Coloring Outside the Lines
Information, life lessons, history, and folktales have all been passed down through storytelling. Stories have been a part of our world since the beginning of time. The art of telling a story is like adding color to the outline of a butterfly. The outline gives the reader or listener the basic fact of what is there but the colors enhance the drawing to bring emotion, depth, and interest to the sketch.
A story has the power behind it to shape emotions and reactions. Whether you are a parent imparting the importance of safety when crossing the street or the CEO of a company inspiring your employees to get behind a new product, storytelling will enhance the emotional connection for the listener.
Details such as the setting and the personality of a character will help your listeners relate to the information being relayed. The basic storytelling structure still needs a beginning, a middle, and an end. When a storyteller can engage their reader into feeling part of the action, magic happens.
Sharing a story with a group of young children necessitates the encouragement of interaction on multiple levels. Incorporating hand gestures or repeating a common phrase from a story can help the little ones feel involved, and they will connect better not only with the story but those around them.
Teaching a classroom of high school students requires a different level of engagement. They need the opportunity to use creativity in sharing their voice. Older students love to “color outside the lines” as much as toddlers learning to use crayons; it just shows up in a different form of expression.
Inspiring patrons to choose your book store over another comes down marketing. How does one grow their market? Storytelling! It really is all about the customer…do they feel a part of your business’s story? If you can offer services and products that allow them to participate in your growth, you will see your business expand.
Storytelling truly is magical! If you believe in your story, and have the ability to imprint it on the hearts and minds of your readers, it will come to life. Once a story comes to life, “feed the fire” and watch the flames spark more creativity and engage more listeners.