story crafting workbook w new site 09 · think of a phrase that pays as an advertising jingle that...

Doug Stevenson’s Story Theater International 1-719-573-6195 or 1-800-573-6196 [email protected]


Instructions

Print this as the master copy of the workbook, and print another copy to write in.

We suggest you DO NOT write in your master copy.

For each story you want to work on, print or copy this entire workbook. Many of the pages are blank except

for the heading at the top of the page. That is intentional. You will be given instructions for each section. This

workbook is designed so you can do your homework by handwriting your answers right onto the workbook,

because writing by hand is often a more creative process than typing at a computer. Of course, if you prefer,

you can type the answers on your computer, print them out, and cut and paste them onto your hard copy of

your workbook to keep a reference of your work in the workbook. You will be instructed to input certain

sections into your computer, however, because you eventually want to have your script in your word

processing program, on your computer, so you can develop it and update it as it evolves.

Warning: You may be tempted to try and write the perfect script the first time. That’s not how the creative

process works. Think “rough draft.” Think “work in progress.” You may want to write your story in four

drafts according to the instructions in my book, Doug Stevenson’s Story Theater Method.

Recommendation: This workbook is best used as a companion to the book, Doug Stevenson’s Story Theater

Method, (formerly titled: Never Be Boring Again – Make Your Business Presentations Capture Attention,

Inspire Action, and Produce Results). The book will be referred to as The Story Theater Method throughout

this workbook. Ideally, you will have the book as a reference. It is also wise to purchase and listen to the Story

Theater Audio Six Pack learning system. You can learn techniques like vocal delivery and comedic timing

better from an audio than from a book. Purchase both the book and Six Pack online at www.storytellling-in-

business.com.

Storytelling is supposed to be fun.

Enjoy the creative process!

* Happy Storytelling *


Show and Tell

The main difference between Story Theater and traditional storytelling is the SHOW part of show and tell.

Most storytellers stand outside of the story and narrate, or TELL, a past event. They report it, rather than re-

live it. As you craft your story, be thinking of what actually happened. Remember every detail, every

sensation, and every reaction.

Think back and recall the emotions of the moment. Those vivid memories will make the story come alive

in the acting moments, what I call IN moments.

Story Theater is a synthesis of acting, comedy, improvisation, storytelling and business presentation skills

rolled into one. It is a proven methodology of storytelling in business that is effective because it combines

entertainment and emotion with education. Story Theater calls upon you to release the actor within.

Understand that it takes at least five to eight minutes to entrain (draw in) your audience. They must become

viscerally involved in the story. You must involve their imagination and move beyond intellectual

understanding. This is accomplished by methodical crafting, visual imagery and an authentic performance

using Story Theater techniques.

The Five Defining Principles of Story Theater:

1. Where there is action, step IN and then step OUT.

2. Not all language is verbal. Silence speaks.

3. Signature stories are scripted and memorized.

4. Stories are content delivery vehicles that each make one point.

5. The storyteller is both actor and teacher.


“What really separates one speaker from another is not their words. It is what they do between the

words, how they fill the silences. Silence speaks.” Doug Stevenson

4 Types of Language

Most speakers rely on only one type of language when they tell a story or give a speech. Offstage however,

all of us use four types of language. They are:

1. Verbal: Words and language

2. Vocal: Tempo changes, inflection, volume, attitude, whoops, whines

3. Physical: Gestures, movement, eye contact, non-verbal reactions

4. Emotional: Feeling an emotion that is connected to a moment in a story

As you craft your story, keep all four types of language in mind. It should be easy because you live and

breathe using all four types all day, every day. If you are struggling to embrace all of them, try this: Try NOT

using all four types of language when you speak. You will quickly realize how natural it is to use all four

types of language.

Compiling Your Story Gallery

The Story Development Process:

1. Choose your stories based on the points that they will make or the lessons they will teach.

2. Craft the language of the point. Write out how you want to say it. Find a Phrase That Pays. (Pg. 7)

3. Once you have a story and you know what the point is going to be, go back to the beginning and

build the story forward to make that one point.

Criteria for choosing your stories:

Look for moments of challenge, crisis or obstacle. Build your story around this moment.

Remember moments and events that have special meaning.

Find the turning points in your life.

Remember when you learned a life lesson from someone or from something that happened to you:

a moral or philosophical lesson


a better way to do something

a better way to think about something

Brainstorming Exercise: What stories do you have? List them and the point they could make.

Name of Story The Point

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Before you go any further in this workbook, pick one story that you want to work on and improve. Choose the

one that you have the most energy on – one that is vivid in your memory and had a profound impact on your


life. Don’t choose one that is strictly business, practical and cerebral. You can work on those later. For the first

one that you work on using this workbook, choose something powerful that has emotion connected to it.

Stepping IN and OUT: This is the process of moving from narration to action. (THE STORY THEATER

METHOD, page 222) You are OUT when you are talking to the audience. You are IN when you are re-

enacting a moment or conversation. IN moments are actions, movement, conversations, reactions, etc.

OUT moments are always spoken in the past tense and IN moments are usually spoken in present tense.

OUT: “At that point we went to the banquet hall and waited.”

IN: “Where is everybody? This is ridiculous. People were supposed to be here 20 minutes ago.”

IN moments are acting or re-creating moments. They require all four types of language and the use of your

senses. During IN moments, your audience shifts from having an intellectual experience to having a visceral

experience. They become actively involved in the story, assuming roles within the story.

Exercise: Look for IN moments in the story you have chosen to work on. Work through it in a linear sequence

in your mind and visualize the action, what happened. Who did what? Where did you go? Dissect the story for

movement and activity. Write down every conversation, every action and movement that you can think of.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Message Branding - The Phrase That Pays

Think of a Phrase That Pays as an advertising jingle that gets people to buy your idea, point or vision. It

ensures that your audience remembers the one thing you want them to remember. A Phrase That Pays is a

challenge for people to take action.

Examples:

Get Over It, Just Do It, Walk Your Talk, Get a Guru, Make the Move, Ask Questions, Find the Time, Go for

the Gold, Be Brave, Answer the Call, Seize the Moment, Take Time To Care…

As you live your life from day to day, what is your personal Phrase That Pays? If you were to summarize

your philosophy of life, what would it be?

________________________________________________________________________________________

Suggestions for Crafting and Using a Phrase That Pays:

• Short and sweet, musical and rhythmic

• Make the first word a verb.

• It’s a call to action. Use positive commands.

• Weave it throughout your story. Have your audience members say it in Step Nine.

• Never conjugate it. Always say it exactly the same way.

Brainstorm action steps you want your audience (prospect or customer) to take that emanate naturally from

your content. What do you want them to DO? Make the first word active and positive. Call them to action, to

move forward. Whenever possible, don’t start with the words never or don’t.

• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________


• _____________________________________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________________________________

The Nine Steps of Story Structure (THE STORY THEATER METHOD page 135)

1. Set the scene. ( Time, place, atmosphere, conditions…)

2. Introduce the characters.* ( Physical, emotional, relationship, quirk…)

3. Begin the journey. ( From safety to danger, known to unknown…)

4. Encounter the obstacle. ( Person, thing, concept, block, nemesis…)

5. Overcome the obstacle. ( This is the “How To” part of the story.)

6. Resolve the story. ( Tie up the loose ends.)

7. Make the point. ( One story, one clear and simple point.)

8. Ask the question. ( How about you? Make your point their point.)

9. Repeat the point. ( Use the same language as in number 7.)

* Introduce the main characters when they appear in the story, not necessarily as Step Two.

Using Step Five (Overcome the Obstacle) to Teach

Later on in this workbook, you will be writing a script using the Nine Steps. Since we are using each story to

teach a lesson, illustrate a process or make a point, we are first going to focus on Step Five, overcoming the

obstacle. Step Five is the teaching step. It is where you weave the lesson or process that you want to teach into

the narrative of the story. It is essential that you understand how to script this step so your audience sees, feels

and hears the overcoming of the obstacle without being aware that they are being taught anything. When done

correctly, the teaching is subliminal.

Overcoming the obstacle is the “how to” step in the Nine Steps. As a speaker or trainer, it is the most critical

step. You may choose to perform this step as an IN moment, such as talking to yourself as you consider your

options and come to a conclusion or new awareness.

Exercise: Once again, using the story that you have chosen to work on, think about what you did when you

encountered the obstacle. Try to remember every thought, action, reaction and emotion. Just write it all down.


Don’t worry about the sequence for now; just get it down on paper as best as you can remember. Later, go

back and arrange it in the linear sequence you want to teach. In other words, first remember what happened

and what you did. Then, regardless of what you actually did, decide what sequence of thoughts, actions and

reactions you want to teach people to adopt. If the actual process that you went through to overcome the

obstacle is not the exact process you want to teach, it is OK to add a step or rearrange the steps to teach the

process you want to teach. (See THE STORY THEATER METHOD Chapter 8, section on Rewriting History.

You don’t want to rewrite important facts.) This is how we use story to teach.

As an example, in my airport story, I want to teach people how to change the way they deal with unexpected

change. In my story, I am on my way to a speaking engagement outside of Kansas City and I decide to fly in

the same day as the booking, an 8PM keynote. In order for my plan to work, all the flights had to be on time.

They weren’t. As a result, I missed the last shuttle bus from the airport to my hotel that would have gotten me

to my booking on time. I use this story to teach the lesson of “focus on solutions rather than focusing on the

problem”. In remembering what actually happened, after I watched in dismay as my shuttle bus drove right

past me without stopping, I came up with the following:

My first reaction was to go into victim mode and get angry

I walked back into the airport to consider my options - being late or finding another solution.

My second thought was that I didn’t have time to be mad - I had to calm down.

I turned my attention to figuring out a solution to the problem.

I remembered my own advice to my audiences that “change represents an opportunity for something

better to take place in your life.”

I walked back outside to look for an opportunity, an alternate solution.

I saw a limo sitting at the curb with another man just getting in.

I decided to go for it and ask if I could bum a ride.

The limo driver said it was up to his passenger - the passenger said it was okay with him.

The limo driver told me that the shuttle I missed had eight hotels to stop at on the route to my hotel and

that I would have been late if I had caught it.

I arrived at the hotel on time, met my client, and the speech that night went great!


Also, while crafting the story, I had the revelation that in this situation “change did represent an opportunity

for something better to take place in my life.” The story became a metaphor for all of the times that things

don’t work out according to plan, and it exemplified that all changes represent an opportunity for something

better to take place if we see them as opportunities and not obstacles.

Now take your story and work through how you overcame your obstacle. Don’t worry about the sequence at

first. You can go back and re-sequence the steps later on. Don’t worry about proper grammar at this stage.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

The Speaker Writes

Speakers must learn to write conversationally. Proper English and grammar will not always work. You must

learn to “talk” onto the page. Write the way you talk. To accomplish this, I am going to suggest that you walk

and talk and type, in that order. If you have a laptop, take it somewhere in the house or office where you can

set it on a high counter or surface. Stand up and start telling your story. As you walk and talk, come back to

the keyboard and type. Then walk and talk some more and…type.

There are two things that happen when you WALK and TALK.

• You are forced to speak the way you naturally speak, and therefore you write more conversationally.

• The movement helps you integrate your left linear brain with your right creative brain. The result is

that you will say things in ways you would never write them if you were sitting down. You will

remember things and see things in your creative mind’s eye that wouldn’t have shown up sitting down

at the computer. Trust me on this. Get off your butt and walk and talk!


The benefits of learning to write conversationally are:

1. Your own words are easier to memorize.

2. Your natural speaking style is congruent with who you really are.

3. The way you speak has organic humor.

4. Attitude and inflection will arise naturally when you speak.

Step Five Exercise, Continued: Now that you’ve recalled how you overcame the obstacle, write out the

sequence of thoughts, actions and reactions in a way that models the behavior or thought process you want

others to use. You can do this on your feet or sitting at your computer, but remember to talk onto paper.

Note: This may be a good time to break out that voice recognition software that you bought and use it.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Now you’re ready to start working on the script for the entire story. We will work through one step at a time.

1. Set the Scene

Create context in many ways…

Time: year, month, day, time, season, holiday...

Place: city, state, country, home, school, office, church, bedroom, attic, sidewalk...

Atmosphere: sunny, rainy, gloomy, tense, joyous, comfortable, uncomfortable...

Event: board meeting, wedding, vacation, dinner, baseball game, seminar, movie...

Relationship: sister, boss, spouse, son, supervisor, teacher, friend, bad blood, loving,

antagonist, ally, acquaintance…

Using the above elements, write a new opening to craft the scenario wherein your story takes place. Start with

more details and edit later. Use a fine brush to paint your picture, not a roller.

This is a section that you will need to have on your computer, as it will become your script. Create a heading

for your document: Step One - Set the Scene. When you are finished with the first draft of Step One, Set the

Scene, print it out.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Introduce the Characters

Name all of the characters in your story Major Minor

1. ________________________________ _____ _____

2. ________________________________ _____ _____

3. ________________________________ _____ _____

4. ________________________________ _____ _____

This is the only step in the Nine Steps that may be out of sequence. In other words, you don’t always introduce

the characters after you set the scene. You introduce them when they enter into the story. If the journey is to

go to the doctor’s office, you don’t describe the doctor until he walks into the examining room. Later on in the

story, your mother may stop by your house. Introduce her when she walks in the front door.

The concept of introducing the characters is to create a visual image as well as a personality description of the

main characters so your audience can relate to them. First, describe the main characters visually. Help your

audience to see and feel them. What do they look like? Be specific. Saying that someone has “red curly hair

that has a mind of it’s own,” is a better description than “a redhead.”

Next, think about quirks, blemishes, and oddities that make them unique. Include anything pertinent about

your relationship. To add visual spice, think of a metaphor—what is this like? Is your sister like a comfortable

chair or a sleek Corvette convertible? Is your boss like Mr. Rogers or The Godfather. Think in terms of

categories when looking for metaphors.


Back to the computer: Create a page with the heading, Step Two – Introduce the Characters. Go ahead and

introduce all of the main characters on this page. Later on you will cut and paste them into the right place in

your story script.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

How will you communicate the relationship other than with the words? What role will inflection

play in your delivery? Go back and circle or highlight the words that get special vocal inflection.

3. Begin the Journey

The journey is the goal, task or mission to be accomplished. It is often a journey from safety to danger, from

the known to the unknown. It does not usually start out that way, however. The journey only becomes a story

worth telling when the hero encounters the obstacle. If there were no obstacle, the journey would seem very

simple, like going to the store to get milk and coming home.

Describe the journey as succinctly as possible. Examples: Going to the office supply store to get supplies.

Walking the dog. Meeting friends for lunch. Going on a hike. Eating lobster in Mexico.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Back to your computer: Take what you have just written and transfer it to a page with the heading,

Step Three - Begin the Journey. Set the scene told us what was going on. Begin the journey now describes

what the task was - the journey. You will eventually add this to the end of Set the Scene, as your script

develops.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Encounter the Obstacle

The obstacle is the challenge. It is a problem, dilemma or question. It may be a person, something to be

overcome, or something to be learned. It is what gets in the way of achieving your goals. Define the obstacle

in your story and how you encounter it.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

To stimulate different ways that you may be able to use your story to make different points, answer the

following questions:

1. This obstacle is like, or relates to the following business or personal productivity problems:

a. ________________________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________________________

c. ________________________________________________________________________

2. This obstacle is like, or addresses the following human conditions or issues:

a. ________________________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________________________

c. ________________________________________________________________________

3. Overcoming this obstacle may teach the following lessons:

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Back to your computer: Take what you have just written and transfer it to a page with the heading,

Step Four - Encounter the Obstacle.

5. Overcome the Obstacle

Your audience learns the most from how you overcome the obstacle. It’s not that you overcame the obstacle

that is important, it is the method that you used. Use the following questions to stimulate answers. Remember,

you cannot teach what you have not learned.

When you encountered the obstacle, what memory did it trigger?

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

What was your thought process?

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

What inner demons did you have to face?

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

What old tapes started playing in your head?

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Back to your computer: Take what you have just written and transfer it to a page with the heading Step Five -

Overcoming the Obstacle. Describe, in a linear sequence, each step that you took in overcoming the obstacle.

Think minutia; think little steps. Tell the truth. The magic is in the details.

6. Resolve the Story

This step is relatively easy. Go back through your script and look for details that need to be resolved. Ask

yourself, “What will my audience be wondering about if I don’t tell them?” Think about the people in your

story. What happened to them?

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Make the Point (THE STORY THEATER METHOD page 113, 154)

What is the ONE point that your story makes above all other points?

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

As a creative exercise, state it again in a number of other ways.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Ask “The Question”

The question formally transfers the learning point to each audience member. It makes them take personal

accountability in relation to a specific question. It is a YOU question and puts them on the spot. It must be

ONE simple question that is directly related to your point.

Example: A Phrase That Pays for one of my stories is Look For The Limo. My point is that we have to focus

on solutions rather than problems in order to move forward. My question is: Where in your life are you

focusing on the problem rather than the solution?

Examples: How about you? What about you? When will you? What will it take for you? How will you? Is it

time for you? Are you ready to? Have you ever?

Script the question:

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Re-state the Point or Phrase That Pays


After you’ve asked the question, follow it with a call to action. Restate your point or the Phrase That Pays.

How will you incorporate the Phrase That Pays into a positive statement?

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Humor Writing Tip

Triples: Where one “for instance” is used to illustrate a point, use three instead. The first two are logical and

set the pattern. The third one is the zinger, the funny one that doesn’t fit the sequence. All three have a

rhythmically identical pattern. (THE STORY THEATER METHOD page 189)

Exercise: Look for places in your story where you could write a triple.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Physical and/or Vocal Language Humor Tip:

Exaggeration: Want to get a laugh? Take a fact or situation and exaggerate it. Make a normal problem a

bigger problem. React twice as big as you normally would. (THE STORY THEATER METHOD page 194)

Exercise: Look for places in your story where you can exaggerate. What facts can you fudge for comical

purposes?

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________


Acting Tips

It is best to SHOW rather than TELL when you encounter the obstacle. Make it an IN moment.

The following tips are some techniques to use when you Step IN and re-enact the moment. This is where the

Four Types of language enter into the acting equation.

Vocal Language Tips:

The Sprint: Talking real fast with high energy. Use the sprint at times of anxiety, anger, frustration,

excitement, panic, etc. (THE STORY THEATER METHOD page 236)

Exercise: Look for places in your story where you could use the sprint.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

The Drag: Speak very slowly and deliberately. Over-enunciate. Use the drag at times of amazement,

revelation, stupor, shock, stress, pain, etc. (THE STORY THEATER METHOD page 236)

Exercise: Look for places in your story where you could use the drag.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Whoops and Whines: Whoops are sounds that we make in reaction to good news. Whines are vocal reactions

and sounds we make in reaction to bad news. (THE STORY THEATER METHOD page 238)

Exercise: Look for places in your story where you could use whoops and whines.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Physical Language Tips:


Physical and Facial Reactions: Silence is your ally. Show mental and emotional reactions rather than telling

about them. Portray to convey. (THE STORY THEATER METHOD page 223)

How would you react physically? _____________________________________________________________

What would you do with your arms and hands? __________________________________________________

What would you do with your legs and feet? ____________________________________________________

Exercise: Describe a series of non-verbal physical reactions. Include whoops and/or whines if you would

make sounds.

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Emotional Language Tips:

Hold the Moment: A freeze in the action where movement stops and thoughts and emotions rush in. Use

HTM for moments of emotional pain, confusion, bewilderment, shock, anger, frustration, elation, crisis or a

turning point. (THE STORY THEATER METHOD page 259)

Exercise: When you encounter the obstacle, hold the moment. What might you do in silence to indicate that

you have come upon the obstacle?

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Inner Monologue: The thoughts and emotions that fill the silences while holding the moment.

In these spaces you use your acting ability and poise. (THE STORY THEATER METHOD page 261)

Exercise: Look for places in your story where you hold the moment and then script your inner monologue

lines for pacing and realism.


________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Silence Speaks: In the silence, while you are acting out a reaction without words, your audience is not waiting

for your next word. They are viscerally connected to the moment being portrayed. They are thinking thoughts

and feeling feelings. They are more plugged into you than at any other time in your story. Take your time!

Doug’s Keynotes and Training Programs:

• Emotional Eloquence – The Lost Language of Leadership

• Storytelling in Business is Serious Business – Engage Persuade Influence

• It Was A Dark and Stormy Sales Presentation – The Serious Business of

Selling with Stories

• Get Out of Your Own Way – Succeed Now!

The Story Theater Retreat is an intimate coaching experience for four serious students that takes place over two and one-half days. I coach each student on each day and most coaching sessions are video-recorded. The coaching is supportive and specific. The retreat is a safe environment to try new things. I’ll encourage you forward with constructive criticism and objective feedback.

I am not interested in turning you into a professional actor, nor am I interested in making you look silly in front of your peers. Many of my students, however, readily admit there is a closet actor inside of them waiting to get out. If that describes you, I’m your guy.

If that doesn't describe you, but you realize that a different kind of presentation skills training is needed, I'm still your guy.

Business professionals can learn a lot about developing a powerful presence and using emotion effectively to motivate their audience, from the world of acting.


It is my job to translate the language of acting into the language of business. It's what I've been doing successfully since 1995.

Are you ready to be more powerful? More engaging? More effective? Find the actor within. Let your actor out. Small changes in your presentation will make a big difference in your ability to influence an audience. No prior acting or writing experience is necessary.

The retreats provide a learning experience where everyone has adequate time to present and gain essential experience with new techniques. Students learn by presenting and practicing, on their feet. Since no two students are alike, no two students receive the same coaching. Each student is met at their level and challenged to stretch and expand based on their abilities. Peggy O’Neill-Laise, a retreat graduate stated, “I loved your coaching. It was very positive, very helpful and empowering.” The retreat is a safe environment in which to learn and grow. It is a place to take chances, to risk and stretch in an intimate environment where each of the other students has the same desire. Everyone supports everyone else. Successful stories contains:

• a powerful message

• a universal truth

• visual imagery

• one clear point

• highly developed structure

• a phrase-that-pays

• comedic moments

• dramatic moments

• emotional impact To watch video testimonials and get more information about the retreat, go to www.storytelling-in-business.com.

Private Coaching: My job, as your coach, is to nurture and develop your natural talent. The foundation for your magnificence already exists. You have a rhythm and style all your own. Utilizing over thirty years of acting, directing and business presentation experience, I tailor my coaching to you. I bring out your best and coach you to levels of excellence that you have not been able to tap into on your own. “Doug Stevenson has to be experienced. Words can’t convey the uncanny ability he has to reach in and capture one’s natural talent and masterfully stretch that talent to a new level.” Karyn Buxman, CSP, CPAE - St. Louis “The only person I know who can translate the art of storytelling into an understandable science is Doug Stevenson. You will be a better speaker after studying with this Master Storyteller. I know I am.”


Chris Clarke-Epstein, CSP, Past President, National Speakers Assn. “This is the best coaching I have had. Doug has designed a program that pushes the participant in both technique and authenticity. He creates an atmosphere to take risks. He models the behaviors. This is worth three times the cost. It is a must investment for any speaker.” Marjorie Brody, CSP - Philadelphia

“You are an insightful, helpful coach. You helped us discover the best in ourselves. You made suggestions, not commands. This is the best I’ve ever felt about my gifts and talents in this area.” Dr. Pat Gangi - Phoenix “I left the class with a renewed confidence in my ability to deliver material and make it more entertaining than it’s been in the past. I finally understand the block I’ve had with conveying my humor through storytelling to an audience. This retreat is an absolute must for anyone who wants to improve their ability to captivate an audience with a story.” Dan Maddux – Executive Director of the American Payroll Association

About Doug Stevenson I gave my first speech at 13 in Boy Scouts and have performed in front of over 850 audiences as a speaker, actor, singer and comedian. At 19 I became a professional actor in Chicago and at 22 I summoned all my courage and hitchhiked to Hollywood where I acted on stage in everything from Snoopy to Shakespeare and in movies, TV and commercials. I have the dubious distinction of being karate chopped by Chuck Norris in my first movie and in my last one; I portrayed a pervert on a Perry Mason episode. While I was knocking on fame’s door, I studied many acting styles including traditional method acting, avant-garde, improvisation, Shakespeare and mime. In time I directed plays and taught acting. After knocking on doors for thirteen years with little to show for my efforts but bloody knuckles, I did what most people do who come to Hollywood seeking fame and fortune. I left! Luckily for me, I graduated from the theatrical stage to the keynote speaking podium and the corporate training room. I’m a Past-President of the Colorado Chapter of the National Speakers Association. I’ve presented Storytelling in Business programs at the National Speakers Association, The American Society of Training and Development, The Society of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Trainers, The Association of Fundraising Professionals and for corporations like Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Hewlett Packard, Caterpillar, Lockheed Martin, Amgen, Bayer, and many others. I realized that I had something unique to offer when I presented the original version of Story Theater at the Colorado Speakers Association. There were so many requests for a follow up that I created the retreat and the rest is history. If you are ready to be more confident, improve the effectiveness of your speeches and presentations and attract more business, bring me in to your organization or come and spend some time with me. You will gain deep insights into your craft, your self and your potential. When you invest in yourself, your success is guaranteed.


Call Deborah Merriman at 1-719-573-6195 or 1-800-573-6196 or email me her at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.

All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States

Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any

means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

story crafting workbook w new site 09 · think of a phrase that pays as an advertising jingle that...

Documents