What is a story and why do we tell stories?
We can use a story in many ways. A story can inspire us to take action. Stories can inspire people to see the world in different ways or to see new possibilities.
In the context of this note, we are using stories to exchange our experiences of local response so that others can learn from our response and perhaps they can make their own response more effective. So here our stories describe experiences and what we have learned from those experiences.
When we write down our story, we make our experience available to others. It now has the possibility to help others.
We can also see such a story as the foundation of our personal learning. When we tell our story or when we write it down, we are doing more than 'documenting' our experience, we begin to learn more from our experience.
What makes a good story?
(What we learned from the Knowledge Fair in Chiang Mai)
At a Knowledge Fair held in Chiang Mai in February 2009, the participants were asked, as part of the AAR, to think about a story that they could tell to their colleagues back home to show what they had learned from a SALT visit. The participants at the Knowledge Fair had been divided into 5 groups to go on 5 different SALT visits. The next day, each group was asked to tell their story to the Knowledge Fair.
We then asked the participants at the Knowledge Fair (still in the same 5 groups) to think about the stories that they had just heard and try to answer the question, “What makes a good story?”
Here is their advice:
What makes a story ‘fruitful’?
Appreciation and ownership of the story told.
The confidence of the story teller.
The listener can relate to the story.
The listener feels that the story is true.
The story must touch your heart.
The story must be motivating, energising and persuasive.
The story should have energy and passion.
Clarity on the objective for the story.
Have a structure for the story (beginning, middle and end).
Emphasise a change or a turning point.
Story is about something specific/important.
Focus on one issue.
What do you think are the ingredients of a good story? Come up with a list of characteristics of what you think are the essential parts of a good story for you.
Hints and tips for telling stories
Here are some guidelines on telling stories from Jean Legastelois, a journalist and a member of the Constellation. He has worked as a journalist for many years and is a master teller of stories.
Be story-minded
When story-minded people come across a potential story, a bell rings in their head. With a little practice, you begin to hear stories as people speak.
Catch the story
You have to dedicate time to a story.
Listen to people.
Question and question again to get the facts that you need.
Credibility
Ask the basic questions.
Who (acted)?
What (happened)?
Where?
When?
Why?
How?
Is there a turning point?
Be clear about what makes this an interesting story.
Did something change?
When did people decide to do something?
What is the message?
What does the story say?
What is the message of the story?
What is the headline?
Make the headline specific. A good headline cannot be used twice, because every story is different.
The main message is the backbone of the story
The golden rule: one message from one story.
You can find more details in the file ‘story telling guidelines.doc’ that is attached to this page.
EXERCISE: Telling a story
It takes time to listen to a story or to read a story. And we don’t usually have a lot of time. We are more likely to listen to a story if it is short and if it is interesting. When we first tell a story, it is often not as clear as it could be and it is often longer than it needs to be. The purpose of this exercise is to help us to tell an interesting story in a short time.
This exercise is best done in groups of 3 or 4 people.
Step 1
Think of an example of Local Response, a time when a community took action to deal with a challenge. It might be a personal experience. You might have observed it. Someone might have told you about it. You might have found the story during a Salt visit. Or it could have happened in your day-to-day work or life.
Think how you will tell the story to your colleague. You want to be brief. Five minutes is a good target.
Step 2
Now a person in the group tells their story. They must tell their story in 5 minutes. While the story is being told, the other members of the group listen carefully. Is the experience clear? Could you tell the story to someone else? Are you clear about what the story teller learned from the experience? Could you explain what you have learned from the story to someone else.
Each member of the group tells their story in turn.
And then each person gets feedback on how they might improve their story.
Step 3
If you have more than one group, re-arrange the groups.
Now think how you could tell your story in 3 minutes. Concentrate on what you learned from the experience and what you need to say to illustrate what you learned
Now repeat step 2 in the new group, but now you only have 3 minutes to tell the story. As before everyone gets feedback on their story.
Step 4
Now you will be very clear about your story, write it down on paper. If you have the chance, record it on video and find out if you can tell your story in 3 minutes.
Step 5
Share your story on Ning
The wonder of stories
When you listen to someone else’s story, you will often find that what you learn from it is different from what the narrator learned. This is not a problem of stories: it is the wonder of stories.
When we listen to a story we cannot help but consider it in the context of our own unique set of experiences. Hence what we learn can be different from what someone else learns.
When you talk to others about the story, you can learn even more.
Make a template so that you can help others to tell their stories
When you help someone to tell their story, you might find it useful to have a check list of questions. You can learn from the experience of the people at the Chiang Mai Knowledge Fair, from the experience of Jean Legastelois and from your own experience to create the template. What are the topics that you need to cover? The file ‘story telling template.doc’ attached to this page contains our template. You are welcome to use this. You can modify it so that it meets your own needs. Or you can make your own.
The gift of a story
When you tell a story to someone, you are giving them something that you hope that they will find useful. You are making a gift. So think hard about the gift that comes from the story. What is it that you want to give to the person who is receiving your story. Be clear about your gift and your story will be able to help others.