In the video below, NPR’s Scott Simon has some extremely sensible thoughts on storytelling that are well worth hearing. Plus, he’s simply a good speaker and storyteller himself. Start watching, and see if you aren’t immediately compelled to continue…and watch it all the way through.
A few highlights that really stood out for me:
1) “A story ought to have a point. I don’t mean a lesson…but something people can take away from it.”
2) “Give people telling, vivid details that they can recall when they tell the story to others. Sometimes just a single phrase will do it.”
3) “Beginnings are important. If a beginning doesn’t capture someone’s attention, they’re going to turn the page, the dial, find something else, or even worse — forget.”
4) “A story has to breathe. You have to breathe with it. So does the audience. When you break down a story, and tell it in breaths, you create a rhythm. People can go along with the rhythm.”
5) “Be conversational. Talk to an audience the way you’d talk to somebody across a table.”
6) “Have fun. Because if you have fun discovering a story, that’s going to communicate. And the fun and the spirit you bring to that will keep the audience coming back.”
Follow Scott Simon on Twitter and read his column Simon Says.
Watch the video: