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A Storyteller’s Toolkit:5,000 Years in the Making#11NTCStory

Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN)Nonprofit Technology Conference Washington, DCMarch 18, 2011

Roger Burks, Senior Writer at Mercy Corps@loudmind

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Introduction

Roger BurksSenior WriterMercy Corps

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• The conveying of events through words, images, sounds, expressions and gestures

• A way to reach out, connect and share something with others

• The world’s oldest profession

What is storytelling?

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Another important definition

Technology is the usage and knowledge of tools, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or serve some purpose.

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What is storytelling?

Storytelling =the world’s first technology

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What is storytelling?

Throughout history and humanity, storytelling has evolved and driven invention.

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The Storyteller’s Toolkit

And that’s because, within each one of us, we’ve always had the basic tools we needed to share stories with each other.

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To tell a truly compelling and memorable story, you need a personal:

• Reason why you write (credo)

• Connection to the subject

• Connection to yourself

• Connection to your audience

It’s personal

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It’s personal: heart and mind

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Personal connection to the subject

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Personal connection to the subject

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”Henry David Thoreau, Walden

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Preparation

• Gather the tools that will serve you best in getting the story you need.

• Do some research on the situation or topic you’re about to cover.

• Come up with a list of 9-10 questions that will inform – but not limit – your interview.

Personal connection to the subject

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Observation and attention to detail

• What are the details that capture you? Write them down, right then.

• Take note of details not just during, but also before and after the interview.

• Your own thoughts and feelings are important details.

Personal connection to the subject

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Don’t approach it as a job, but as an opportunity

• This is your chance to meet and learn something about another person.

• Genuine interest breaks barriers.

• Your own curiosity makes for good interviews and sustained interactions.

Personal connection to the subject

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Personal connection to the subject

Think of it more as a conversation than an interview.

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Use pen and paper as part of the process

• “The act of writing gives physical form to thoughts.”

• Easier to transcribe subtle details, observations and feelings.

• A notebook of your interviews and notes is permanent and tangible.

Personal connection to the subject

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Personal connection to the subject

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Personal connection to yourself

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Personal connection to yourself

“I’ll know my song well before I start singing.”Bob Dylan

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You know a good story right away

•It hits you square in the chest or in the gut.

•You remember a lot of the story without looking at your notes.

•You absolutely can’t wait to tell it.

Personal connection to yourself

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Write (somewhat) how you speak

• Authenticity of voice

• Conversational quality and tone

• Ability to develop your own style

• Feeling for readers that they’re connecting with your cause or organization on a personal level

Personal connection to yourself

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Personal connection to yourself

Get it all out there at once – edit and filter later.

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Personal connection to yourself

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Personal connection to your audience

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Show, don’t tell

• Let the words come from the conversations that you’ve had.

• Bring the reader along with you; show them what you’ve seen.

• Don’t be afraid to show the reader how you felt.

• Bring unmistakable passion and commitment to your stories.

Personal connection to your audience

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Give them familiarity

There are a few classic, key elements to most every compelling story:

• Main character/protagonist• Sense of place• Emotional connection/empathy• Conflict• Resolution

Like any good story, a good nonprofit piece is an engaging experience for readers.

Personal connection to your audience

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Personal connection to your audience

Be the stories you tell

• Establish yourself as a consistent, trustworthy voice for your organization.

• Be a dependable storyteller and source of stories for your colleagues.

• Lend your storytelling voice to your cause or organization’s social media efforts.

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How Mercy Corps is doing it

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Empowering storytellers throughout the organization

Blog launched in May 2009

April 2010 March 2011

436 blog entries 876 blog entries134 bloggers 225 bloggers30 countries 41 countries

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Training staff to be storytellers

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A variety of stories to capture a variety of experiences

From a recent mercycorps.org content inventory:

Beneficiary or client story Autobiographical pieceField visit Personal reflectionStaff profile/interview Program updateNews update Emergency updatePhoto essay Photo with long captionAudio slideshow Video with long captionRough video Stand-up videoPolished short-form video Polished long-form videoVideo interview Event- or campaign-driven videoWritten travelogue Technically-focused piecePoem

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Using stories in social media and fundraising appeals

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Stories endure and make a difference

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Thank you!

Roger Burks

Email: rburks@mercycorps.org

Blog: www.mercycorps.org/rogerburks

Twitter: @loudmind

Download the toolkit: http://bit.ly/storytellerskit