Interlude Special Edition: The Penultimate Storytelling Post

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You'll receive the latest updates, quality management insights, storytelling tips, and special announcements about upcoming webinars and workshops delivered straight to your inbox.

Well, here we are - at the end of an (almost) year-long journey. My goal was to share my storytelling insights with you, but also practice consistency of posting something (almost) every week. I also had fun experimenting with AI imagery since I'm not doing that for my clients now (or yet).

There's one more edition, but I wanted to thank all of you for spending this time with me. Interlude will remain active but will be converted to a monthly newsletter that will elaborate on the webinars or videos that Duets Learning will offer each month on storytelling, learning design, or quality management. I'll elaborate on that next week.

As I reflect on the past year, here are what I believe are my top five tops from my year with Interlude.

Number 5

Tip 2: Create Three-Dimensional Characters

Creating three-dimensional characters is essential for engaging storytelling, so describing the real people in your story as having distinct personalities, backgrounds, and motivations is important. By doing so, you can craft more realistic and relatable characters, enriching your narrative and capturing your audience's interest.

Number 4

Tip 9: Use Dialogue Effectively

Effectively using dialogue is crucial for bringing characters to life and advancing your story. Authentic dialogue reflects each character's unique voice, revealing their personalities and emotions. It also moves the plot forward, providing information and building tension. To write compelling dialogue, ensure it sounds natural and serves a clear purpose within the narrative. Avoid unnecessary small talk, and use dialogue to show rather than tell, allowing readers to infer meaning and engage more deeply with the story.

Number 3

Tip 27: Whose Story Is It?

Determining the protagonist of your story is crucial for maintaining focus and coherence. Identify the character who undergoes significant change or faces the central conflict, as their journey will resonate most with readers. By centering your narrative on this character, you ensure a compelling and engaging story that effectively conveys your intended message.

Number 2

Tip 18: Use Rhetorical Appeals

Incorporating rhetorical appeals—ethos, pathos, and logos—into your writing enhances its persuasiveness. Ethos establishes your credibility, pathos connects with the audience's emotions, and logos appeals to their logic. By effectively balancing these elements, you can craft compelling arguments that resonate with readers and inspire action.

Number 1

Tip 22: Protect Yourself

As a writer, protecting your creative work and personal well-being is essential. Establish clear boundaries to safeguard your intellectual property and maintain a healthy work-life balance. By doing so, you ensure that your writing remains a source of fulfillment and that your creative energy is preserved.

Upcoming Events

Training 2025, Orlando, February 17-19

• Pre-conference Workshop: Elearning Design Certificate Program, February 15-16
• Concurrent Session: The Power of Story in Quality Management Advocacy, Monday, Feb 17, 2:30 ET)

ATD Techknowledge, ATD, Las Vegas, NV, February 12-13

Books

Quality Management in Learning and Development (2024)

StoryTraining: Selecting and Shaping Stories That Connect (2018)

ATD's Handbook for Training and Talent Development - Chapter 16 (2022)

TD at Work Guide: Power E-Learning With Stories (2021)

TD at Work Guide: Get the Whole Picture With a Performance Assessment (2018)