Hi!
Today I wanted to write about something that has been intriguing me for a long time now,
a vital element of the development of the human species, something that was relevant 2000 years ago, as it is until this day.
I’m talking about storytelling.
Here I’ll share a look into what storytelling is, why it is so important, and how you can become a better storyteller.
What is storytelling?
If we want to find an answer to this question we need to start by taking a look at the past, going back as far as 30,000 years to find some of the earliest evidence of stories in the cave paintings of Lascaux and Chavaux, France.
Along with oral forms of storytelling that are believed to be universal to every culture and used as a form of entertainment or a way to pass down knowledge from one generation to the next.
Now, if we fast forward to this day, we look around and storytelling is still among us, and it takes shapes that range from movies or novels to marketing and branding to bedside stories for children.
Although these look very different from one another, there is a lot they have in common:
All of these serve as a skill that allows for more effective communication, by
keeping those who listen, read or watch a story focused and engaged in it
sharing information in a memorable way
creating stronger connections between people through feelings like empathy.
Why is storytelling important?
Nowadays we live in a bigger and more connected world than ever before
and, as I said before, storytelling takes a lot of shapes and sizes,
so, I’m willing to bet that you engage in some form of communication with people all around you.
Whether this communication is a job interview or just telling jokes with some friends, they could be dramatically improved with good storytelling.
And I believe that this could make enough of a difference to get you the job you were looking for and let you have a great time and build a better relationship with your friends, and so much more.
How can you become a better storyteller?
All of this sounds great on paper, but in reality, setting out to become a better storyteller is much more daunting for most people.
If this sound like you, here are some of the best ways to go about it with less of a struggle:
Take your audience through an emotional journey → Don’t rush to the end of your story, create some form of a story arc, you can start with some problem that needs solving, then present a conflict or something that stands in the way, and then finish with a resolution.
Give a lesson → Much like a fable, good stories tend to have some form of takeaway or overarching point that gives more meaning to your story in the eyes of the audience.
Maintain mystery → You want to keep your audience on the edge of their seats by constantly raising questions in their mind so that they stay focused on your story.
Show, don’t tell → Use descriptive language and plenty of details that engage the audience’s senses and imagination, painting a vivid picture in their minds that allows them to feel as if they are a part of your story.
Be authentic → This may sound cheesy, but letting people see deeper sides of you or the things you truly think will create more empathy, thus making them feel more invested in your story.
That’s it for today, if you made it to the end you are one step closer to becoming a better storyteller and building more and deeper connections with people.
Thanks for reading.
-Alan.
P.S. If you have any suggestions for topics you’d like me to write about, feel free to send them at simple.insight.nl@gmail.com
Absolutely, Alan. Good reminders.