Why tell a story?

A story opens up the world of possibilities with images and words. Stories allow us to connect with the journey of the characters and enhance our understanding of the world around us. Storytelling is a two-way interaction between the person telling the story and the audience.It is one of the best ways to ensure that the audience remembers your message.They stimulate the imaginations of the listener and create a sense of community. The process of storytelling builds confidence in the speaker which empowers him to communicate better.
In fact, In today’s world of information inflation and distractions, storytelling is more important than ever before. Whether it be to sell a product, inspire change, or just connect with others, the ability to tell a good story is a crucial skill. Quoting Sam Belter, “Nothing sticks in your head better than a story. It can express the most complex ideas in the most digestible way.”

Who is an effective story teller?

The best storytellers are able to weave a narrative that captures their audience’s attention, and keeps them engaged until the very end. They use a combination of words, tone, and body language to bring their stories to life.
He who has lived his life courageously and humbly has seen life from close quarters. The experience he has gathered is an outcome of a much wider exploration, garnered by abrogating his fear of failure and ego. Listeners connect and relate with such stories far better, leaving a far deeper impact.

Expectations from a good story

A good story needs a compelling protagonist, someone the audience can root for and empathize with. The protagonist should face challenges and obstacles that they must overcome, and through their journey, they should grow and evolve. Secondly, it needs a clear structure, having a beginning, middle, and end. The beginning should set up the protagonist and their world, the middle should introduce conflict and obstacles, and the end should resolve the conflict and provide closure. Finally, it should be relatable, addressing universal human emotions. When we hear a story that resonates with us, it has the power to move us, to inspire us, and to change us. With the right story, you have the power to captivate, inspire, and change the world.

 

Secret behind the impact of a story

Storytelling has the power to impact human emotions by leading people to accept original ideas or encourage them to take actions. In order to motivate a desire to help others, a story must first sustain attention- by developing tension during the narrative. This will enable attentive listeners to connect and feel the emotions of the characters in it. Even after the story ends, they might as well continue to mimic the feelings and behaviour of those characters.

Storytelling is a critical skill to have across every career path. Great storytellers make even the most ordinary incident captivating . However in this era of technology, the growth and development of various inventions and innovations have changed the forms of stories from novels and radio to film and television and other OTT platforms. These platforms have features that can make the message delivered more effective.

 

 

About the authors

The article has been contributed by the following participants from St.Josephs High School, Matigara, Darjeeling: Anindita Banerjee Barua ( teacher), Palak Goyal, Manya Goel, Navya Saraf, Archeesa Prasad and Shreya Chaurasia (students).