I learn in small increments. If I can come away with a few new things from an hour long talk, I am happy. This virtual classroom Ted talk, by Andrew Stanton, is terrific. Not too long, not too short, but with some compelling suggestions for writing our stories.
Here are my take aways:
Make the Reader Care:
- When you tell a story, build in anticipation.
- Make the reader want to know what will happen next.
- Honest conflicts create doubt in what the outcome might be and make the reader wonder how the story will end.
The Secret Sauce:
- The best stories invoke wonder.
- A strong theme is always running through a well told story.
Use What You Know:
- Capture a truth from your own experience.
Storytelling has guidelines but no hard and fast rules. When you do it right, wonder happens.