During the MovieLaLa days, we learned something about how to write compelling stories (the counterintuitive guide that I still apply to every investment I make.
I almost gave up on AI-assisted writing until I discovered a simple, counterintuitive shift in my strategy. This isn't the generic advice you've heard a thousand times; this is the secret sauce that changed everything for me.
The Counterintuitive Truth
Here's what surprised me most about how to write compelling stories (the counterintuitive guide: the best practitioners do less, not more.
When I was building MovieLaLa, we tried to do everything at once. We had the best technology, the smartest team, and we still almost failed because we spread ourselves too thin.
The lesson I took from that experience, and from watching hundreds of other companies, is that simplicity beats complexity every time. It sounds simple. It's incredibly hard to execute.
The Reality Nobody Talks About
Most people approach how to write compelling stories (the counterintuitive guide with assumptions that made sense five years ago. The world has moved on. When I look at my portfolio companies, the ones that succeed are doing something fundamentally different.
The first thing to understand is that the best solutions are often the simplest ones. I've seen this play out across dozens of companies. The pattern is unmistakable.
At RemoteTeam, we learned this the hard way. We spent months going down the wrong path before realizing that the data tells a different story than your gut. Once we made the switch, everything changed.
What I Tell Founders
When a founder in my portfolio asks me about how to write compelling stories (the counterintuitive guide, I usually start with three questions:
- What's your timeline? Because the right approach for a company with 6 months of runway is very different from one with 3 years.
- What have you already tried? Most founders have tried something. Understanding what didn't work is often more valuable than knowing what might.
- Who on your team owns this? If the answer is "everyone" or "no one," that's your first problem to solve.
These questions seem simple but they reveal a lot about where a company actually stands.
This connects to broader themes around AI game design, AI writing, AI journalism, creative AI tools, AI animation that I've been thinking about a lot lately.
Wrapping Up
I've shared a lot here, and I know it can feel overwhelming. But here's the thing about how to write compelling stories (the counterintuitive guide: you don't need to get everything right on day one. You just need to get started and keep improving.
The founders in my portfolio who excel at how to write compelling stories (the counterintuitive guide share one trait: they're relentlessly practical. They don't chase perfection. They chase progress.
That's the mindset I'd encourage you to adopt. Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. And keep pushing forward.
As always, I'm rooting for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need technical skills to write compelling stories (the counterintuitive guide to ai-assisted writing)?
Not necessarily. While technical understanding helps, the most important skills are clear thinking and the ability to break problems into smaller pieces. Many successful founders I've invested in started with zero technical background and either learned enough to be dangerous or found the right technical partner.
What tools do I need to get started?
Start with the basics. You don't need expensive software or fancy tools. A spreadsheet, a note-taking app, and direct access to your customers will get you further than any enterprise platform. Add tools only when you hit a specific bottleneck.
What are the most common mistakes when writing compelling stories (the counterintuitive guide to ai-assisted writing)?
The biggest mistake I see is overcomplicating things early on. Start with the simplest version that works, get real feedback, and iterate from there. Another common trap is copying what worked for someone else without understanding the context behind their decisions.
How do I measure success with this approach?
Pick one or two metrics that directly tie to your goal and track them weekly. Vanity metrics like page views or follower counts rarely matter. Focus on metrics that reflect real engagement or revenue impact.