The first chapter of my children’s book Ginger, the Ship Captain’s Cat
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Tag: storytelling
Lousy First Draft: You’re Missing the Point
Everyone loves to talk about the lousy first draft.
Nearly everyone gets it wrong.
Yes, ignore spelling, punctuation, grammar in your first draft.
But also ignore everything you know about writing except this: tell your story.
The primary purpose of writing without stopping, spewing an unrefined first draft, is to not give yourself time to edit, even to think.
Only time to feel.
Continue reading “Lousy First Draft: You’re Missing the Point”
Three Applauses
I’ve noticed something about an audience’s reaction to live music: how the applause happens.
Obviously, there’s applause at the end.
And at the beginning, there’s applause—twice.
Some people recognize the opening notes on the guitar, the first piano chord, the drum riff leading it off, and instantly cheer for what they know is coming. There’s a medium sized round of applause in the opening seconds.
Then, the singer starts the song, and people recognize the words. That applause is a roar. People recognize words more than they recognize music.
Some bands play around with this. Bob Dylan is famous for rearranging his music so much that, until he starts singing, even fans aren’t sure where he’s going—and sometimes, not even then. Okay, we always eventually get it. He’s an extreme example. Sometimes a new intro delays the applause until the singer makes the song clear.
Comedians and storytellers play on this. Telegraph where you’re going with a joke, a humorous story, and people will slowly start to get it. A rising chuckle, a few laughs, and before the punchline everyone gets it—and then, you leave it there. They’ve figured it out and told themselves the joke. Don’t kill it by nailing it down.
Listeners, readers, those people who take stories in, whether they’re jokes, morality plays, songs, are smart. They love story, they understand it. They don’t need to be led by the hand, they just need a compass and a map.
As long as you’ve marked the trail clearly, letting readers find their own path makes a more satisfying experience.
Fragility and the Geese
If you park your truck facing the sun and leave your beans and rice on the dashboard the Texas summer sun will warm it to eating temperature and melt the butter by lunchtime.
We’d heard the geese but couldn’t see them. Climbed down from the roof, dropped our tools somewhere they wouldn’t get hot, got our Mexican food from his truck and sat in the shade to eat.
I said something almost funny. Probably about as witty as “Duck, it’s the geese!” though it’s been so long I don’t remember.
Favorite Bits of Storytelling Advice, and Questioning Maslow
Art Holcomb posting at Larry Brooks’ StoryFix blog: Smart list of 20 things you may not have thought about when writing. I particularly like #5. How ’bout you?
Steven Pressfield: Blowing Off Maslow Here’s my take: we often confuse our “wants” with Maslow’s “needs.” Where Maslow says “food” we want to read “eating out” or at least “eating well.” Where Maslow says “shelter” we see a 3-car garage, or at least, a home we own rather than rent.
Maslow was right. We just twist his research into excuses not to do the work of making art. But go read the article at Steve’s site and see what you think.
What Story Are You Telling About the Book You’re Selling?
Stories sell.
Specifically, simple unexpected concrete credible emotional stories sell. (Oh, look; the acronym for that would be — well, you can sort it I’m sure.)
In 2007 Chip and Dan Heath published Made to Stick, a fun, easy-reading scientific study of the power of storytelling as a tool for persuasion. SUCCESS is their acronym (though they always leave the “sell” S off and I don’t know why.)
Here’s a powerful statistic from the book: 10 minutes after you make a presentation, 5% of people will remember your statistics, your logical appeal.
63% will remember a story.
Continue reading “What Story Are You Telling About the Book You’re Selling?”
Make Your Idea Matter: Stand out with a better story – New book by Bernadette Jiwa
I first met Bernadette Jiwa in Seth Godin’s Triiibes network. While it was obvious she was both smart and funny, what struck me was her balance of kindness and passion. I’ve rarely met anyone who can match me in the passion department. Bernadette is one of them.
Like everyone I know (and I mean that in the best possible way) she’s written a book. It’s called Make Your Idea Matter and it will teach you the power and value of telling your story in your business. I’ve worked with her, and I cannot wait to get my hands on my autographed copy.
You should go get it right now. Kindle or paperback (or, if you happen to know someone very special in Oz, maybe an autographed first edition, eh?)