Storytelling

This online presentation by Jude Treder-Wolff describes why story have such power to shape our thinking and sense of self, and shares techniques anyone can use to discover the beginning, middle and end of personal transformations that happen over the course of life. Whether we are looking at big, life-changing events or the ones that take place in our every day, these techniques are ways to unlock their meaning with creativity and depth. Each person's life is a book that is still being written, and in each chapter are scenes. Stories that bring them to life can describe our struggle, define our growth and communicate ideas that are both personal and universal. This presentation was produced by the Whole Being Institute in partnership with the Marlene Myerson Jewish Community Center in NYC.

Storytelling is an essential professional skill.

Stories connect to the heart and mind of a listener in a way that makes them memorable and meaningful. The art and craft of story is especially vital now, in a world with so many competing demands for attention at the same time there is so much knowledge to communicate. Well-crafted stories can frame and explain important concepts as well as add color, imagination and emotional significance that deeply engage the listener. and maximize your message.

Lifestage provides workshops in storytelling for professional presentations or talks, for the classroom and for the stage. We also offer training in Post-Traumatic Growth Through Storytelling for therapists, coaches and others who work with people recovering from trauma.

• Maximizing Your Message Through Storytelling Workshops

• Storytelling For Professional Presentations Workshops

• Storytelling For Performance Classes

• Individual Coaching: Develop Your Story and Craft Your Presentation

1:1 Story Development coaching: $80/hour Or
4-session series of 1:1 coaching sessions: $275 to be scheduled as needed

contact Jude Treder-Wolff lifestageco@gmail.com

This bi-weekly group is an opportunity to share a draft of a story you are working on for a performance, to include in a presentation or talk, or just to have a story about an important experience ready to go when you need to shine. The focus is on radical support for the person sharing their work, discussion of storytelling principles and techniques that can benefit everyone, an opportunity to practice different drafts of a story and to learn from listening to others’ work.

Jude Treder-Wolff interview about Transformative Storytelling on “Morning Moments With Maiai” podcast

Authenticity is what makes storytelling the unique art form that it is.

• The power of the story is in the struggle.
  If you are telling about winning a race, the heart of the story is in all the reason success was unlikely, how those obstacles were expressed and how they were overcome. If you tell about a failure or heartbreak, the heart of the story is in coming to terms with this and how you are changed by it.

• Create mental images for the listener through detail and color.
  Think of your story as made up of two elements: the forward motion of the narrative (this happened, then this, then this, etc.) and the color (everything else, including descriptions, sounds, smells, and emotions). Make sure you include both!

• Take the listener through an emotional experience.
  Share your internal thoughts and feelings as well as the events in the story.

• Open with a scene to focus attention on a specific moment in time that sets the stakes of the story.

• Create scenes with dialogue between you and other characters in the story.
  The audience will follow the narrative best if there are enough scenes with emotion and character to balance out the descriptive parts that connect them. Example: “I see my sister looking at me with a look of horror on her face, and I say ‘it’s this outfit, isn’t it. You can tell me the truth. I look like a cake topper in this dress.’ And she says ‘you look like a cake topper in that dress.’ And I say ‘why would you say something so mean????”

• Craft the story by deciding what the climax will be and working back from that.
  What is the emotional turning point, shift or transformation that occurs? If the most powerful moment in the story is finally approaching a crush for a first date and being rewarded with a “yes” build the story so we not only care deeply about the stakes but cannot see ahead to the outcome. Every beat of a story is compelling if we are emotionally engaged and care about the stakes.