Great writers understand that what writers know that presenters forget is the power of structure, context, and narrative flow. While writers live by a slow, deliberate craft—thinking deeply about pacing, transitions, subplots, and clarity—many presenters prioritize slides over substance, losing sight of storytelling and audience engagement.
In today’s hybrid and virtual world, that disconnect has never mattered more. Presenters who neglect writing fundamentals risk delivering messages that feel shallow, forgettable, or cognitively taxing.
This article explores the crucial storytelling and structural techniques writers use—and how presenters can adopt them to elevate talks, webinars, and pitch decks.
Why Writers Think Differently About Communication
Writers Think in Narrative Arcs
Writers organize thoughts deliberately. They don’t just start and end; they structure tension, conflict, and resolution. Whether it’s the three-act structure or the classic “problem-solution-benefit” format, writing aims to move the reader through a mental and emotional journey.
Compare that to many slide decks: a list of product features, scattered charts, and a vague conclusion. According to a report in Harvard Business Review, storytelling in presentations improves memory and engagement because it mirrors how the brain naturally processes information.
Presentations Lack Context and Cohesion
Writers don’t leave transitions to chance. Each sentence builds on the last. Each paragraph knows where it’s going.
But presenters often jump from slide to slide with no connective tissue. This leads to cognitive overload and fatigue. Studies published in Applied Cognitive Psychology show that narrative continuity increases audience retention and understanding, especially in high-stakes or technical environments.
What Writers Know That Presenters Forget (Repeated Keyphrase)
1. Start With Stakes, Not Introductions
Writers are taught to “hook” the reader—raise a question, create tension, or show what’s at stake.
Yet how many presentations start with, “Hi, I’m Alex. Today we’ll talk about our Q3 strategy…”? This immediately signals predictability. Great openings should grab attention. Ask a surprising question. Share a brief story. Use a compelling stat.
For example:
“Last year, our company lost $2.4M due to a flaw we didn’t catch in time. Today, we’re going to show you exactly how we fixed it—and what it means for your teams.”
That’s a writer’s mindset at work.
2. Trim the Fat, Focus the Message
Great writing is lean. Every word counts. Writers rewrite constantly to make language sharper, clearer, and more persuasive.
Presenters? Not so much. Many presentations overflow with cluttered slides, duplicate ideas, or off-topic tangents.
Research by Nielsen Norman Group shows that minimalist design combined with focused messaging leads to better usability and attention in both web and slide-based content (source).
Practical tip: Treat your presentation as a script. Write it, then cut 25%. Keep only what earns attention.
3. Use Transitional Language Like Writers Do
In writing, transitions carry the reader across paragraphs and ideas. Phrases like “That said,” “Here’s the next challenge,” or “Let’s step back for a second” are not filler—they’re signposts.
Presenters often skip these. This leaves the audience playing mental catch-up.
Great transitions might sound like:
- “So what does that mean for our roadmap?”
- “That’s what happened in Q1. Now, let’s shift to what’s coming.”
- “Here’s why this matters to you.”
These subtle moves make a big difference in keeping your message coherent and flowing.
4. Writers Design for Cognitive Load—So Should You
Cognitive load theory tells us that people can only process so much information at once. Writers know this instinctively: they use whitespace, short paragraphs, and pace to reduce friction.
Presenters, however, often jam everything into one slide. Charts, lists, graphs, all competing for attention.
According to research from Educational Psychology Review, presentations should limit each visual element to a single message. Complex visuals should be narrated simply, with supporting text or context broken into phases.
Rule of thumb: One idea per slide. One story per point.
5. Writers Craft Emotional Arcs, Not Just Informational Lists
Writing teaches us to care about the “why.” It humanizes information. It brings the reader in emotionally.
This is where what writers know that presenters forget becomes especially clear.
You can show a chart that says, “Customer churn rose 8%,” or you can tell the story of a user who left because onboarding was confusing. That emotional detail gives meaning to the metric.
Presenters who connect stories to data are more persuasive. Neuroscience backs this up: emotional storytelling activates multiple brain regions—boosting empathy, focus, and long-term memory.
How Presenters Can Think Like Writers: A 5-Step Framework
Let’s turn this into a usable guide.
Step 1: Build a Clear Narrative Skeleton
Use a classic structure:
- Setup: What’s the current state or problem?
- Conflict: Why is this a problem now?
- Resolution: What’s the proposed idea or shift?
- Meaning: Why does it matter?
This gives the audience direction. No more “just the facts”—make it a journey.
Step 2: Apply the ABT Formula (And-But-Therefore)
From screenwriting to TED Talks, the ABT model structures arguments naturally:
- And: Set the context. (We launched a new product, and customer interest was high…)
- But: Introduce the complication. (…but usage rates dropped after week one.)
- Therefore: Offer the insight or change. (Therefore, we redesigned the onboarding process.)
This three-part rhythm works in writing—and it works in presenting.
Step 3: Think in Scenes, Not Slides
Writers visualize scenes. Presenters should do the same. Instead of “Slide 3 = Features,” think:
- “Scene 1: The problem moment.”
- “Scene 2: The customer realization.”
- “Scene 3: The breakthrough.”
Each “scene” becomes a building block in your argument, not just filler.
Step 4: End With Resonance, Not Just Recap
Writers aim to leave readers with something lasting—a call to reflection, action, or reconsideration.
Presenters often summarize: “So to recap, we had four goals…”
Instead, ask:
- “What changes if we do this well?”
- “What’s the first small step we can take together?”
- “Why is now the right moment?”
Use a reflective tone, not just a checklist.
Real-World Example: From Deck to Story
A FinTech startup was pitching to enterprise partners. Their original deck had 25 slides, mostly features and technical specs.
They reworked it using writing principles:
- Opened with a story about a customer who lost money due to a delay.
- Structured slides into three acts: Problem, Innovation, Result.
- Added one transition sentence between each key point.
- Rehearsed it like a spoken article—not improvised.
The result? Their demo time shortened by 40%, engagement shot up, and conversion rose by 30% on follow-up.
That’s what happens when presenters think like writers.
Conclusion
The biggest lesson in what writers know that presenters forget is this: It’s not just about what you say—it’s how you shape it.
Writing teaches you to care about your reader. Presentation should do the same for your audience.
By applying narrative thinking, managing cognitive load, and tapping emotional connection, you can make your message truly land—not just pass by.
References
- Harvard Business Review — “Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling”
https://hbr.org/2014/03/why-your-brain-loves-good-storytelling - Applied Cognitive Psychology — “Effects of narrative structure on audience understanding and memory” https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/acp.3675
- Nielsen Norman Group — “Minimalist Design: When Less Is More”
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/minimalist-design/ - Educational Psychology Review — “Cognitive Load Theory and Instructional Design”
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-017-9401-5
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