People love stories.
When I heard about the book “Storyworthy” a couple months back, I decided to give it a read. It’s a great book about the craft of storytelling.
Here’s what I learned:
1. Do “Homework for Life”
Write down One thing you remember from your day that is “storyworthy”.
Do it every day.
Think: “If I had to tell a story about something from my life today, what would I tell?”
Write that down.
It gets you in the habit of looking for memorable stories and anecdotes to share with others.
2. All Great stories are about a “5 Second Moment” in your life where YOU changed.
Before the event you were ONE WAY…after the “5 second moment”, YOU WERE DIFFERENT.
The story you tell is what happened leading up to that event, and who you became as a result of the event.
3. Come up with more stories by doing an idea dump
Dicks calls it ‘Crash and Burn’.
Sit down with pen and paper and write down an object you see in the room. Then write down whatever comes to mind – associated or not. Keep associating and writing.
Don’t edit. Don’t stop writing. Make //slashes// when your brain gives you another idea. Go for 5 – 10 minutes.
4. Tell stories that have to do with Transformation, Revelation or Realization
Every 5 second moment (#2) should be about some sort of AHA you had in your life.
You were angry, now you’re peaceful
You were lost, but now you’re found
You were single, now you’re married
You were like XXX, but not you’re like XXX
Etc…
5. Start as close to the transformation as possible
People like stories, but they don’t like drawn out meandering stories.
Good stories take editing.
Move the beginning of your story as close to your “5 second moment” as possible – but still give your audience enough of the story to understand it, and realize the change in your life.
6. Give all of the moments in your story a location
When you give your scenes or memories a “place” – it makes it easier for the audience to picture what you are talking about. It also helps you remember key moments for easier telling.
7. Big stories are made up of little moments
Always be looking for the little moments in big stories. The moments of humor or awkwardness that you can share with your audience to break the tension or win the audience to your cause.
8. Start your story with movement if possible
I was driving north on I-65 in Nashville when I learned this idea.
Most movies start with some sort of movement.
People driving, flying, drone shots, etc.
Try to incorporate that movement into your stories.
9. The beginning of a story can be harder to find than the ending
Dicks says that once you have your ‘5 second moment’ – you need to find the OPPOSITE of that moment to start your story – so you can show change over time.
The problem is, sometimes the opposite of your transformation happens on a different day or week.. so you have to keep thinking and editing your story until you can show a real transforming moment.
10. Use BUT and THEREFORE to move your story forward
Kids use “AND” to tell stories.
“There was a bird and it was yellow and it was outside and it flew away.”
Stories are more interesting when they zig and zag. So, use “But” and “therefore”…
“A yellow bird was sitting outside our front door (but) our cat got out. (Therefore) the bird dive bombed him (because) he got so close to the birds nest. (But) the bird didn’t expect my cat to jump up and swat him out of the air…”