Stories can connect people in ways that other words can’t. When events are happening far from home, stories highlight our shared humanity. When statistics become meaningless, stories give them faces. And when problems feel out of our hands, stories empower us to be part of the change.
People – and their stories – are at the heart of organisations that are working to change lives, which is why I’m passionate about helping them to tell the stories that matter. Whether you’re new to storytelling or you’re looking for a quick refresher, here are my three top tips for telling effective stories:
- Have a genuine conversation. When you’re interviewing, jot down a set of questions you want to ask but leave room for tangents – they often provide the details that bring a story to life.
- Get emotional. I love and live by this quote from author Indra Sinah: “Don’t start by writing, start by feeling. Feel, and feel passionately and the emotion you feel will come through the spaces between the words.”
- Let personalities shine. It can be hard to let go of organisational style and there are obviously some cases where you shouldn’t, but make sure you’re flexible enough to let your story-owner’s personality shine through.
Have you seen a great piece of storytelling from a non-profit? Or do you have a top tip to share? I’d love to hear from you. And get in touch if you need some help finding the stories that matter for your organisation.
Claire
Director, Colvine Communications