The Storytelling Code: 10 Simple Rules to Shape and Tell a Brilliant Story

by Dana Norris

Unlock the tales within you—unleash the power of storytelling

Everyone loves a good story—but how do you turn a fun anecdote into one for the books? Whether you’re hoping to impress others during a job interview, trying out stand-up, or giving a hilarious wedding speech, The Storytelling Code provides step-by-step help on crafting your narrative, as well as simple exercises to put those public speaking skills into practice.

Master the art of storytelling using 10 easy-to-follow rules to help you shape your story and share it confidently. Humorous advice will give you the courage to tell stories in your everyday life, and the unique exercises will demonstrate how to set a goal for each tale, gather the best materials, keep your audience engaged, and more.

The Storytelling Code

Tell-tale heart—Release your inner storyteller using 10 easy-to-follow rules, including advice for identifying a narrative goal, shaping a plot, and more.Gift of gab—Find the confidence to go live through courage-building tips that make sure you’re capturing and connecting with your audience. Pen to paper—Get those creative writing juices flowing with fill-in writing prompts and insightful checklists to prep you for everyday storytelling situations. Make every story mic drop-worthy with The Storytelling Code.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Self Help

121 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2020

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a performing musician and teacher, I am telling stories on a regular basis. Sometimes my stories don't have words...but they do have the same arc of problem and solution. I requested a review copy of this book from the publisher because the topic complements my work and teaching so well. I enjoyed the step-by-step process and pragmatic advice, plus the example stories that needed some editing and the troubleshooting hints. A quick read, and a worthy reference that I will use and quote in future classes as my students explore how music tells a story!

[Lloyd Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really didn't have great expectations for this book: yet another book on public speaking. But it surprised me. I think I've learned quite a lot. I kind of knew about the "arc" of the story...although not in these words but Dana points out very clearly that the heart of the story is in "the Problem". ....and not in the resolution. And in crafting a story you need to start by first considering your goal and how you are going to end it and, more or less, work backwards.
There is some seriously good advice there and I'm impressed. A very useful book. I give it five stars.
Here's my summary-key extracts from the book:
"Part One: Shape Your Story
A story is an ideal way to succinctly provide information that is relevant, compelling, and, most of all, unique to you. But how do you know if you can tell a story? What story should you tell? How do you even get started?
It’s something that you already know how to do......Your friend asks, “How was your weekend?” and your answer is a story.....To begin crafting a story, think about the end. Not the end of the story itself (“ And that’s why I can’t rent cars in Montana anymore.”) but rather the effect that you want your story to have on your listener.
In order to tell a story you need to decide which goal is the most important to you....Even though you may want to express more than one thing, decide on the most important outcome and make it the singular goal of your story......After you’ve listed a few possibilities, determine which of the goals is the most important. Which one best shows your point? Which one compels your listener to take the action you want?
In Rule #1, we talked about identifying the goal of your story. Now it’s time to dig in and figure out how to take your goal and your topic and shaped them into a compelling narrative.
The good news is that our brains are wired for narrative. We love stories so much that we tell them to ourselves every day.....The truth is that every story—whether it’s a movie, TV show, magazine article, short story, novel, or play—is built around the same structure.
The structure that all stories have in common is called the plot arc. Understanding the plot arc is the key to understanding how to turn your personal experience into a story that someone else can’t help but listen to.
This is what the plot arc looks like:
You may be asking yourself, “Isn’t that just a bent line?” Well, yes. It is a bent line. It is also a road map for an amazing story......A plot arc is a problem followed by a solution.....The plot arc passes through the following points.
1. THE BEGINNING. This is where we set our scene...The beginning of a story is normalcy, where things start. You just transferred to a new school.
2. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PROBLEM....A problem occurs, and we must set off in search of a solution. You don’t have any friends, and you’re lonely.
3. THE FAILED ATTEMPT( S). One or more solutions to the problem are unsuccessful. You go to an improv group audition to meet people but realize that you don’t want to be friends with anyone else there.
4. THE SOLUTION. This is the moment when the problem is finally solved. You see Mark audition, think he’s pretty good, talk to him, and a friendship is formed.
5. THE ENDING. The situation is resolved, and loose ends are tied up. This is how you and Mark became friends, and he’s still your best friend today.
In a story you must want something. It could be that you’re searching for something, you need to figure out a way to get help, or you need to leave a place you no longer want to be. You look for the solution, you fail, and then you find it. Once you’ve found the solution and any outstanding issues are resolved, the story ends.
A story needs conflict; it needs a problem......The story where you’re on your way to work, catch the train, and make it on time, for example, isn’t a captivating story. A story needs conflict; it needs a problem.
Here are some more real-world examples
BEGINNING: We set out to do this project because we saw a need for it.
PROBLEM: The need was greater than we imagined.
FAILED ATTEMPT( S) AT A SOLUTION: In working to keep to the original time frame, we realized that important data was being overlooked.
SOLUTION: We need to give this project the time it deserves by extending the deadline and dedicating additional staff.
ENDING: We knew the need was there, and now we know what to do about it.
You may have noticed that the plot arc falls off pretty sharply after the solution has been reached. Why? Because the problem is the engine of the story. Once the problem is solved, the engine is out of gas. The tension that keeps an audience interested in your story evaporates......Our brains are always searching for patterns.....In the context of storytelling, a pattern is an incident that occurs two or more times.
Each time you repeat a pattern in your story, you should raise the stakes. The tension needs to rise with the repetition, otherwise you’re just lulling the audience to sleep with predictability.
FIVE WAYS TO BREAK YOUR PATTERN
1. SUBTLY
2. SUDDENLY
3. HUMOROUSLY
4. TRAGICALLY
5. CALL BACK
You don’t break the pattern until the end, calling back to your earlier setup.
Stories can proceed chronologically, but that doesn’t always have to be the case.....You can start in the middle—“ I was in the forest, completely lost”—and then jump to the beginning: “Three days earlier I had been on a plane to Colorado.”
Let’s say you’re telling a story that begins with, “I was late, running for the train.” The listeners want to know if you make it. You can use that interest to ratchet up the stakes and show why it’s important that you make the train: You were late the day before, the boss already gave you a warning, and your job is in jeopardy. Now the audience is even more engaged—they have to know what happens next.......Think of a story you could tell with each.
1. ORIGIN
2. STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM
3. STARTING OVER
4. OVERCOMING THE MONSTER
5. QUEST
it’s time to get to the fun part—creating the actual story.
As long as you are getting your message across, there is no wrong way to tell a story.
1. There is no wrong way to tell a story as long as you are achieving your goal.
2. You have to create the story before you can determine if it achieves your goal....I strongly encourage you to go with your instincts and pick the first idea that comes to you, because the first idea is the story that you most want to tell.....And don’t worry about whether your aunt will be upset with you if you tell that story.
Ten Story Prompts
1. A time you were wrong
2. A time you should have said something but didn’t
3. A moment you didn’t understand at the time
4. A family tradition
5. A moment when everything changed
6. A moment when you decided to quit
7. A difficult conversation you had
8. A time that you tried really hard but didn’t succeed
9. The first time something occurred
10. The last time something occurred
What do all of these prompts have in common? They all have conflict baked into them.
For either method, set a timer for 30 minutes.....Keep working until the timer goes off.
Use sensory details to invoke smell, sight, taste, sound, and touch. For instance, you can say, “I was home,” or you could say, “I was in my Chicago basement apartment that always smelled like mold.” When you say, “I was home,” audiences don’t know what to picture.
IF YOU DON’T REMEMBER AN EXACT DETAIL AND YOU’RE ASSUMING SOMETHING, SAY SO.
You can simply say, “I was probably watching the first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer while wearing my blue robe,” and all is well.
Humor often comes from exaggeration, but focus on your emotions and reactions instead of events. Something as banal as stubbing your toe can be as funny as falling down a flight of stairs if you show it well.
If you think you’re lying, then you’re lying.
The fact is you need to cut your stories down to their most essential aspects to ensure you maintain your audience’s attention.
Make sure every moment of your story is necessary. Trim all the fat and get right to the juicy bits.
How can you determine what’s necessary and what can be cut? Here are five strategies:
1. GRAPH YOUR STORY ONTO THE PLOT ARC.
2. EXAMINE THE BEGINNING CAREFULLY.
3. AXE ANYTHING THAT EXCLUDES YOUR AUDIENCE....That part with your cousin that makes you laugh because it’s based on an inside joke that you know you should cut but you really don’t want to because it’s so funny? Definitely cut that part.
4. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE......If you want, skip ahead to Rule #9: Always Be Practicing,
5. LOOK AT YOUR ENDING.....endings should be concise and shouldn’t break new ground.
DETAILS are what pull us into your world. If you go to your grandmother’s house and sit down on her blue, plastic-covered couch,...The best details are unique and surprising.
USE ALL FIVE SENSES. Sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell are all portals into your story. If you mention an item, ensure that you use sensory details to help listeners experience it.
WHEN YOU INTRODUCE A CHARACTER, give us a single detail about him that shows us who he is.
ILLUSTRATE HOW YOU ARE FEELING. Saying, “I was nervous” is general, but saying, “I couldn’t stop moving my fingers, and my mouth was dry no matter how much water I drank” shows us how you, specifically, experience nervousness.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO GET WEIRD. The best details are ones that are true and so, so strange to the outside observer.
STAY SMALL. The smaller the item, the better we can use it to see the whole world you’re creating:...Show me the couch, and I can see the living room.
Detail can pull us in, but plot will keep us there.
If you come across a cliché in your story, you should cut it out and replace it with your voice, your details, and your unique perspective.....An ending cliché is when the ending of your story is both obvious and something we’ve seen before. Does the guy get the girl? Does the bad guy get punished? Did the butler do it? Here are some typical ending clichés in storytelling and ways to combat them:....“And that’s when I realized......“I should have realized this then, but I didn’t.”
British philosopher H. P. Grice established four maxims for communication that are a great guide to follow:
1. Quantity: As informative as possible: as much information as needed, but no more.
2. Quality: Be truthful and don’t give false information or not supported by evidence.
3. Relation: Be relevant and say things that are pertinent to the discussion.
4. Manner: Be clear, brief, and as orderly as you can: avoid obscurity and ambiguity.
You want to be clear, direct, and concise.
The ending isn’t the solution. The ending is the resolution. A solution is the action, and a resolution is how you feel about that action.
After all the work you’ve done to tell a story, the ending is what imbues it with meaning, and it’s the last thing you leave with the audience.
Here are a few templates of effective endings you can draw from for your story.
• ZINGER: A memorable twist or punch line.
• CALLBACK: An unexpected and meaningful echo of a theme or image from earlier in the story.
• FAST FORWARD: A satisfying leap forward in time that reveals the surprising effects of the story we just heard.
• FULL CIRCLE: Arriving back where the story started with a new sense of purpose or wisdom we gained during the story.
No matter which ending you choose, the foundation of that ending must be in place earlier in the story. Say, for instance, you want the image of your grandmother’s empty rocking chair to resonate at the end of your story. For that to happen, you must introduce the rocking chair at least once prior to the story’s end.
Once you know which ending you’re going to use, you can reverse engineer your story to ensure that the ending hits the way you need it....Whatever your goal is in telling your story—your ending should ensure that you achieve that goal.
Part Two: Tell Your Story
You’re not supposed to perform with a baby on your hip, you’re not supposed to have a soft voice, you’re not supposed to hold your body tight and closed as you talk. This woman did all of those things, and yet her story was voted the best of the night by the audience. The truth of her words delivered more than a sparkling presentation ever could have.
The confidence that comes from performing is built from the outside in. You may not start out feeling that way, so you must pretend. When you present yourself as confident, the audience perceives you to be so, and suddenly—bam—you actually are.
The truth is that you can’t really mess up because no one knows what you’re going to say next. You’re telling a story that you created, so no one will even realize if you jump over a word or skip something. If you do make a mistake, just keep going. The audience won’t know that you even made a mistake unless you tell them.
It’s important to practice performing in front of people so you can figure out if you have an “-ism” [mannerism] and, if so, what it is. Once you figure it out, you can troubleshoot.
You need to figure out who’s listening and make your story work for them.
Here are 10 ways to prepare to deliver your story for the very first time:
10 Storytelling Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
1. GO OVER THE KEY POINTS OF YOUR STORY WITHOUT NOTES.
2. DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR.
3. IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO READ YOUR STORY, PREPARE YOUR PAGES.
4. GIVE YOURSELF SOME CUES...A good rule of thumb is to be sure to look up at least twice per page.
5. VISUALIZE YOUR BODY LANGUAGE.
6. I MAGINE THE AUDIENCE'S REACTION.
7. VISUALIZE HOW YOU THINK YOU'LL FEEL WHEN THE STORY IS OVER.
8. ENVISION THE MOMENTS JUST BEFORE YOU TELL YOUR STORY.
9. PRACTICE A BREATHING EXERCISE.
10. ANTICIPATE YOUR TICS.
Never just stop a story. You need to take a moment to reflect on the story. End the story with meaning.

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read and you should definitely get it if you are interesting in improving your storytelling, especially if you're a beginner. It gets straight to the point without any fluff. It walks you through a simple process for actually sitting down and writing a story. The second half walks you through how to prepare and deliver that story in person.

While we think of storytelling as being for comedians or writers, this book points out all of us are telling stories all the time. Job interviews, first dates, wedding speeches. There are so many times you'll want to be able to tell a well crafted story.

I like comparing this book to weight loss programs. There are those snake oil promises of getting thin fast with no effort which never works. Then there are the approaches that emphasize eating healthy and being active which are more effective but less exciting. The Storytelling Code is definitely a "diet and exercise" approach. It gives you the tools and the confidence to be a better storyteller but it up to you to follow through!

[PurposeFocusCommitment · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thought about the book:

This is one of those books you can read in one sitting. The style of writing is simple and the author doesn't go too much into psychology if she is explaining why something works or not. I really liked that the author added a "practice" and "checklist" section at the end of each chapter which provides additional guidance on how the reader should proceed with developing his storytelling skills. "The Storytelling Code" consists of two parts, the first being "Shape your Story" and the second "Tell your Story", and each has five chapters. I'm pointing this out because I really enjoyed reading part one of the book, while not so much part two. Most of the things written in part two felt like trying to get the page count up, and those five rules could maybe be two rules at most (but I guess seven simple rules don't sound as good as ten).

Overall if you are just starting out with storytelling I suggest you pick up "The Storytelling Code" and read it and practice writing and telling your story. Even if you have read a book or two about storytelling I believe you can still find a "nugget" or two which will help you in your process in the future. I did.

My short summary
The author (Dana Noriss from now on Dana) starts out with a simple question, why do you want to tell your story? What is your goal, what is the most important outcome? And then she points out that you should stick to only one goal per story otherwise your message may get lost. She then continues by explaining the structure of every successful story which is called the "Plot Arc". By understanding the Plot Arc you will be able to turn any personal experience into a story. If you have trouble coming up with stories, Dana also at this point provides some narratives you can use. As you develop your Plot Arc you should keep in mind that the conflict is a very important element of your story which you can build up with patterns and then by breaking them. You can also build up the tension by not telling the story in the correct chronological order. For example, you can start in the middle to present the problem and then go back to build up the tension. 

Chapter three is all about the story prompts, details, how to tell your story and how much "fiction" you can use in your story for you to stay authentic and not be dishonest. Chapter four is about "polishing" your story by only including the most essential aspects of your story, using all five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell), and sharing unique and surprising details that will grab the audience's attention. Dana also points out to avoid clichés as every cliché is a missed opportunity to show your point of view of events and the world (in the story). In the fifth chapter Dana talks about the ending and its importance as the ending is what the story means! There are different types of endings, for example, a callback, a fast forward, or a full circle. The type of ending you choose depends on your time frame, your audience, and your goal. Whatever you choose just don't make an abrupt or unclear ending, remember your ending helps you achieve the goal you have picked for your story.

In the sixth chapter, Dana shares ten simple ways to build your confidence that will help you overcome your fear of telling your story live. In the next chapter, she talks about honesty and how being vulnerable by sharing why you care or why something means to you is your advantage and will get your audience on your side. In the eighth chapter, Dana talks about the importance of tailoring your story to the audience you are currently sharing it with and which things you need to consider when assessing your audience. In the last two chapters Dana talks about always practicing and how to get ready before you are going to do your talk or presentation. A good point she made that I didn't do until now is to practice telling the same story in different variations. Why that is important you might wonder? Well, if you learn a story word by word then if something interrupts you when telling it or if you haven't told it in a long time you might forget important elements or the correct order of events in the story, which will ruin the story and your message won't get across. But if you do like Dana suggests remember the first line and the last line and all of the plot points in between then no matter how long you haven't told the story or if something interrupts you, you will know how to tell the story without losing the message.

You can find more about the book (like my notes) at https://purposefocuscommitment.com/bo...

[Renee Knoblauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a crash course for someone needing to freshen up their writing or even speaking skills to tell a story. The author breaks this down in 10 simple rules with concise steps to create a decent story. It has a lot of helpful tips throughout. It’s a great way to brainstorm a wedding toast for your best friend, eulogy, job interview, or to be able to present yourself in person or on paper.
It walks you through the plot from the beginning to end showing you some well known stories as examples in a graph. There are checklist and places to write within the book.
I enjoyed the section on Respect your Audience. It’s so important to know who you are talking to. I’ve seen this looked over many times by speakers.
I wouldn’t consider this a complete writing and speaking course but a crash course that is well rounded to get the job done and to build up your confidence. Some tips that I liked where practice. You know the saying, “Use it or lose it” I was able to read this book in an hour and took away many good points.
I received a copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Sascha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2

I have to admit to expecting something a little different when I began reading Dana Norris' The Storytelling Code. While I was expecting a book geared toward written narrative, this book is more directed toward oral narrative. Which is completely fine. I've never looked for nor read any books about oral narratives so I found it an interesting read.

The author discusses her 10 rules to shaping a story and this is where the difference between oral and written narratives comes in because most writers typically consider their audience after they've written a piece while the oral must consider the audience beforehand.

Considering oral narratives, this book offers ideas on how to compose a story for an interview, public speaking, poetry jam, and eulogies, to name just a few. While some of the ideas are applicable to written narrative, many don't crossover. So if you're looking for a book to help with written narrative, you might want to pass this one by. However, if you're looking for a guide in oral narrative, this is your book.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Joanne Sahli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was ready to dislike Dana's book for 2 reasons. The first is that I've heard Dana tell genius stories many times before, and I kinda didn't want to know how the sausage was made. The second is that I have read many business and success "how-to" books, and I feel like they've all wasted my time because the bottom line advice is always: be good at what you do and don't be a dick about it. The Storytelling Code has ruined me. So much so I am inspired to get up and tell an actual story about how much it ruined me. It doesn't just explain HOW to be good at storytelling, it also explains HOW to not be a dick when you do it. In real, useful language. She's-your-good-friend-trying-to-help-you-be-your-best-self kind of language. In simple but instructive terms, Dana walks the reader through the rules, process, and pitfalls of story writing and telling, in ways that anyone could apply to nearly any social and professional setting. Whether you are looking for ways to get ahead at work or just make a first date laugh, this book will guide you to better storytelling.

[Ramona Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I write memoir and personal essays. I chose this book hoping it would give me tips for shaping my narratives, and I was right! This short book is broken down into 10 chapters, each giving a rule to follow in story-telling. While this is geared toward the verbal story, everything can be applied to written stories. In fact, the author advises writing at least a first draft of any story you wish to tell, even if you'll be delivering it verbally. There are exercises throughout the book to help you practice the rule being addressed. At the end of each chapter there are bullet points of what was discussed and a checklist of things to do/read/remember. This book will go on my desk with the other writing books I reference regularly and I will recommend it to all my writer friends. I can also tell that the tips here are going to make me a better speaker in general when it comes to telling anecdotes at dinner parties and the like. I highly recommend this for anyone wanting to be a better storyteller in any form. I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Ethan Scheck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, focused on the art of verbal storytelling, offers a solid breakdown of the process along with a step by step guide, which is especially helpful for beginners. Though an easy read that one can breeze through, the book offers tools for generating ideas, constructing a narrative, shaping the finer details, and preparing for an actual show/presentation. The assignments throughout offer dedicated readers hours of activities to craft their work. While reading, I was able to come up with a number of stories that I plan to flesh out utilizing some of the tips Norris provides. And in my short time developing a story via this book, the "10 rules" provided a fresh outlook on what to prioritize and highlight.

As a performer, I enjoyed getting a clear and structured perspective on storytelling. That said, I think this book is best suited for new storytellers, especially anyone apprehensive about trying out an open mic or in need of a guide before a big presentation.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose to read this book after receiving a free copy from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

The Storytelling Code is a a helpful resource on how to tell stories, whether it’s verbal or on paper. It gives you the steps needed to shape your story into one that will be memorable.

It also has a checklist at the end of each chapter to make you think and practice what you’ve learned. There are also practice sections that are helpful. In fact, one of the 10 rules is to always be practicing because the more you tell stories, the better you’ll become.

The Storytelling Code should be helpful for beginning storytellers who are looking for ways to improve their skills.

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a beginner writer interested in storytelling, or crafting your memoir, this book lists helpful rules for writing a well crafted story.

As the subtitle suggests, there are 10 simple rules to follow to assure your story is well rounded, well crafted, and be confident in your choices.

The book also addresses "the Gift of Gab" for those interested in confidence building connected to public speaking or addressing a group.

Most of all, this guide is motivating and encouraging, prompting you to get your creative juices flowing and getting your pencil to paper (so-to-speak.)

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has great tips for shaping narratives and I feel it is geared towards those that don't have much writing experience but want to learn. This book is fairly short but has good information for beginning writers. It is broken down into 10 chapters that explain the rules to follow in story-telling.

This book actually focuses on verbal storytelling but can easily be applied to writing so I actually recommend it for those wishing to improve speaking skills as well. I fell it is a solid reference for beginners.

I received this book from Callisto Publishing and Rockridge Press for an honest review.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you Callisto Publishing for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.*

While this book isn't earth-shattering, it does have quite a few helpful tips. It took me exactly an hour to read this. The Storytelling Code is basically a how-to guide interspersed with activities that are geared towards helping the reader put together a story to tell in public. I underlined a few passages that resonated with me.

Overall this would be helpful if you're planning on telling stories to others (and who couldn't benefit from that?)

[Jennifer Hottinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent starter book or resource for the classroom. Ten steps with examples and details are helpful for middle and high schoolers, but also adults itching to write a book or collection of short stories. I will add it to my classroom library writing resource section.

I was given a copy by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd like to think I'm a seasoned storyteller but after reading this book, I feel so much more equipped. It will definitely be my reference material moving forward with plenty of dog-ears and underlines to jump back to. Definitely recommend for anyone who is trying to move their audience with a good story.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The skinny on how to tell a great story

We've all got stories inside of us. And some of us could use some help in getting those stories out where others can appreciate them. These 10 tips really hit the spot, from writing prompts to building confidence. Don't die with your story untold

[Pedro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book. I like everything that the author said about how to compose a story. She cover the way plot should be structure however, then half of the book was about public speaking and the delivery. I was more interested in the first have of the book that it was about composing and structuring the story.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, clear and engaging how-to-tell-a-good-story manual useful for anyone who ever has to speak to another human being. It's a quick guide that will give readers a confidence boost and roadmap for crafting and performing a story.

[Timothy p. Tighe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am new to this so it helped me prepare.

I have had numerous requests to tell stories by many friends and they say they really enjoy them and I enjoy doing them. This book has many tips to help find tune my stories to be better.

[William Brophy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great guide to storytelling!

This truly has everything you need to prepare, write and share a story (this book focuses on true ones rather than fictional). I highly recommend it even if you're an expert in the field (great refresher if so).

[Ola · Rating 5 out of 5]

So real and practical

I love this book. I am a budding speaker who want to use stories to help my audience make the best out of their situation. This book was exactly what I needed to make this a reality. I am going it come back to this book over and over again.

[R.Z. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent review of storytelling principles for beginning writers. For more advanced writers, this is probably too simple but might be a good reminder if the author has gone off-track and gotten stuck. Personally, I will keep it handy and use it as a quick reference.

[Bru Almeida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uma explicação simples, clara e sucinta sobre como montar um storytelling! Considero prático, dado que as explicações são rápidas, seguidas de exemplos no cotidiano, mas considero que em alguns momentos, poderia ter uma profundidade maior no assunto!

[Josh Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good breakdown on how to compose and prepare an interesting story.
From a business perspective, many suggestions and tools in this book can be applied to meetings. IE how to prepare, how to engage with the audience etc.

[Jaq Greenspon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, basic book for starting storytellers. Nothing terribly new, but that's okay. The only issue I have is that the author wants to file down all the rough edges of every performer, eliminating any type of uniqueness in the way he stories are told.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good storytelling tips

I read books like this because my job is storytelling (as a pastor). This has some practical advice on crafting and delivering stories. Not all of it was directly helpful to me, but I did appreciate some of her advice on structuring stories (part 1)

[MARITZA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and had simple steps to implement to become a better storyteller. It also has practical tips to implement to make your story resonate with your audience.

[Chuck Kramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A manual on how to write and tell/perform stories. Nothing new here but an insightful, succinct overview of the entire process.

[Alena Plavšić]

Fantastic advice on storytelling. Great explanation of the story arc: beginning, problem, failed attempt(s) to solve the problem, solution, ending.

[Vinicius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and complete at the same time. An amazing book that complete his goal with excellency