In yesterday’s podcast, I advocated telling stories to help people connect with your book, your own story, and your cause. The best way to get readers to share your book with other people is tell them stories.
People don’t always remember the facts and stats and lists from your book, but they will always remember the stories you tell that make them laugh, or make them think, or make them cry. Those are the stories they will share when they tell people about your book.
Want to learn how to tell better stories, check out How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth. This New York Times bestseller is a detailed guide on how to tell an unforgettable story.
Here are just a few of the ways you can benefit by learning how to tell better stories:
Deliver the perfect wedding or event toast.
Share great stories during your speaking engagements.
Incorporate stories into your books for more impact.
Wow clients at a business dinner or Zoom conference.
Give a moving eulogy or an inspirational introduction.
Ace a job interview.
Connect more deeply with those around you or new people you meet.
Entertain and inform more effectively when being interviewed on podcasts.
Here are a few storytelling tips shared by the authors of How to Tell a Story:
Every story needs stakes (why people should care about your story).
Change is vital. Transformation is key to a great story that people will remember. Change can happen when you learn something new or when you break an old habit.
Think cinematically. Show people your story. Draw a picture so your story comes alive.
Don’t leave out the details. But don’t overload with dates, names, or other gratuitous facts.
Focus on the turning point in your story. Be honest and speak the truth. Let people know what you learned from the experience.
Leave on a high note. Don’t let your story fizzle out. Let it end with enthusiasm, rooted in the change you experienced.
Note: The best stories are based on your experience or on how you learn from your observations gained from other people’s stories.
True to its title, How to Tell a Story is a wonderfully practical and thoughtful guide to turning your own experiences and epiphanies into engaging tales. The book is very Moth-centric—‘Moth stories are true and told out loud, in the first person’—but there’s also advice about telling stories during job interviews, business presentations and toasts. Everything here could be easily adapted by classroom teachers or (one can hope) by relatives you see once a year at Thanksgiving.” — Washington Post
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Wicked Resource Wednesday: How to Tell a Story