How Trigger Techniques Can Help You Come Up with Killer Story Ideas

Ever sat there staring at a blank screen thinking, “I need a good story idea, but I’ve got NOTHING”? Yeah, we’ve all been there. That’s where trigger techniques come in. Think of them as little creative hacks that kick your brain into idea mode. And if you’ve heard of Mario Pricken’s book Creative Advertising, you’ll know he’s a pro of these idea-sparking tools.

We explored this exact method in our “Cross Platform Storytelling” course with Chris Hofbauer in the 2nd semester - and it sparked some pretty wild ideas. Now we want to share the highlights with you.

In this post, we’ll break down what trigger techniques are, how they work in storytelling, and show you some examples that’ll help you get unstuck and start creating stories people actually want to hear.

So… What Are Trigger Techniques? #

Trigger techniques are basically prompts that help you come up with creative ideas by looking at things from new angles. Instead of waiting for a sudden idea to hit you, you use these techniques to trigger your imagination. Pricken lists 26 different ones in Kickstart - and the cool part is, they’re not just for advertising or design. They’re amazing for storytelling too!

How Trigger Techniques Work in Storytelling #

Let’s say you want to write a short film, a comic, or even a social media story. You have a theme - like fear, freedom, or identity - but no idea how to start. Here’s where you can grab a few of these techniques to play with. Let me show you how.

1. Exaggeration - Make It Bigger (or Smaller)
What it is: Take a normal idea and blow it out of proportion.
Story example: Imagine someone who’s always late. Now exaggerate that: what if every time they’re late, time literally rewinds and they have to repeat the day? Boom - sci-fi comedy!

Why it works: It helps you find the emotional truth in a situation by showing it in an extreme way.

2. Reframing - Flip the Perspective
What it is: Look at a problem from the opposite point of view.
Story example: Instead of telling the story of a lost dog from the owner’s perspective, tell it from the dog’s. What’s the dog’s adventure like? Does it actually want to come home?

Why it works: It surprises the audience and gives fresh meaning to everyday ideas.

3. Juxtaposition - Smash Two Worlds Together
What it is: Combine two things that don’t normally go together.
Story example: A monk who becomes a hacker. A wedding planner who’s also a hitwoman. A world where dreams and social media are the same thing. Strange combos = original stories.

Why it works: It creates contrast and opens up unexpected plot twists.

4. Paradox - Use a Contradiction
What it is: Highlight a character or situation that doesn’t make sense at first.
Story example: A firefighter who’s afraid of fire. A therapist who hates talking to people. A robot who dreams of being human. These contradictions are the heart of powerful stories.

Why it works: Audiences love tension, and paradoxes naturally create it.

5. Trigger Word: “Come and Play” - Turn It into an Experience
What it is: Think about how your story could invite your audience to participate.
Story example: Let’s say you’re writing a mystery. Instead of telling it straight, you make it interactive - readers have to solve puzzles on Instagram or find clues on TikTok. Think cross-platform storytelling.

Why it works: It makes your story more immersive and fun. People love being part of the action.

Which one would you rather invest in - $28 for fluff or $7 for the real thing?
As discussed in Chris Hofbauer’s Cross Platform Storytelling course, comparative juxtaposition helps highlight contrasts that spark emotion, curiosity, and action. This visual from the Buenos Aires Zoo shows how a simple side-by-side can turn storytelling into persuasion.

How to Use Trigger Techniques (Without Losing Your Mind) #

Don’t worry - you don’t have to use all 26 techniques at once. Try this instead:

1. Pick a topic, emotion, or character idea.
2. Choose 2-3 trigger techniques from Pricken’s list (like exaggeration, juxtaposition, etc.).
3. Ask: “What would this look like using that technique?”
4. Let yourself go a little wild. Don’t censor weird ideas - they’re often the best ones.

Uncomfortable? Good. That’s the point.
Shock and provocation can also jolt audiences out of apathy - like this bold animal adoption campaign that grabs attention by challenging norms and expectations.

Final Thoughts: Creativity Can Be Triggered #

You don’t have to sit around waiting for the “perfect” idea to drop from the sky. Using trigger techniques, like the ones from Kickstart, gives you tools to make ideas happen.

Next time you’re stuck, grab a technique, twist your idea a little, and see what happens. Worst case? You’ve got a weird story that makes people laugh. Best case? You’ve created something that sticks.

Try it now: Take a boring situation from your life (like waiting for a bus) and use juxtaposition to spice it up. What if the bus was a spaceship? Or the passengers could read each other’s minds? See? You’re already storytelling.

Where to go from here #

How to Become a Storytelling Mastermind

References #

Pricken, M. (2004). Creative advertising: Ideas and techniques from the world's best campaigns. Thames & Hudson.