Creating a Story

Who doesn’t love a story?! Whether it’s ours or theirs, fiction or non-fiction? Who doesn’t want to be drawn in and captivated?

From the days of humans exchanging tales around a flickering cave fire to watching today’s widescreen TV, storytelling as a way of embellishing or improvising an event is an art that will always be with us. Ancient times as well as our current high-tech times have provided stories which educate, entertain, convey information, put forth the morals of a particular culture and more. 

Powerful personal stories increase the impact of any presentation. Include a story in your speech, your meeting, your one-on-one and you will capture their interest and help clarify your message. Add the drama of a personal story, including a difficulty you have overcome.

Don’t relate a personal success but illustrate a struggle. Everyone can relate to a struggle.Give your story characters, thereby giving the story life which will reel in your audience and help them relate to you on a deeper level.

Learn the elements of effective stories and how to create a story. It’s the best way to create an effective and powerful presentation.  Learn More >>  

Below, Professor Brian Sturm of the UNC at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science presents storytelling as a way of organizing information, conveying emotion and building community.  Though his presentation skills need work, the points he makes in his lecture are useful.