How do you weave authenticity and creativity into your stories?

To me, Storytelling are 2 words. I always ask people to learn to tell a story as truthfully as it happened. To learn how to be authentic, find a story that lets you be you! Find a story that you can tell honestly, without being held back. Tell a story simply, without the need to make it extravagant or larger than life. Tell a story simply because you want to relive the moment and tell it just as it happened. Once you practice this enough, you learn what authenticity is. Finding ‘purpose’ in storytelling is all about having a strategic use of a story. For example, you could use a story to spark ideas, thoughts or conversations. The story, then becomes a bridge & helps you connect with your audience. It will work if you tell it truthfully!

Ask yourself early in the process who the main character in your story is. Try to gauge if that character's journey will resonate with your target audience and help reinforce your message.

Always begin with a complete character in mind, and a vague notion of what the story is about. Place that character in a situation that will reveal more about her. But then it needs to be an act of discovery, and when you find out how the story ends it should come as an utter suprise, which you will be able to convey to your readers. I do not believe it is a good idea to work from an outline. To do so, makes the finished product seem contrived. At least that's been my experience.

Well that is quite easy. Authenticity is the true fabric, the nonfiction story. Stating true facts that are backed up by evidence. A writer keeps the story true while holding the readers attention. I believe people in the preforming arts like myself who use my acting abilities interconnecting with writing. It's like acting while your writing. The start, middle and the ending that Emanates creativity. How good the writer is to fabricate OR has different perspectives, but captivates related analogies for a nonfiction story. How creative the writer can be with True OR Fantasy. I like nonfiction. Cheers

Having the correct intention and getting to the heart of the story is important. What inspired the story? Is it the experience gained from the story or the story itself that inspired one telling a story. Can the listeners feel the experience it is it just another shallow story with no feeling or emotion attached.

There is no one like you and there will never be anyone like you. Your upbringing, beliefs, experiences shape who you are and that’s what people want to hear you say. Don’t be afraid to express your authentic self and shine in a sea of sameness!

Look for “slice of life” experiences that people would find funny or relatable. People feel like they have something in common with you when they read those stories. Like that time you put something in a place that you’d definitely remember, but you somehow forgot and have to go buy another. ??

One of the most powerful virtues of storytelling is that it gives agency to the teller. Imagine, if you have never told a story from your perspective, you would never have shared your voice in the room! No one would know your opinion. And if you don’t tell your story, no one will. Don’t repeat what others say, instead, draw from your own experience and add a perspective so far not covered in the discussion. Most importantly, tell your story, even if it is different from the other opinions in the room. It takes great courage to tell your story. So StoryUP!

There are some really powerful frameworks you can use to build guidelines around your brand voice. For example, to build trust be very predictable and consistent in your language, cadence, etc. To express power be assertive in your point of view. To be casual, use contractions. Brand voice needs to be intentional, documented, and the writing or storytelling the should be trained.

Anchor your story in emotion whenever possible. Ask your story subjects - the main characters in your stories - how they felt before, during, and after the events of the story. Their answers may surprise you and will help inform their transformative journey.

In "The Storyteller's Secret" by Carmine Gallo, the concept of Visual Storytelling emerges as a pivotal strategy in our visually driven world. Gallo astutely emphasizes the profound impact of incorporating visuals into storytelling to amplify engagement. In an age where images and videos capture our attention, integrating compelling visuals can transform a narrative from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether it's using evocative photographs, striking infographics, or immersive videos, visual storytelling not only enhances the audience's understanding but also appeals to their emotions, making the message more memorable and resonant.

Within every scene of a short story, the writer should activate at least three of the five senses. This allows the reader to actually experience, in a subtle way, the dramatic tension that builds and ultimately erupts at the climax or the epiphany of the story. It requires a constant attention to detail, and it is a good practice to note these sensory perceptions you encounter on a daily basis in your notebook. You show, you don't tell, and by so doing the story becomes a reality for the reader.

If you are just starting with storytelling, try to keep it simple until you find your comfort zone. It can be tempting to start a story in the middle of the action or to try elaborate techniques but only do that if it makes sense to your audience and you have the experience and ability to do so.

While it's a good idea to experiment with different types of stories, you must keep it simple. Remember, if your audience spends a lot of their energy deciphering the (creative yet complex) structure, they will have little energy left to absorb the story. The audience should leave remembering the story, not struggling to recall the structure. Balance creativity with clarity.

Once again Feedback comes with the luxury of time for the teller and the people who can give feedback. If you have the time by all means. But if you are time poor, you can use a verbal processing technique that I use. Storytelling is a doing thing, you learn a lot about what is working and what is not working by saying the story out loud. You will develop insights and go in to insightful areas by just verbally processing it. Also, stay away from feedback given in numbers - 10 likes etc. You can't possibly define the value of story in superficial adulation . A lot of people say - don't worry if you don't get enough likes. I say - too many likes also tell you something and it is not necessarily that the story is good.

Feedback is important, but ultimately your voice is the one that matters most. Feedback are just suggestions and some feedback won’t feel right to you. Be open to growing, but don’t be afraid to be authentic to yourself at the same time. If you feel like a suggestion might change the authenticity of your voice, it’s okay to politely not use it or change it in a way that DOES honor your voice.

You should plan out your story early and share that plan with a trusted person for comment. They can give you a solid second opinion, catching red flags before you get into the actual story production. It is good to get a second opinion when you have a draft as well but ensure the person reviewing is aligned with what you are doing.

Authenticity and creativity are two sides of the same coin. The real crux in bridging the gap between these two comes with iteration and practice. Authenticity without creativity can become mundane, and creativity without authenticity could look hollow. Try viewing authenticity as the foundation of your stories and creativity as the unique structure on top of it. With every iteration, experiment to see what brings out your unique voice and is lapped up by your audience.

Here's what I would like to add: Don't chase perfection, just write the first draft. Sometimes what happens is that we keep chasing perfection and don't even start writing the first draft. Remember, it's only the first draft. You can always edit it.

Be respectful when telling someone else's story. Sharing their story is one of the most personal things they can do and you owe it to them to get it right. This includes everything from doing a respectful interview to sharing your draft for comment. I was working on a piece involving Indigenous audiences and made efforts to ensure I could pronounce the community name before the interview. Those little things can be felt.