Storytelling is top of mind for many of us these days – fundraisers and communicators alike. Today I thought I’d give you the inside scoop on what storytelling resources I use for my work with clients. There is a vast amount of information out there on storytelling and it can be hard to wade through it all to determine what’s actually valuable and what isn’t. I hope these 5 resources will be helpful as you embark on some storytelling adventures in 2013!
No Brochures: Digital Storytelling for Non-profits – a gem of a discussion at SXSW in 2012 on stories across mediums
Rory Sutherland: Life Lessons from an Ad Man – One of my all time favourite TED talks on creating intangible value and shifting people’s perspective. This talk reminds me that as a non-profits, it our job to change the community’s perspective about the mission and vision we serve. Creativity is a necessity in our work.
Storytelling and the Art of Email Writing – a great little e-book that I often reference.
How To Write Weapons Grade Copy via Copyblogger – a very entertaining piece chalk full of advice on using stories in marketing materials.
How To Tell A Story: A person, a door, a bed and a home – Katya breaks down the 4 questions we must always answer through stories
Okay, I lied. There actually two other resources I really like a lot, so that brings us to a total of 7 killer resources. Check out these two books. You won’t be disappointed!
Wired for Story: The Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence – arguably one of the BEST books on writing. This one rarely makes it back on to my shelf as I reference it quite often. Full of lots of practical tips to make your storytelling shine! Definitely a great one to have on hand in your department.
The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human – if you’ve ever doubted that you’re capable of telling stories, this book WILL overturn that myth. It’s a great exploration of how and why stories are the most natural form of communication for us. Great book if you’re gearing up for a new project and need a little extra inspiration!
What storytelling resources do you always come back to? Leave a comment below with a link!
Enjoy!