Increasingly, I think the number one thing that characterizes the storytelling we do at Earshot (and Gilead) is that the stories are built of moments or scenes. More than anything else, that’s what distinguishes them from any essay, sermon, op-ed, or toast you might give. Instead of topics, ideas, quotations, or data, we use scenes as the building blocks.
“Scene” — just like you’d use the word about a play, or movie. It’s people, in a place, for a length of time, where something happens. (This characteristic, by the way, is why it’s so easy to mimic this style of storytelling: “It’s July, 1979. I’m standing on the muddy bank of a fast river and my best friend has just fallen in.” When, where, what.)
Are you starting from a topic or theme? That’s ok! You simply need moments that demonstrate it.
A story about forgiveness.
Possible moments:
a time when I received forgiveness
a time when I found it hard to extend forgiveness
a time when I preferred to forgive rather than be forgiven (they were wrong!!! Right?)
Are you starting with an idea? That’s ok! You just have to find the moments that show your idea.
A story of learning what kind of singer I am.
Possible moments:
musical audition in the HS auditorium when It Girl soprano Colleen’s mouth dropped open: I can sing!
auditioning for Phyllis in her living room and finding out — haha! — that she’d sung the Aaron Copland song cycle “many times with Aaron.”
failing the middle school audition? solos in church as the preacher’s kid?
leading music at Bethany Church as a de facto part of my job
TRY IT. Think of one trait of yours. Now think of 3 - 5 moments where someone observing your life would see that trait. Think of one more, when you found it hard to tap into that trait. Those are scenes! They might even be a story.