Storytelling is a Life Skill

Is there someone you’ve always admired for their wit and natural storytelling ability?

Storytelling is a life skill that can bring new levels of depth and meaning to your personal and professional life. The good news is that anyone can learn to become a better storyteller. (We created the True Story Game to help everyone learn to do that.)

Once you start storytelling, you soon find it becomes indispensable to your life: in connecting with friends & family, dating, interviewing for a job, giving a presentation, pitching a new idea — anytime you want to communicate your experiences and passions.

Three Foundations of Awesome Storytelling

Here are 3 fundamental principles that work wonders for turning an ordinary story into a tale that listeners will remember forever:

A STORY HAS A BEGINNING, MIDDLE, AND END…

A well-contained sequence of events is the key difference between a story and a ramble. Set the scene. Introduce tension/mystery/risk/suspense. Tie everything up. Carefully craft your first line and your last line for maximum dramatic effect.

AT A PARTICULAR PLACE IN TIME…

A story unfolds in particular places at particular times. It’s not a philosophical monologue; it’s specific & concrete. Jump right into the action: “It was my last day on the job and I was late, as usual.” “I woke at 3am to the sound of laughter.”

WHERE SOMETHING IS AT STAKE.

This isn’t about some amazing thing you saw one time. It’s about an experience that shapes who you are. Tell us why what happens matters to you. Tell us what it feels like. When you’re clear about what’s at stake for you, your audience will experience it with you. You may even uncover a universal truth that was lurking beneath the story’s surface all along.