Storytelling with Rob Kutner, Richard Walter & Orly Zeewy

On this week’s GoalChatLive, I discussed the art and craft of storytelling with authors Rob Kutner, Richard Walter, and Orly Zeewy. Rob is a humor writer, whose titles include Snot Goblins & Other Tasteless Tales; Richard (The Whole Picture, Deadpan) is also a screenwriter, consultant, and educator; and Orly’s book is Ready, Launch, Brand: The Lean Marketing Guide for Startups.

Rob, Richard, and Orly shared their takes on storytelling – for fiction, non-fiction, and business – including story structure and standing out, as well as tips and anecdotes.

About Story

• Richard: Every story is a portrait of the creator; it’s not a window, it’s a mirror
• Rob: A story is a transfer of energy; transferring our experience to an audience’s mind
• Orly: Stories are a living, breathing thing. They evoke powerful emotions and insights. When creating the story around your business, the hero is the solution (the brand); the villain is what keeps your client up at night.

What Stops People from Telling Good Stories

• Richard: People write too much. They start before the beginning and end after the end
• Rob: There is a fear sometimes that people won’t get rid of an idea because they think they won’t come up with anything better. You find what works by figuring out what doesn’t work
• Orly: People have a tendency to try to talk to everyone. You want to tell a story that will be meaningful for the person who hears it

How to Develop Your Voice

• Orly: Be authentic and so memorable someone says: Where have you been all my life?
• Rob: Try as many genres and mediums as you can until you find the right fit
• Richard: Listen to your own voice and get out of your own way. Hear it and then economize. Everything the audience sees and hears has to have a purpose: to move the story forward

Storytelling #GoalChatLive

Goals

• Rob: Pick something you are doing with a storytelling component, and start with the ending/the feeling of the ending
• Orly: Identify the villain of your client’s story (what are they struggling with) and how you are helping them
• Richard: All story is about identity. Who am I? How do I know for sure? Paint a self portrait, find our more about yourself

Final Thoughts

• Orly: Ask a lot of questions, listen more than you speak, and when you don’t know your value, ask your clients why they work with you
• Rob: A story is bridge between your mind and your heart and other people. People would rather hear a story, rather, feel a story, that hear a fact
• Richard: What we – writers – do is crazy. Stop being so sensible and rational about it. Revel in the madness

Links

• Learn more about Rob Kutner and  Snot Goblins and Other Tasteless Tales, Richard Walter and his books, and Orly Zeewy and Ready Launch Brand
• Connect with Rob Kutner, Richard Walter, and Orly Zeewy on LinkedIn
• Check out the Taste Buds with Deb podcast
• Join the Write On Online Facebook Group
• Learn more about Goals with DEB and Deb’s Goal Strategy for Event Attendees
• Get your copy of my latest book, Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals. Then join the Your Goal Guide Facebook group

What’s your favorite storytelling tip? Please share in the comments.

Next Week

Next week, we are talking about Podcasting with Jason Falls, Brian Fishbach, and Julie Fry. Join us on Monday, November 6, at 4pm PT, for #GoalChatLive.

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For more inspiration, motivation, and tips, follow @TheDEBMethod on Facebook and Instagram. And connect on LinkedIn.