take a cue from Disney for a moment. Have you noticed how most of their stories begin in a similar way? This is no accident; it’s a clever strategy. Disney understands that young audiences often have short attention spans, so they must hook readers from the beginning to keep them engaged until the end.

The magic ingredient is surprisingly simple: create a reason for the audience to care! It’s how we are wired. When we care about a character and desperately want them to succeed, we need to know how the story ends. Every great story has this at its core. Additionally, the characters need to be relatable, the plot should be complex, and the conflicts must go deeper than the surface. After all, real life is messy. 

Skeptical? Just wait until you dive into Hope in a Hurricane – you’ll see exactly what I mean!