Storytelling. We all have our views on it. As humans, it has been one of the skills that has stayed with us over centuries. And maybe, it will continue to stay with us even in the age of AI.
But much of what we read today about storytelling talks about the rules for building great stories.
But, “how not to” is sometimes more fun that “how to.” So here’s a fun, “how not to tell stories.” There are no morals or moralizing in this story.
- Back when I: We got it. Your life is interesting. You’ve experienced fascinating moments that make for great stories. But if every story you tell features you as the lead character and protagonist, well, let’s hope the audience does not let out a fateful yawn.
- Story 1. Rinse. Repeat: Story-retellers we can call them instead of storytellers. Any time you meet them, they have that one story that they tell. Chances are, everyone has heard the story over time. And yet, the expiry date on the story is still pending.
- Now I am going to tell you a story: A story does not need an elaborate preface. Great storytellers take us right into the heart of the emotion and the action in the story. And we visualize the story through their words, visuals and actions. So, jump right in, we say.
- No hats off to that hat tip: Story stealers, to be more direct. And that’s fine too. After all, great stories happen to people who tell them as someone had once said (hat tip or quote tip: Ira Glass). But a little acknowledgement goes a long way. Else, it’s like not crediting a source.
- Counting likes not impact: The minute the story goes live, the counting starts. Likes. Shares. Comments. Yes, measurement is important. And the data itself can tell a powerful story. But there could be moments of sheer serendipity and magic in storytelling. Someone who calls after reading what you wrote. Or someone who reconnects because something in that story spoke to them. Impact has many faces in storytelling.
- Real or not? Remember that phrase from the book, “Hunger Games?” In today’s world, it’s become a prescient one. Technology, while enabling new forms of storytelling is also enabling more ways to fake stories and identities. Authenticity becomes a super skill in such a scenario. Authenticity in being who we truly are. And also in the stories we choose to tell.
What are your favourite “how not to” moments in storytelling?
Well written, Debleena Majumdar. Resonate with all of these, esp. w.r.t. the written word. There are great storytellers of the spoken word, too. And some of these are applicable to that genre, I might suggest. Nevertheless, I personally am a fan of the conversational style of storytelling. Too much description (esp. of the surroundings and architecture and scenery, et al) distracts the reader from the plotline. Don't try to paint too detailed a picture with words. That's for the visual storytelling genre.