Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

December 18, 2008

STORY TELLING

kathryn wrote this at 7:20 am

Usually I’m the one telling stories here, but when I find someone who’s better than I am, I stand aside. Today is one of those days. I’m pleased and delighted to announce that a woman I admire has agreed to write with me on Successful-Blog. I won’t say more. Her words introduce her better than I ever could, which you know is saying something … meet Kathryn Jennex, who’ll be writing a column called, Practical Communication, every week (and more when I convince her she must.) — Liz Strauss

Story Telling

by Kathryn Jennex

There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.” ~ Ursula Le Guin

We are all storytellers, each and every one of us. Studying public relations and sociology led me to an understanding of how to tell stories for business and to study people and gain an insight and understanding of the human story itself. I have been a closet writer for years telling fictional stories and in the last few years a very part-time filmmaker creating visual stories. My work as a project manager for an online web space provides me the opportunity to gather stories and share them, inviting people to participate.  

 

Whether we’re talking among our friends, writing a social media strategy for a non-profit, taking a photo, or designing a marketing strategy we’re all telling stories. The best stories are the ones you can relate to, that remind you of something similar in your experience and cause you to engage and hopefully, take part. Good storytellers rely on audience participation and make the experience shared.  

When I hear your story, I want to be able to tell you are PASSIONATE about it. I want to sense and feel you believe in what you’re saying. Beth Kanter does this so well. When I read what she writes I believe her, I hear passion, concern, and I hear her knowledge about the story she is telling. How to do this?

By all means be real. If you’re going to take the time to tell the story, make sure you do it honestly and be prepared to engage in the response.

I listen now to lots and lots of stories every day and I love it. My work in social media fits in perfectly with all this and gives me exposure to many, many stories. The best stories, make me want to reach out and somehow respond or comment back, whether that is a post on SEO, a really cool product or service. ROI, or mentoring.

Are you telling good stories? Please share one way you tell your story.

Kathryn aka @northernchick





Filed under Successful Blog, Writing |




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35 Comments to “STORY TELLING”

  1. December 18th, 2008 at 7:30 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Welcome, Kathryn!
    Delighted to have you here.

    I tell my story on the phone when folks want to know about why I blog. I just can’t separate who I am from what I do. :)

  2. December 18th, 2008 at 7:31 am
    Charity Hisle said

    For the newbies like me, this is excellent advice! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom. I will attempt to apply it to my own writing.

  3. December 18th, 2008 at 7:40 am
    Christa M. Miller said

    I’ve been telling (writing) stories for years, listening to them too from my sources and others. But I think I’ve taken it for granted. I’m moving into a new phase of my freelance business and have been thinking in terms of “web copy” for things like my website overhaul… not telling my story. Thanks for the refocus.

  4. December 18th, 2008 at 7:48 am
    Dale Bohman said

    That’s some great advice and tips that are relevent in more than just blogging. The blogger, speaker or salesperson that can relate a story or event that illustrates a principle or truth becomes so much more effective because it helps the listener relate and internalize the point.

  5. December 18th, 2008 at 7:58 am
    Beth Harte said

    Kathryn, thanks for the gentle reminder. I think so many people/companies forget they could be telling stories that help other people do something better or think in a new way. I think the challenge is not getting caught up in the same old story…over and over. It’s take a lot of work and practice. I tell my stories by writing or speaking and knowing that it’s okay to keep perfecting the way those stories are told.

    Liz, thanks for bringing Kathryn on board, what a wonderful addition!

  6. December 18th, 2008 at 8:13 am
    Laura Smith said

    Hello. I am new to your Social Media world and like any tourist, with her socks pulled up too high and fanny pack secured tightly, I am doing all kinds of weird stuff. Please excuse me. I was thrilled to read this post for two reasons. One of the first people I encountered when I found myself staggering around like a lost toddler in the Twitterverse was Kathryn Jennex. I can say without hesitation that she is one of the most helpful and compassionate people ever created. I consider having the opportunity, on a regular basis, to hear a download of her heart quite a blessing. The second reason I was thrilled to read this post is that storytelling is a precious part of my personal history- the history of my peoples, as my Nanny would grin and say. I didn’t grow up with a television but I did grow up with a Great Grandmother, Grandmother, Great Aunt, Great Uncles, Uncles, Cousins, My Daddy and you-name-its that would (and those that are with us today still will) sit a spell and tell me all about all the times. And if you don’t know a spell is a long, long while and all times were pretty neat. Hope you all have a most wonderful Thursday! ~L

  7. December 18th, 2008 at 9:04 am
    Jannie said

    “Audience participation.” I had not considered that.

    I am a songwriter and am always thinking of how to tell a whole story in 3 to 4 minutes. (Yikes.) “Say what you mean and mean what you say,” cuts very close to the bone of what I am always trying to attain.

    Thank you Kathryn! And thank you Liz!

    (And looking at that old photo, I am so grateful that pants are acceptable everywhere for girls now.)

  8. December 18th, 2008 at 9:14 am
    Zoe said

    I’m still getting comfortable in my blogging boots, but the most important thing I’ve realized is that when I reveal my character, readers are intrigued.

    A narrative that aims for objectivity easily gets boring — we need perspective and emotion to pull us in.

    Thanks for posting on my favorite topic :)

  9. December 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am
    Simon Salt said

    Kathryn
    Great post, well worth waiting for! I love the construction, you have not only given great advice here but demonstrated it in the post itself. Its not a do what I say post, or even a How To, its both a practical advice post and a practical demonstration. Thats a great way to get across your point.
    Simon
    @incslinger

  10. December 18th, 2008 at 10:51 am
    Robert Hruzek said

    Excellent points all, Katheryn; I especially like that last one: engage.

    Telling stories is essentially what I do at the Middle Zone. But for a while, there were still very few readers.

    Two things made the difference, though. First, finding my “voice” (Liz and the wonderful community here at Successful Blog helped with that one), and second, learning to, well, express myself in a way that literally invited engagement.

    Once my writing began to reflect that, reader engagement really took off! The important element, and the one that made the difference, was genuineness. (The hard truth is readers can see it from a mile away. And if you ain’t got it, well, that sorta stands out.)

    A big ol’ hat tip for jumping in with both feet, Katheryn, and we look forward to hearing more from ya!

  11. December 18th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
    Franklin Bishop said

    Great points. I don’t think it always stands out if you don’t have it. You “always” have it in you.

  12. December 18th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
    Ed said

    “By all means be real.
    If you’re going to take the time to tell the story, make sure you do it honestly and be prepared to engage in the response.”

    10/10 for philosophy

  13. December 18th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
    Stuart Foster said

    Finding your voice can be an absolute challenge. I didn’t even know if I could come up with consistent content for my blog (despite my English major pedigree) to maintain it’s run over a long period of time. However, once I got in the mode of just rolling with it and not overthinking…the stories that you talked about in this post just started coming to light. I can think of few things better then to be inspired…absolutely adore it when it happens. Grats on the initial blog post Kathryn :)

  14. December 18th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
    Rock and Roll Mama said

    Kathryn,
    I wholeheartedly agree that when we tell our stories with authenticity is when people connect. I saw a video that a Twitter Friend, Josh Unfried, made the other day about his soon to be launched website, Momfaves. On the surface, it’s a site designed to allow moms to broadcast the businesses, products, and services they love. So I’m thinking, that’s cool, but then Josh and his wife show a picture of his wonderful Mother, who died of breast cancer, and explain that the idea was born from her love of sharing her passions, her “finds”. And suddenly, I was engaged in a whole different way, because I understood the genesis and the connection. It struck me as an example of how the personal and the business blend in this SM world, and how it’s a really powerful thing.
    So nice to see you here! All best.

  15. December 18th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
    dianne legro said

    Thanks Liz, Thanks Kathryn for bringing storytelling onto the pages here. In my life as a speaking coach,storytelling is the first thing I attend to with clients. It is a living link beween your life and your listener’s life. We learn deeper through these transformational metaphors,we remember longer, and for speakers who are speaking to grow their business, they can imprint others easier with the desired action.
    Mostly, it makes us more present and real when we share our stories. I will enjoy seeing your posts greatly!

    Dianne

  16. December 18th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
    Todd Smith said

    Thanks, Kathryn! I love stories and storytelling too. They make everything so real… all the senses come alive in storytelling. They remove the separation between writer and reader. And for business, this is a great way to sell as well.

    I use storytelling every week in my photography newsletter. Photos and words create a sense of place and personality. People tell me that they really look forward to my email every Thursday morning. It’s a break from the usual sales pitches you get.

    I plan to start telling stories with every framed print that I sell on my website too. Storytelling is a wonderful way to communicate.

  17. December 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
    Jennie Nash said

    What a heartfelt post — the perfect thing to counteract the pre-holiday buying-stuff blues. I’m a novelist — a professional storyteller — but I have found that the story on the page is never enough. People always want the story behind the story. They ask what parts of the story were “real” and what the inspiration was and how it felt to finish and what I do when I get writers’ block. This used to frustrate me. I wanted to say, “Just read the book!” I’m about to publish my fifth book (The Only True Genius in the Family, coming in Feb. 09) and I finally get it. It’s my job , and a great priviledge, to tell the story about my story.

  18. December 18th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
    John Sheridan said

    Humans have been telling stories since we invented fire. It’s the original human engagement.

    Gossip (untrue stories), enthusiasm (word of mouth marketing), jokes (stories with a surprise ending), etc. all make the interpersonal connection.

    Between writing and multi-media, we use the “comic” to fill that space. Another type of story format.

    Thanks for bringing this to everyone’s attention. Great job.

    john

    p.s.: don’t I know you from somewhere? (^:=

  19. December 18th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
    Richard Reeve said

    As Andy Goodman has pointed out, “no one ever marched on Washington because of a pie chart.” Story, the power of narrative, connects us to the sharing that reaches back into the dawn of humanity, resonating with our innate collective selves. To forgo this essential aspect of what it means to be us, simply leaves us diminished. Your so right Kathryn to stress engagement. I find our imaginations only function when we are intimately tied to our subjects.
    So glad you will be appearing here regularly.

  20. December 18th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
    kathryn said

    @Liz Thank you Liz. I am really excited and thankful for this opportunity. Thanks for sharing!

    @Charity You are very welcome. Where can I see some of your writing? Feel free to email me,Kathrynjennex@gmail.com or get in touch on Twitter.

    @Christie Even “web copy” has /is a story! Glad you found some value in the post.

    @Dale Thanks for commenting. That was my point exactly. Salespeople, marketers, PR people, bloggers, speakers – we’re all telling stories.

    @Beth I appreciate your kind words. It’s true , hard not to get caught up in the same old and perfectly fine to keep tweaking the new. Thanks for the comment.

    @Laura You are an angel. Keep tweeting and how about starting a blog?? That way you can share you stories with us all.

    @Jannie, song writing definitely makes you choose your words carefully. Story telling fits in nicely with social media as the point becomes encouraging others to engage and discuss the “story” – audience participation! Thanks for commenting.

    @Zoe Oh you are Welcome! Do you blog about your favorite topic? Yes, showing ourselves as real and genuine intrigues and cause people to engage and participate. I’d like to read your blog.

    @Simon Thanks! I can learn as much from all of you as you can learn from me!

    @Robert Thanks for commenting and you’re very welcome How true. It’s the same in every business/sphere if you’re not real- people know.

    @Franklin I concur – very true.

    @Ed Hmmm thanks. Keeping in mind the response may not always be favorable.

    @Thanks Stu – appreciate you coming by. Just roll with it – ok I’ll remember that too ;)

    @Rock and Roll Mama Nice of you to comment – thanks! .Video is powerful , images connected to words – amazing.

    @dianne I look forward to hearing your stories well. Thanks for commenting.

    @Todd Thanks for coming by Todd I appreciate it. We all are storytellers we just don’t call it that! Send me yours newsletter sometime.

    @Jennie, Thanks so much. I do the same when I go to readings I want a sense of the person behind the story. I want details ….I bet you’re a wonderful storyteller.

    @John Thanks for stopping by! Multi media = story telling, for sure! I think I remember meeting you….. ;)

    @Richard Thanks once again. I appreciate the comments and look forward to more engagement with you.

  21. December 18th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
    Deb said

    Facts tell.

    Stories sell.

    Great to see you here! Another great blog to subscribe to.

    Deb @debworks

  22. December 18th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
    Kitzie Stern said

    I work as a professional voice talent. We need to be able to tell a story in 30 or 60 seconds, and during that time engage the listener in the story of the product. It’s the purest form of acting. The work we do on the script before we voice it(developing the backstory, being present, inflections & speech rhythms) brings the script to life.
    Great post, thanks!

  23. December 19th, 2008 at 4:56 am
    kathryn said

    @Deb so true, thanks! Good to see you as well!

    @Kitzie your welcome and thanks - do you blog about that? It would be interesting to learn about the process.

  24. December 19th, 2008 at 8:06 am
    Danny Brown said

    Well, well, well - that’s one heck of an opening statement, Kathryn, set the bar high and start as you mean to go on, alright! :)

    No matter what level of storyteller, you’ve just nailed it in one for everyone. Welcome aboard and boy do you have me looking forward to future posts!

    And Liz, thank you for giving Kathryn the voice and showing us what we already knew - she’s a star!

  25. December 19th, 2008 at 8:13 am
    Susan Murphy said

    Loved this post, Kathryn!

    It’s so funny, I’ve had the same thoughts about this in the past…when people ask me what I do, I always tell them “I tell stories”, because it encompasses everything I do, from producing TV to creating web sites to writing my blog and even technical writing - it’s all storytelling.

    You are so correct that as storytellers we must, above all, speak with our own voice and be passionate.

    Can’t wait to hear more from you!

  26. December 19th, 2008 at 9:11 am
    kathryn said

    @ Danny - takes a star to know a “star” thanks for stopping by and the compliment. It’s not the level we’re at it’s just that we keep telling our stories. Sometimes we’ll hit it and sometimes we’ll miss - we just have to keep on telling!

    @Susan thanks girl - I thought we were on the same page here.

  27. December 19th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
    Kitzie Stern said

    Kathryn,
    I do have a blog, you’re a sweetheart to ask:
    http://kitziesvoice.blogspot.com/ and Twitter @kitziestern. Also, I’m about to launch of podcast on kirtan, which is meditation through singing. Here’s the Squidoo page on New World Kirtan: http://www.squidoo.com/kirtan

    I enjoyed reading about storytelling from other folks perspectives, and I’m looking forward to your next post. What a great start!

  28. December 19th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
    kathryn said

    Thanks Kitzie!

  29. December 19th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
    Zoe said

    @ Kathryn - I don’t only blog about storytelling — more about writing and creativity in general. But the blog is on the website linked to my name here :)

  30. December 20th, 2008 at 6:56 am
    kathryn said

    Thanks Zoe - I will visit there for sure :)

  31. December 20th, 2008 at 8:49 am
    John Sheridan said

    Here’s a story-telling technique we use in the User Experience world: the Persona. Really explained well by Howard Kaplan of Future Now:

    http://www.futurenowinc.com/resources/FutureNow_Getting_Started_with_Building_Personas.pdf

  32. December 24th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
    kathryn said

    Thanks John;)

  33. January 5th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
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