Storytelling vs. StorySHOWING

Some times I love to hear just the voice, the simplest voice, tell a story. No embellishment so that my mind can create castles out of words.

Sometimes I love a voice to play characters. Lynn Redgrave reading Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart is extraordinary.

And on stage, when I can see the whole person, I love to see the story—not acted out, exactly, but “shown.”

Miranda Hope told her story at our Charlottesville TEDx Open Mic and we asked her to join the day-long program. Her talk is a wonderful example of StorySHOWING. Watch her use of voice, expression, and body.

When working with Dr. Jim Coan on his TEDx Talk we went back and forth on the use of slides. I was against them. He said, “But my slides will not have text! They will just be images, like a closeup on hands clasped together.” I pushed back: “Why? Any person is eminently more interesting to watch than a static image. Especially you! SHOW us the clasped hands! Show us the story!” And he did.

Talks and presentations come alive with stories and vivid examples. Next time we are giving a presentation, play with “showing” rather than telling a story. Allow for full body movement, gestures to illustrate, expressions to animate, and freeing the voice to color our stories.