Story Telling Basics - twentyonehundred productions
Story Telling Basics
Storytelling is a basic skill needed for leadership, student recruitment, evangelism, Christian witness and successful fundraising. Storytelling is an effective way to communicate a need, offer a solution, and present an opportunity for someone to be involved by making a financial contribution.
THE “C”s of STORY TELLING
1. CONNECT with the audience using a strong hook.
To create a strong hook, you begin by thinking about your audience. What concerns and interests do they have? With the hook, you start to tailor a story to a particular group. The hook also introduces the thesis your story will demonstrate. Humor, quotations, facts, dreams can all make a good hook. Consider:
o A concern of the audience - Students are starving to death just down the street
o An interest of the audience - When kids leave home and head to college they…
o A question in the audience’s mind – You may be wondering what investment is sure to return big dividends in today’s uncertain economy.
o A shared hope for the future - Imagine people living for God’s Kingdom…
o A fact surprising – only one in 4 people in the U.S. get a college degree.
2. CREATE a story arc with CONFLICT.
In a typical plotline or story arc, the audience is first invited into the situation. Characters are introduced. Time and setting are established. The story travels up the arc with introduction of a problem causing conflict between the protagonist on one side and the antagonist on the other. Tension (and interest) mount until the story reaches its climax. At the pivotal moment, something significant and often dramatic happens to one or more of the main characters. What occurs is so significant that the lives of main characters are changed forever. After this event, the story quickly moves to its conclusion in which the implications for the future are suggested.
A strong InterVarsity story describes how the problem has a negative impact on students or faculty and how our programs bring change. Describe the conditions, circumstances, or societal forces that have an adverse effect. Often they are internal. They might include: The allure of secular campus culture, anti-Christian bias, fear, idolatry, arrogance, or alienation. Because of this problem you and InterVarsity are needed. Describe the antagonist with:
o Data - statistics can strengthen your story by demonstrating the magnitude of the problem.
o Short example – examples can transform a complex societal problem into a very personal one.
o Quotes - through quotes the listener hears directly from the heart of the people who are served by InterVarsity.
3. Include a CATALYTIC CHANGE event.
Show how the main character overcomes the problem. We know that it is God who is at work through us; we are not the power or cleverness that truly brings transformation. But God does work through us. A campus outreach, the faithful witness of a chapter member, a Bible study, a conversation asking the right questions – all these can be catalytic change events. It is no surprise that an InterVarsity staff or student is the hero. But like most stories, there is someone who helps the hero and in our case that is the donor. Don’t leave out the role of the donor in fundraising stories.
Your credibility hinges on whether the resolution of the conflict you present rings true. Is there a real difference in the lives of students and faculty? Do the events that bring about change seem plausible? How has the need been met? InterVarsity’s program for change focuses on witnessing communities. The good news is that witnessing communities are God’s primary tool to encourage and sustain change in our lives. We have a great plan!
4. Point to the future CONSEQUENCE
Children’s stories often end with, “and they all lived happily ever after.” While we know that life is rarely that simple, the real outcome of InterVarsity’s mission is also in the future. College education is preparation for the future and InterVarsity’s mission is to develop world changers who will live the rest of their lives in service and worship of God. The results of InterVarsity’s mission, in fact, often stretch into eternity. That means, InterVarsity campus work has a great ROI – Return on Investment.
The conclusion of the story is small, but important. As staff we frequently do not know, nor can we guarantee the long-term consequences, so it may be as simple as ending the story with something like, “…and imagine the impact Jim’s new life style could have on his children and grandchildren some day.” Or it may be appropriate end with a short statement of hope. “Twenty years ago Jane (alum) went through the same program in InterVarsity. I hope Mary goes on to be the kind of leader Jane has been for the last twenty years.”
Adapted, in part, from Cheryl A. Clarke, Storytelling for Grantseekers, (Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2001)
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