when I think about story I think about it in a very simple way the expression
it in a very simple way the expression
it in a very simple way the expression of an idea in narrative form I’d like
of an idea in narrative form I’d like
of an idea in narrative form I’d like you to take a moment and think about a
you to take a moment and think about a
you to take a moment and think about a story you can remember maybe because
story you can remember maybe because
story you can remember maybe because it’s one of your favorites that impacted
it’s one of your favorites that impacted
it’s one of your favorites that impacted the way that you saw the world around
the way that you saw the world around
the way that you saw the world around you maybe it’s one from your childhood
you maybe it’s one from your childhood
you maybe it’s one from your childhood or something a little bit more recent
or something a little bit more recent
or something a little bit more recent you read it in a book you saw it in a
you read it in a book you saw it in a
you read it in a book you saw it in a movie where you heard it on the radio
movie where you heard it on the radio
movie where you heard it on the radio just one that changed your perspective
just one that changed your perspective
just one that changed your perspective on something in life now this isn’t the
on something in life now this isn’t the
on something in life now this isn’t the easiest of exercises in fact when I
easiest of exercises in fact when I
easiest of exercises in fact when I stepped into the role as a writer and a
stepped into the role as a writer and a
stepped into the role as a writer and a publisher I found that story was so
publisher I found that story was so
publisher I found that story was so ingrained in the way that we saw
ingrained in the way that we saw
ingrained in the way that we saw ourselves in relation to the world and
ourselves in relation to the world and
ourselves in relation to the world and so prevalent and how we interacted with
so prevalent and how we interacted with
so prevalent and how we interacted with it that it was hard to find a single
it that it was hard to find a single
it that it was hard to find a single story and say that this one defined a
story and say that this one defined a
story and say that this one defined a moment for me in his book the
moment for me in his book the
moment for me in his book the storytelling animal Jonathan got soul
storytelling animal Jonathan got soul
storytelling animal Jonathan got soul speaks to the power of story in this way
speaks to the power of story in this way
speaks to the power of story in this way he says that story whether delivered
he says that story whether delivered
he says that story whether delivered through films books or even video games
through films books or even video games
through films books or even video games teaches us facts about life influences
teaches us facts about life influences
teaches us facts about life influences our moral logic and marks us with hopes
our moral logic and marks us with hopes
our moral logic and marks us with hopes fears and anxieties that alter our
fears and anxieties that alter our
fears and anxieties that alter our behavior and perhaps even our
behavior and perhaps even our
behavior and perhaps even our personalities when I think about a
personalities when I think about a
personalities when I think about a storyteller it’s also in a very simple
storyteller it’s also in a very simple
storyteller it’s also in a very simple way it’s a someone who communicates an
way it’s a someone who communicates an
way it’s a someone who communicates an idea through story and a storyteller can
idea through story and a storyteller can
idea through story and a storyteller can be pretty much anyone right it could be
be pretty much anyone right it could be
be pretty much anyone right it could be a writer a videographer director a
a writer a videographer director a
a writer a videographer director a photographer a businessperson podcaster
photographer a businessperson podcaster
photographer a businessperson podcaster or just anyone who communicates which is
or just anyone who communicates which is
or just anyone who communicates which is all of us and as I’ve started working
all of us and as I’ve started working
all of us and as I’ve started working with storytellers and seeing how they
with storytellers and seeing how they
with storytellers and seeing how they operate and how they think I’ve found
operate and how they think I’ve found
operate and how they think I’ve found some ways that they think that I feel
some ways that they think that I feel
some ways that they think that I feel can help us as we engage with the world
can help us as we engage with the world
can help us as we engage with the world around us and so here we go there’s
around us and so here we go there’s
around us and so here we go there’s three ways that a writer thinks or
three ways that a writer thinks or
three ways that a writer thinks or storyteller things that can help us
storyteller things that can help us
storyteller things that can help us today the first
today the first
today the first is that a storyteller seeks to respond
is that a storyteller seeks to respond
is that a storyteller seeks to respond to circumstances of life rather than
to circumstances of life rather than
to circumstances of life rather than react I’d like to tell you an example
react I’d like to tell you an example
react I’d like to tell you an example last year in november i was listening to
last year in november i was listening to
last year in november i was listening to the radio it was november 14th I
the radio it was november 14th I
the radio it was november 14th I Saturday it was the day after 120 people
Saturday it was the day after 120 people
Saturday it was the day after 120 people were killed in a series of attacks in
were killed in a series of attacks in
were killed in a series of attacks in Paris France and on this day on this
Paris France and on this day on this
Paris France and on this day on this Saturday a man by the name of David
Saturday a man by the name of David
Saturday a man by the name of David martello from Germany traveled to Paris
martello from Germany traveled to Paris
martello from Germany traveled to Paris and he pulled along a piano behind his
and he pulled along a piano behind his
and he pulled along a piano behind his bicycle up to the steps of the bat lican
bicycle up to the steps of the bat lican
bicycle up to the steps of the bat lican theater where 80 people had been killed
theater where 80 people had been killed
theater where 80 people had been killed the night before and he pulled up the
the night before and he pulled up the
the night before and he pulled up the piano and he set it down and in front of
piano and he set it down and in front of
piano and he set it down and in front of the small crowd assembled there he
the small crowd assembled there he
the small crowd assembled there he started to play a song imagine by john
started to play a song imagine by john
started to play a song imagine by john lennon now he didn’t sing any words but
lennon now he didn’t sing any words but
lennon now he didn’t sing any words but the chorus rang loudly it said you may
the chorus rang loudly it said you may
the chorus rang loudly it said you may say that i’m a dreamer but I’m not the
say that i’m a dreamer but I’m not the
say that i’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one perhaps one day you’ll join me
only one perhaps one day you’ll join me
only one perhaps one day you’ll join me and the world will be as one and as I
and the world will be as one and as I
and the world will be as one and as I listened to the story I was overwhelmed
listened to the story I was overwhelmed
listened to the story I was overwhelmed with his sense that this man this artist
with his sense that this man this artist
with his sense that this man this artist had found a way to respond to such a
had found a way to respond to such a
had found a way to respond to such a tragic situation in such a profoundly
tragic situation in such a profoundly
tragic situation in such a profoundly beautiful way that in the face of evil
beautiful way that in the face of evil
beautiful way that in the face of evil he was able to connect that small group
he was able to connect that small group
he was able to connect that small group of people there and show them they’re a
of people there and show them they’re a
of people there and show them they’re a small but very bright part of humanity
small but very bright part of humanity
small but very bright part of humanity at least for just that that small moment
at least for just that that small moment
at least for just that that small moment I believe a storyteller seeks to respond
I believe a storyteller seeks to respond
I believe a storyteller seeks to respond in a similar way that they look into the
in a similar way that they look into the
in a similar way that they look into the face of something difficult and then
face of something difficult and then
face of something difficult and then find that way to act find that way to
find that way to act find that way to
find that way to act find that way to speak that is informed and measured and
speak that is informed and measured and
speak that is informed and measured and that’s what i mean by responding it’s
that’s what i mean by responding it’s
that’s what i mean by responding it’s stepping back looking at the context of
stepping back looking at the context of
stepping back looking at the context of the situation looking how other people
the situation looking how other people
the situation looking how other people around us are reacting and then finding
around us are reacting and then finding
around us are reacting and then finding that way to respond in that appropriate
that way to respond in that appropriate
that way to respond in that appropriate way that poles people together
way that poles people together
way that poles people together what I love most about this story is
what I love most about this story is
what I love most about this story is that connection that everyone must have
that connection that everyone must have
that connection that everyone must have felt in that moment sitting listening to
felt in that moment sitting listening to
felt in that moment sitting listening to it and that I felt to them thousands of
it and that I felt to them thousands of
it and that I felt to them thousands of miles away hearing the words in my head
miles away hearing the words in my head
miles away hearing the words in my head you may say that I am a dreamer but I’m
you may say that I am a dreamer but I’m
you may say that I am a dreamer but I’m not the only one and whereas before they
not the only one and whereas before they
not the only one and whereas before they were connected through a very tragic
were connected through a very tragic
were connected through a very tragic situation they were now connected
situation they were now connected
situation they were now connected through beauty through this small moment
through beauty through this small moment
through beauty through this small moment the second way has storyteller things
the second way has storyteller things
the second way has storyteller things that I believe can be helpful is that
that I believe can be helpful is that
that I believe can be helpful is that they step into the shoes of their
they step into the shoes of their
they step into the shoes of their characters they immerse themselves into
characters they immerse themselves into
characters they immerse themselves into the people they are writing and they do
the people they are writing and they do
the people they are writing and they do this to create an authentic empathetic
this to create an authentic empathetic
this to create an authentic empathetic connection between the reader the viewer
connection between the reader the viewer
connection between the reader the viewer the listener and their characters and
the listener and their characters and
the listener and their characters and empathy is the line that pulls you
empathy is the line that pulls you
empathy is the line that pulls you through a story and is crucial for
through a story and is crucial for
through a story and is crucial for having the impact or creating the impact
having the impact or creating the impact
having the impact or creating the impact that the storyteller is going for as a
that the storyteller is going for as a
that the storyteller is going for as a writer we do this by writing from
writer we do this by writing from
writer we do this by writing from something called connected experience
something called connected experience
something called connected experience this is the pinnacle of what is commonly
this is the pinnacle of what is commonly
this is the pinnacle of what is commonly known as writing as show don’t tell and
known as writing as show don’t tell and
known as writing as show don’t tell and the best way for me to talk about
the best way for me to talk about
the best way for me to talk about connected experience is to build a scene
connected experience is to build a scene
connected experience is to build a scene for you using some of the tactics that a
for you using some of the tactics that a
for you using some of the tactics that a writer might use to write from the
writer might use to write from the
writer might use to write from the perspective of their character so using
perspective of their character so using
perspective of their character so using the story from Paris I’d like to add to
the story from Paris I’d like to add to
the story from Paris I’d like to add to it and say and tell you that there’s a
it and say and tell you that there’s a
it and say and tell you that there’s a woman in the crowd that day and that
woman in the crowd that day and that
woman in the crowd that day and that she’s holding flowers and she’s crying
she’s holding flowers and she’s crying
she’s holding flowers and she’s crying now what I’ve done is I’ve just given
now what I’ve done is I’ve just given
now what I’ve done is I’ve just given you facts about the situation you can of
you facts about the situation you can of
you facts about the situation you can of course deduct why she’s there and why
course deduct why she’s there and why
course deduct why she’s there and why she’s crying but you’re not there with
she’s crying but you’re not there with
she’s crying but you’re not there with her you are not seeing things through
her you are not seeing things through
her you are not seeing things through her perspective let me go another step
her perspective let me go another step
her perspective let me go another step and say that there are barricades behind
and say that there are barricades behind
and say that there are barricades behind her and that she’s sitting on these
her and that she’s sitting on these
her and that she’s sitting on these steps I’d like you to picture people
steps I’d like you to picture people
steps I’d like you to picture people walking around in front of her a
walking around in front of her a
walking around in front of her a constant movement but she is sitting
constant movement but she is sitting
constant movement but she is sitting completely still staring off into the
completely still staring off into the
completely still staring off into the distance
distance
distance and tears are coming down her unblinking
and tears are coming down her unblinking
and tears are coming down her unblinking eyes now I’ve given you more details
eyes now I’ve given you more details
eyes now I’ve given you more details I’ve painted this picture a little bit
I’ve painted this picture a little bit
I’ve painted this picture a little bit more fully for you but the writer seeks
more fully for you but the writer seeks
more fully for you but the writer seeks to get to the closest point that they
to get to the closest point that they
to get to the closest point that they seek to get closer and gets you closer
seek to get closer and gets you closer
seek to get closer and gets you closer to this situation and so I can do that
to this situation and so I can do that
to this situation and so I can do that by telling you a little bit more why
by telling you a little bit more why
by telling you a little bit more why she’s sitting there she’s sitting there
she’s sitting there she’s sitting there
she’s sitting there she’s sitting there because her eldest son was at the
because her eldest son was at the
because her eldest son was at the concert the night before and that she
concert the night before and that she
concert the night before and that she had gotten a call that morning and that
had gotten a call that morning and that
had gotten a call that morning and that she had come to the theater just to be
she had come to the theater just to be
she had come to the theater just to be as close as she could to be where he was
as close as she could to be where he was
as close as she could to be where he was and when she was turned away by the
and when she was turned away by the
and when she was turned away by the officers and the barricade she turned
officers and the barricade she turned
officers and the barricade she turned and she sat on these steps and she
and she sat on these steps and she
and she sat on these steps and she started weeping but there’s one more
started weeping but there’s one more
started weeping but there’s one more level down that as a storyteller we’re
level down that as a storyteller we’re
level down that as a storyteller we’re seeking to get you right we’re trying to
seeking to get you right we’re trying to
seeking to get you right we’re trying to get the closest that we can connected
get the closest that we can connected
get the closest that we can connected experience is a full immersion into the
experience is a full immersion into the
experience is a full immersion into the scene and it’s accomplished by telling
scene and it’s accomplished by telling
scene and it’s accomplished by telling it from the perspective of someone even
it from the perspective of someone even
it from the perspective of someone even closer to that character someone within
closer to that character someone within
closer to that character someone within so taking it out of my perspective and
so taking it out of my perspective and
so taking it out of my perspective and putting it in a character’s perspective
putting it in a character’s perspective
putting it in a character’s perspective so let me tell you one more time from
so let me tell you one more time from
so let me tell you one more time from her perspective / 15 year old son this
her perspective / 15 year old son this
her perspective / 15 year old son this son had begged his mother to let him go
son had begged his mother to let him go
son had begged his mother to let him go to that concert the night before and
to that concert the night before and
to that concert the night before and begged her and she had said no this is
begged her and she had said no this is
begged her and she had said no this is your eldest brother’s first concert let
your eldest brother’s first concert let
your eldest brother’s first concert let him go with his friends and she had SAT
him go with his friends and she had SAT
him go with his friends and she had SAT up in the light all night long and in
up in the light all night long and in
up in the light all night long and in the morning when the Sun came down she
the morning when the Sun came down she
the morning when the Sun came down she was still sitting there but was here’s
was still sitting there but was here’s
was still sitting there but was here’s an her eyes and a phone still in her
an her eyes and a phone still in her
an her eyes and a phone still in her hand and he was worried for a she put
hand and he was worried for a she put
hand and he was worried for a she put her jacket on and walked out the door
her jacket on and walked out the door
her jacket on and walked out the door and he followed out of short distance
and he followed out of short distance
and he followed out of short distance and she picked up flowers at the corner
and she picked up flowers at the corner
and she picked up flowers at the corner shop and he’s really worried for her
shop and he’s really worried for her
shop and he’s really worried for her because he knows that she had lost her
because he knows that she had lost her
because he knows that she had lost her mother just months before his
mother just months before his
mother just months before his grandmother and that was a really tragic
grandmother and that was a really tragic
grandmother and that was a really tragic situation and she was still dealing with
situation and she was still dealing with
situation and she was still dealing with it
it
it you so worried and and as she got up to
you so worried and and as she got up to
you so worried and and as she got up to the steps he watches us as she is turned
the steps he watches us as she is turned
the steps he watches us as she is turned away and just stares out into the
away and just stares out into the
away and just stares out into the distance and sits on those steps and his
distance and sits on those steps and his
distance and sits on those steps and his heart breaks now this is the closest of
heart breaks now this is the closest of
heart breaks now this is the closest of storyteller can come to a scene it is a
storyteller can come to a scene it is a
storyteller can come to a scene it is a full immersion into the thoughts hopes
full immersion into the thoughts hopes
full immersion into the thoughts hopes and fears and emotions of a character
and fears and emotions of a character
and fears and emotions of a character and it’s powerful as a storyteller you
and it’s powerful as a storyteller you
and it’s powerful as a storyteller you are opening yourself up to worlds that
are opening yourself up to worlds that
are opening yourself up to worlds that you would have never imagined two
you would have never imagined two
you would have never imagined two perspectives that you would have never
perspectives that you would have never
perspectives that you would have never thought of that are completely not your
thought of that are completely not your
thought of that are completely not your own and as you’re thinking this way it
own and as you’re thinking this way it
own and as you’re thinking this way it changes the way you interact with other
changes the way you interact with other
changes the way you interact with other people in a profound level I guarantee
people in a profound level I guarantee
people in a profound level I guarantee this if we all started thinking this way
this if we all started thinking this way
this if we all started thinking this way because I can guarantee that there
because I can guarantee that there
because I can guarantee that there people are feeling misunderstood today
people are feeling misunderstood today
people are feeling misunderstood today who feel alone today and if we stepped
who feel alone today and if we stepped
who feel alone today and if we stepped into a different perspective and looked
into a different perspective and looked
into a different perspective and looked at it from theirs it would change a lot
at it from theirs it would change a lot
at it from theirs it would change a lot now we talked about two different ways
now we talked about two different ways
now we talked about two different ways the storyteller things that they respond
the storyteller things that they respond
the storyteller things that they respond rather than react and that they step
rather than react and that they step
rather than react and that they step into the shoes of their character and
into the shoes of their character and
into the shoes of their character and both of these elements combine into the
both of these elements combine into the
both of these elements combine into the primary goal that I believe of every
primary goal that I believe of every
primary goal that I believe of every story teller and that is the third part
story teller and that is the third part
story teller and that is the third part and that is to connect to connect
and that is to connect to connect
and that is to connect to connect themselves with their characters to
themselves with their characters to
themselves with their characters to connect you with their characters
connect you with their characters
connect you with their characters connect you with their ideas that
connect you with their ideas that
connect you with their ideas that they’re trying to communicate and
they’re trying to communicate and
they’re trying to communicate and connect people with similar ideas and
connect people with similar ideas and
connect people with similar ideas and people with different ideas and this
people with different ideas and this
people with different ideas and this connection is the primary goal of every
connection is the primary goal of every
connection is the primary goal of every story teller if you think about that
story teller if you think about that
story teller if you think about that story I just told you we connected to
story I just told you we connected to
story I just told you we connected to that character on a human level it
that character on a human level it
that character on a human level it didn’t matter what race she was what
didn’t matter what race she was what
didn’t matter what race she was what political views she held what religious
political views she held what religious
political views she held what religious beliefs she had we
beliefs she had we
beliefs she had we connected on a deeper level this human
connected on a deeper level this human
connected on a deeper level this human level in the moment of her pain think
level in the moment of her pain think
level in the moment of her pain think about it to connect and be connected is
about it to connect and be connected is
about it to connect and be connected is one of the most important elements of
one of the most important elements of
one of the most important elements of what it means to be human we crave it
what it means to be human we crave it
what it means to be human we crave it and a storyteller taps into that desire
and a storyteller taps into that desire
and a storyteller taps into that desire that we have to connect ourselves with
that we have to connect ourselves with
that we have to connect ourselves with each other and then poles and pushes and
each other and then poles and pushes and
each other and then poles and pushes and needs it together in order to push us
needs it together in order to push us
needs it together in order to push us forward in his essay why I right George
forward in his essay why I right George
forward in his essay why I right George Orwell says that a motivation behind
Orwell says that a motivation behind
Orwell says that a motivation behind every great writer is the desire to push
every great writer is the desire to push
every great writer is the desire to push the world in a certain direction and
the world in a certain direction and
the world in a certain direction and alter people’s ideas of the society that
alter people’s ideas of the society that
alter people’s ideas of the society that they want to strive after this is what i
they want to strive after this is what i
they want to strive after this is what i mean by connecting and moving forward i
mean by connecting and moving forward i
mean by connecting and moving forward i believe that if more people in the world
believe that if more people in the world
believe that if more people in the world thought like this they took the time to
thought like this they took the time to
thought like this they took the time to respond they looked at situations from
respond they looked at situations from
respond they looked at situations from another’s perspective and they thought
another’s perspective and they thought
another’s perspective and they thought to connect that we’d live in a
to connect that we’d live in a
to connect that we’d live in a completely different world one that was
completely different world one that was
completely different world one that was more understanding one that was slower
more understanding one that was slower
more understanding one that was slower out reacting and better at responding a
out reacting and better at responding a
out reacting and better at responding a world that we would want to be a part of
world that we would want to be a part of
world that we would want to be a part of and the best thing about this is it’s
and the best thing about this is it’s
and the best thing about this is it’s very simple changing the way that we
very simple changing the way that we
very simple changing the way that we think doesn’t have to wait we can do it
think doesn’t have to wait we can do it
think doesn’t have to wait we can do it right here we can do it today thank
”
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