Storytelling Techniques Part 1: Defining Storytelling
Ardre Orie
Celebrity memoirist and novelist specializing in unapologetically transparent narratives that chronicle intimate, and forthright reflections of our lived experiences. Representation: WME.
If there is a story buried inside of you, then it must come out.
Last year, I launched the Storytellers Inner Circle, a mastermind for writers to exchange ideas and become better storytellers, while building world-class brands. Each week, we share writing tips and tools that our Tribe members use to tell their stories. Today, I want to gift you a piece from one of our emails. Remember, the story inside of you deserves to be set free!Stories are part of who we are. Each day a new story is cultivated in the chapters of our lives. What separates a gripping tale from a droning one is how it is conveyed.
Storytelling is an art. Like any art, you must practice your craft and take time to experiment. What fabrication of words spin vibrant scenes? How do they make you feel, think, and want for more? Your first drafts may not be masterpieces, but as you continue to tweak and polish your words and craft your stories, they begin to paint a vivid picture that touches your readers in a beautiful way that will stay with them.
Think back to a book that you’ve read that lingered in your mind. What about it connected with you? Was it the characters, settings, or the conflict? These elements drive the story and bring it to life, so you feel that magnetic pull that draws you inside the story.
Storytelling comes down to a concoction of human expression that draws on your audiences’ imagination. Simply put, storytelling is the process by which you tell a story. It can be done in a variety of ways, but there is one important goal to keep in mind: you are looking to convey something to another person. You must consider what you are trying to say and why?
A variety of tools and techniques make up the art of storytelling, but first, you need to know the building blocks of a story. Here are a few things to consider:
1. You need characters. Who is the story about? Make them tangible by showing what they are like, what they think, and their personalities. Note their goals, what drives them into a rage, and what makes them cry, elated, and passionate.
2. Pick your conflict. As anyone knows, there’s a lot of tension and driving forces in the world. Focus your story on one of these forces and put it into a situation. Point out the small nuisances that lead up to a bigger explosion. Don’t leave the details out.
3. Follow a plot. You need a beginning, a climax (aka tense moment of conflict), and an ending. With these points in your story, it creates a shape for your audience to follow, and propels your story forward.
4. Find your theme. Reflect on what your main take away is or the moral at the end of the story. Behind every word, scene, and action, there needs to be a purpose. If there is none, it doesn't belong in your story.
5. Decide on a setting. The time and place of your story are integral to the experience of your tale and making it believable. Depending on how you want to use your setting, it can be turned into another character or be used as a focal point to mark where your characters are.
As you have the elements of your story thought out, you can play with how you want to tell your story. Remember, you are creating a work of art. You have the freedom to inspire and bring people together with the power of your words. Give yourself time to practice and fine-tune how you want to present your message, but never forget that if there is a story buried inside of you, then it must come out.