What makes a figment of imagination or story Telling interesting? It lies in the art of how it is been narrated. Storytellers have the opportunity to connect with the audience on a very deep level, to make people feel, think, and act — but only if they do it right! Many people think that the art of storytelling is something difficult and complex, reserved only for a few skilled people. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are some very basic principles at the basis of it all. It’s about remembering these principles and making every decision, from pre- to post-production, based on them, that is the secret key to great storytelling.
Who are you Speaking to The foundation of great storytelling starts with knowing the audience. This is an essential aspect to consider to help you set the right tone and achieve the best effects with your audience. That’s because when we tell stories in fundraising or communications materials, we are not telling a story just for the sake of telling a story. We are telling a story in order to achieve a certain result. That result could be to raise a certain amount of money, or if it is for communication purposes, the audience is more entertained and more enriched with thoughts. In order to do that, you have to know to who you are telling that story.
Relate to or Attention Grabbing. It’s not enough to just tell the story. Powerful storytelling relates to people grabbing their attention. There are many ways to grab and keep an audience’s attention in a story. You can create a killer opening like starting a story by saying “One day I decided to watch TV” which will probably leave your reader not really interested in what happened next, even if that leads to the most important part of the story. However, starting your story with “The moment I found the lump, I suspected that my life was about to change forever” will surely draw your reader in creating suspense. Stories that are full of mystery are interesting because of their unanswered questions. Surprising your audience is also a great way to pull readers in.
Interactive to Audience. Storytelling does not create an imaginary barrier between the speaker and the listeners. This is part of what distinguishes storytelling from the forms of theatre that use an imaginary “fourth wall.” Interactive storytelling uses technology to charm audiences on more than one level. It targets to create multiple experiences and engage all of the senses. Usually, the storytellers will use various digital tools, such as audio and visuals to enhance the interactive aspect of their story.
If you want to tell a great interactive story you need to make the reader forget they are reading, listening, and watching. They need to view the story as a whole and be wholly taken in by it.
Imaginative. Stories give wings to the imagination. When someone listens to a story they often run a picture show in their mind. This is like painting a picture incredibly detailed, including characters, setting, and events. The reality of the story in the listener’s mind is based on the performance by the teller and on the listener’s own past experiences, beliefs, and understandings. The completed story takes place in the mind of the listener, a unique and personalized individual. The listener becomes, therefore, a co-producer of the story based on his/her experience.
Stories serve so many purposes in our lives. Stories are more than just reading or listening and give an entire perspective to life. They are instrumental in cognitive, social, and emotional development. Stories help us understand others and ourselves. We feel empathy with the characters we encounter in stories.
