The art of effective storytelling with Kate Tellers
Jan 11, 2024
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Learn the art of effective storytelling from Kate Tellers, storyteller extraordinaire, as she shares secrets behind spinning a good yarn, keeping it fresh, and captivating an audience. Discover the transformative power of storytelling in challenging dominant narratives and creating lasting impact. Hear childhood misadventures and reflect on the significance of everyday objects. Explore the process of crafting and performing a story, including selecting stories for the stage and refining them through dialogue and reflection. Find out how unexpected trouble at a party led to positive life changes.
A great story is one that the storyteller deeply cares about and undergoes a perspective shift, connecting with the audience through vulnerability.
Crafting a compelling story involves finding a moment of change and shaping the narrative with essential scenes while maintaining authenticity and vulnerability.
Deep dives
Importance of Storytelling in Communication
Storytelling is a powerful tool that shapes our thoughts, behaviors, and connections. It can be found in various aspects of our lives, such as history, culture, and even love. Stories have a lasting impact, making information 22 times more memorable when wrapped in a narrative. The Moth, a popular storytelling nonprofit, is dedicated to highlighting diverse voices and experiences for over 26 years. True experts like Kate Teller's believe that a great story is one that the storyteller deeply cares about and undergoes a perspective shift. By providing scenes and connecting with the audience through vulnerability, stories become a way to connect, challenge dominant narratives, and express love.
The Art of Crafting a Compelling Story
Crafting a compelling story requires finding a moment of change, whether internal or external, and allowing that to shape the narrative. Scenes are essential for storytelling, while the avoidance of complex time jumps or excessive characters ensures clarity for the audience. Kate Teller's advises against self-aggrandizement and highlights the importance of vulnerability and staying true to oneself. Instead of a scripted approach, it is beneficial to work from an outline to maintain presence and adaptability on stage. The Moth finds storytellers who genuinely care about their stories and strive to include fresh narratives and diverse voices to connect and captivate the audience.
Storytelling in Everyday Life and Business
Storytelling can have a significant impact in various aspects of life and work. In workshops and team-building exercises, storytelling promotes reflection, deeper connections, and a sense of community among colleagues. In a business context, storytelling can transcend data and technical information by finding relatable narratives. The Moth believes in the power of truthful storytelling and the responsibility to connect rather than manipulate. The art of storytelling is accessible to all, emphasizing authenticity, vulnerability, and honesty, and can be a valuable tool for effective communication and culture-building.
Everybody’s got a story, but how do you best tell yours?
To delve into the depths of what makes a good story, we have storyteller extraordinaire, Kate Tellers to guide the way. She’s a host, director of MothWorks at The Moth, and co-author of the book How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling. The Moth is a non-profit storytelling extravaganza with a podcast heard by millions. With host, Staffbase’s Brian Tomlinson, Kate gets personal and down to business as she reveals the secrets behind spinning a good yarn, how to keep it fresh, and how to get “off the page” in front of an audience.
The stories we hear shape who we are, and so do the stories we tell. Listen in!
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