Storytelling and the myth gap: the American dream
Here is where storytelling gets interesting. It’s not just about writing an engaging plot. The bigger picture is about using myths. Myths play a powerful role to explain what’s going …
The simple story test: a dad, a daughter and a basketball hoop
Here’s a quick test from “Winning the Story Wars” to see if you are using the power of stories in your marketing and communications. And here’s an example of one …
Gimmickry: The fifth deadly sin of storytelling
“I love to laugh,” sang Uncle Albert in “Mary Poppins.” Laughing made Albert lose his connection with solid ground and float up to ceiling height. Albert’s laughter was infectious. Eventually …
Vanity: The first deadly sin of storytelling
We can’t tell great stories if we fall prey to the five deadly sins, said Jonah Sachs in “Winning the Story Wars.” This is the first of five posts about …
Rainbow Bend video premieres
“Restoring Rainbow Bend: Good for People and Fish” premiered last week at the annual Cedar River celebration. The video, produced by King County, features the story of the Millers, long-term …
Why your brain loves good storytelling
Here’s a link to an interesting article in the Harvard Business Review. It says that character-driven stories turn on oxytocin, a brain chemical that enhances empathy. In order to activate …
Those who tell stories rule the world
“Those who tell stories rule the world” is the title of a TEDx talk by Shane Snow, a technology journalist and self-described geek. On the TEDx stage, Snow said he …
Palliative care video wins Clarion Award
The video I produced for UW Medicine about palliative care has won a national Clarion Award from the Association for Women in Communications. “Palliative care: helping patients improve quality of …
The power of emotion: Duracell honors the underdog
Derrick Coleman has been deaf since he was three years old. This year he went to the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks–and helped win the game. Duracell’s inspiring 60-second …
Storytelling in PR
Here’s an interesting article from PR Insider about storytelling. According to the author Marilyn Fancher, “truly compelling stories always share two things: Emotional relevance and an understanding of the nature …