Building a story: getting started

What kind of story are you looking for? Do you already know the theme for the event? If so, start there. Consider what experiences you’ve had that touch on that theme (Making Home, Journeys, New Beginnings, etc., etc.). Don’t forget to consider the absence of the core idea. (Working on a forgiveness theme? When have you needed it and not had it? When have you been unable to access

If there’s no theme and you simply are looking for a story, well, good news/bad news: you’ve got more material than you could ever use. To flex and strengthen storytelling muscles, aim for a story that’s not one of your big, go-to stories.

What are some moments, experiences, conversations, that stand out for you? You don’t have to know why, or even whether it could be a story.

Settle on one moment that draws your attention, something you’d be game to explore between now and whenever you hope to tell it. Your energy level for the material matters! That’s a good enough litmus test to determine whether there’s a story there.

Then: begin to flesh out the scene or moment that’s at the heart of the story, or the moment that first grabbed your attention. Where were you? Who else was there? What happened?

Next: ask “what else would people need to know to get it?” Flesh out a few scenes that show people what you need them to know to understand how the moment impacted you.

As the story takes shape, ask yourself (repeatedly!), “What’s this about?” In other words, what was at stake for you at the time the story happened? Within the scenes, let the listeners know the stakes. A very small story (“I went out for coffee”) can carry a lot of weight when listeners know what’s at stake (“…it was the first time I’d been out of my house all week, after a terrible break-up, in the middle of a miserable winter”).

With a handful of scenes/moments, and an emerging sense of the stakes, you’ve got a story! Now, you get to edit for clarity, impact, and length.

How can I convince Church Council it's a good idea?

You’ve been bitten by the bug and you think your community ought to do some storytelling: a workshop, a weekend intensive, as part of your annual fundraiser. But how to talk about it with folks who haven’t experienced it?

Earshot has a couple of resources for you to share: we think of this as our “rationale” for storytelling in congregations, a jumping off point for conversation about “why storytelling?” And here’s a slicker, less wordy, more picture-y flier to share.

As usual, though, feel free to reach out with questions and dream about what’s possible in your context!

But...is it any good?

Fall of 2020, Earshot got to join the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of the UCC for their (unusually great) online Annual Meeting. Rebecca spoke during the week’s opening, led a workshop, and coached seven tellers who told their stories as part of the closing celebration. Here’s Rev. Michael Vollbrecht (Communications, KO Conference UCC), reflecting on the experience:

Rebecca's workshop & presentations during our recent annual meeting turned what is generally a "business affair" into an intimate experience that saw us shedding our masks and leaning into one another's stories, many of which we heard for the first time. We entered as professional colleagues, and left more attuned to the humanity within us. Thank you for unveiling that gift.

In spring of 2019, Earshot headed to the Pacific Northwest. Pastor Gail Rautman, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (Lynnwood, WA) had this to say:

Rebecca Anderson was the keynote speaker at a three day Bishop's Convocation for the Northwest Washington Synod of the ELCA. Not only did she present several dynamic, engaging, and oftentimes very funny sessions on the art of storytelling, she coached three pastors prior to the event to share their stories with the group as well. Rebecca is personable, energetic, and passionate about her work, inspiring the participants to incorporate more storytelling into their preaching, pastoral care, and other professional work. One participant stated that this was the best Bishop's Convocation he had attended, thanks to Rebecca's contributions to our time together. If you have the opportunity to hear Rebecca's storytelling, don't miss out! If you have the opportunity for her to engage with your particular group, she comes highly recommended by the pastors and deacons of the Pacific Northwest!

Some feedback from Rev Michael Karunas, Central Christian Church (Decatur, IL), November, 2017:

Rebecca Anderson led a fantastic 3-day storytelling workshop for our congregation which culminated in a storytelling event with 7 first-time storytellers and over 60 in attendance.  I cannot recommend her highly enough for congregations and para-church organizations interested in storytelling. 

Rebecca’s easy-going demeanor and talent for communicating things clearly not only put the 15 workshop participants at ease but enabled them to get in touch with some of the many stories that lie within them.  Her clear passion for the value of storytelling is itself inspiring, as is her ability to encourage apprehensive storytellers while simultaneously offering critical feedback gently.  A master storyteller herself, her passion for drawing out the transforming stories within us is evident in all she does.  

Workshop handout

You're probably here because you recently attended an Earshot workshop where we promised you could get additional copies of the handout. We said, "Go to the website! Go to the blog!" And maybe you've already been here, looking for it, with nothing to show for your efforts. Well, we're finally getting our act together. Here is our one-pager, the Cliffs Notes version of our workshop. Feel free to make copies, but please do let folks know where you got it.