Writing a good success story means stating the facts and interpreting what they mean. Writers should keep this in mind because hard numbers make a greater impact. Increased sales numbers, revenue figures, employment growth, higher stock prices and anything else that provides tangible evidence makes a story more believable and more convincing. In business, successful numbers show how one company beats another in competition, especially in the case of new products. Success stories that use persuasive language often convince people of the success, with solid facts helping to bolster the story.
Success stories that incorporate good storytelling make for more enjoyable reading and allow an audience to become closer to the story, almost like characters in a good book. People may reach the top of their field, but in many cases, things didn't start out that way. Detailing these events through vivid storytelling means rich descriptions of people and vibrant explanations of places. Hearing a memorable quote that changes a person's behavior or causes them to switch gears makes a great story, especially if the writer recounts the context and setting.
Thousands of books contain inspirational messages of hope, courage and enlightenment, and this same message can also be the basis of any success story. A well-written success story inspires others to success and greatness; making inspiration a key component in a success story should be a top priority in the writing process. Using a personal message in an inspirational story makes it more effective, especially because it uses encouraging language to tell people that others experienced the same thing before becoming successful. Detailing things like personal struggles (even with other family members or business partners and how they overcame those struggles) tell a story that relates to readers.
Successful people in any given situation make mistakes along the way, but they learn from those mistakes to improve their situation. Writing about the learning curve can also show people where to look for help, especially if that means taking a class or getting help from the local chamber of commerce. Writing about important people who taught them how to run a business, lose weight or become a successful athlete and listing their advice adds examples for readers.