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Volume 3, Issue 14 - 12 July 2006
Brought to you by Aneeta Sundararaj and Eric Okeke
For the online version of this newsletter, please click
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OVERVIEW OF NEWSLETTER CONTENTS ...
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Advertisement from our sponsors
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From the Editor's Desk
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StoryAsia
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Storytelling Nuts and Bolts
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Jack's Fables
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Infosynthesis
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Prompts To Tell Your Great Story
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Blow Your Own Trumpet!
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Resources For Storytellers - Articles, Blogs, Books,
Websites and so on
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from the editor's desk ...
Dear [First Name],
The person who has won an autographed copy of O Thiam Chin's
Free-Falling Man
is Tran Thi Thuy Trang. Congratulations, Tran Thi Thuy Trang!
Can you please contact O at
othiamchin@yahoo.com.sg
and he'll be more than pleased to send you a copy of his book.
We
have a new contest running; scroll down to the Subscriber
Contests to enter and possibly win a copy of God Made
Visible - Diary of a Seeker by Merlyn Swan.
Indeed, it is Merlyn who inspired a new service I offer on this
website. It caters for those who would like a web presence but
do not wish to endure the hassle of hosting and managing a
website proper. I've called it Webpages for Storytellers and
here's the link:
http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com/webpages/index.html
I've added some new articles, interviews with Mridu Kullar and
David Miskimin, a pieces from Jack's Tales, Storytelling Nuts
and Bolts and StoryAsia. I've also added more books,
more blogs and a new review.
Eric's also back but
with a change. He asked that he be given more freedom and not be
restricted to tales from Africa alone. I agreed. His new column
is called INFOSYNTEHSIS and
his aim is to synthesize stories and information for your
reading pleasure and to empower you to use storytelling to run
your business or excel in your studies.
Do
you remember what the last Prompt For Storytellers was?
It was about writing a short story which featured the themes of
mystery, sex and religion. What was your answer? Well, to find
out the answer which received an A+, scroll down to the
appropriate section.
If
you've read the prompts and you're wondering why there are two
prompts featured in this edition, the answer is because I'm
going to take a '1 Edition Break'. This means that there'll be
no newsletter in two week's time and the next edition will be
published on the 9th of August 2006. After
Snapshots!, completing a ghost
writing project, managing and marketing this website as well as
writing loads of other stuff, I'm in need of a holiday!
Speaking of Snapshots!, if
you're wondering why I've not yet sent you that separate message
about Snapshots!, the reason
is really quite funny. Everything was on schedule and excitedly,
at the end of last week, I picked up my share of the printed
fliers. Only, days later, when I was having lunch with a friend
did we both discover that the names of the authors were missing
from this flier! I panicked and wondered whether the names of
the authors had been omitted from the cover design of the book
as well. So, it was necessary to call the publishers and
everything got stalled to check this. Imagine if the book was
printed and bound but the names of the authors had been omitted.
I shudder just at the thought! So, sorry about the delay.
I have been receiving some very nice emails from many of the subscribers
about the stuff we offer on this site. I sincerely thank you all. I
would hope and request that in addition to sending me
your comments (please keep them coming as it makes my day each time I
receive an email of appreciation), please also vote for this
site/newsletter in
'The 101 Best Websites For Writers' and the other contest listed under
VOTE FOR US
...
Thank you.
Here's to your storytelling success.
Aneeta Sundararaj
editor@howtotellagreatstory.com
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WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
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If you would like to send us your feedback about
this newsletter, you can either send an email to
editor@howtotellagreatstory.com or fill in the
webform at
http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com/survey.html
VOTE FOR US
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Please nominate us for 'The 101 Best Websites For Writers'
competition by sending an email stating your comments and
nomination about this website (How To Tell A Great Story)
and this newsletter (Great
StoryTelling Network) to
writersdig@fwpubs.com with "101 Best Web sites" as the
subject.
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Support the
Great StoryTelling Network by casting a vote on
the following page:
http://www.ezinefinder.com/vote.html?pub_code=gresto
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INFOSYNTEHSIS
An interactive Corporate Storytelling
Story View Breweries: When it is difficult to say it as it is
Jacob Lawson is the General Manager (Public Sector Relations) of Story View
Breweries which makes a range of alcoholic beverages that are market leaders.
His managerial portfolio makes him responsible for relating with government
regulatory agencies and environmental bodies.
His job requires him to ensure that the company meets all statutory and
industrial regulations; in factory operations, safety and maintenance; in work
processes and environmental standards.
To read more,
please click here ...
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STORYASIA
Review or be Reviewed
Reviewing a tale is one of the best ways of learning how to tell a great story.
It imposes, on you, the discipline of writing precisely and coherently, putting
together a compelling argument while being fair and balanced in what you say.
In this piece, we’ll examine the art of writing effective reviews and some of
the pitfalls to avoid. We will restrict this piece to the art of writing review
for books, be in non-fiction or fiction. Nevertheless, some of the basic
principles mentioned herein can be applied to writing reviews for other things
like cds, films, computer games, cars and so on.
To read more,
please click here ...
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Jack's Fables
The Mole without a Hole
“He could have been born with that cap.”
One day, two moles were caught up in the government’s war on
terror, and were overheard plotting in their hole, a few yards from a sumptuous
lawn in cap wringing country*:
“He’ll flush us out with that poison, and then shoot us when
we come out.” said the first mole.
“That’s’ about it,” said the second mole, “Short this life,
isn’t it.”
“Well, why don’t we go out fighting, and ruin his lawn before
he gets us?” said the first mole, who later became known to the police as ‘Al
Molarwi.’
“I’ve a better idea. Let’s create so many tunnels just under
the lawn, as soon as he even steps on it, it will collapse and he’ll sprain his
ankle.” Said Molarwi’s accomplice, the ‘mole without a hole.’
To read more,
please click here ...
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Storytelling Nuts and Bolts
Sentenced for Life: Structure it Right
As a new writer, you may be faced with a unique struggle – you know what
you want to say, but not how to say it. The ideas are there – but not the
structure. As you become more comfortable with your craft, you will also enhance
your knowledge of the correct use of grammar in your work. It is often difficult
to learn how to use correct sentence structure in your fiction or non-fiction
writing. There are four main issues to address that will improve the quality of
your writing: non-agreement of verbs and their correlating subjects; sentence
fragments and incomplete thoughts; run-on sentences and comma splice errors; and
improper order of sentence elements.
Subject/Verb Disagreement
When you are proofreading to ascertain noun/verb disagreement issues, remove all
unnecessary elements from the sentence, leaving just the subject and predicate.
Read aloud just those words – does it sound correct to your ears? Have you used
the correct tense of verb with your noun or pronoun?
To read more,
please
click here ...
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PROMPTS TO TELL YOUR GREAT STORY
...
The shortest short story
The
student who received an A+ for writing a short story which featured
the themes of mystery, sex and religion was this:
"Good
God, I'm pregnant; I wonder who did it."
There are
two prompts for this edition:
1. Think of a person you are fond of and write a piece about this
person. What is it in this person that makes you think of him/her
fondly? What has this person done to make you happy in the past?
2. Take a photograph (the stranger the photo, the better) and write
a short story about what you see in this picture. Time yourself and
do not exceed more than 10 minutes.
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BLOW YOUR OWN TRUMPET!!
A Director's Coach With A Difference
- an interview with David Miskimin
Excerpts ...
Aneeta:
Amongst all of the clients you’ve listed you work with, the one which fascinates
me the most, naturally, are the lawyers. How do you coach lawyers?
David:
My experience is that lawyers tend to be analytical, logical and needing to be
convinced! The best way to generate evidence about coaching is through
raising awareness about what I as the coach, am noticing about that
individual. Those observations will be tested as hypothesis to begin with,
having been gathered through assessment work, perhaps a 360-degree exercise
including stakeholder interviews and several intensive coaching sessions.
If this may seem familiar, indeed its because I am building a case to present to
the coaching client. At this time I’m working with different lawyers in
two large international organisations.
To read more,
please
click here ...
The Win-win Storyteller! - an interview with Mridu Khullar
Excerpts ...
Aneeta: You and I have
something in common in that we’re both based in Asia. Do you think that this is
in any way a liability to a career in writing?
Mridu: Not at all! If
anything, it’s an asset. We’re in Asia at a great point in history. The world is
suddenly paying us a lot of attention. The western media is trying to do away
with the worn out clichés of what Asia is and isn’t, and is instead trying to
portray the realities and issues that are coming out of huge population. That, I
believe, is great news for anyone in media. Especially freelancers.
Publications worldwide want
stories in and about Asia. It’s tough to send journalists, especially
freelancers for out-of-country assignments to places they’ve never been to and
don’t know much about. We, on the other hand, are already here. We have the
necessary contacts and knowledge to not only propose topics they wouldn’t have
thought of, but can do it in a much more realistic fashion. Win-win!
To read more,
please
click here ...
If you'd like to be interviewed for this column, please
contact me at
editor howtotellagreatstory.com
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ARTICLES FOR STORYTELLERS
Storytelling - The Great Motivator of People
In a data-driven world, facts and figures are the order of the day in sales
calls, employee meetings, board rooms, and political assemblies. Traditionally,
when a person is trying to convince someone else to do something they use the
logic of benefits and features - long the sacred domain of anyone in sales.
And they are missing the boat.
What truly moves us as human beings, what prompts us into action, is emotion.
Imagination is the conduit of emotion and well-crafted storytelling carries the
imagination.
Consider this story:
You place your hand on top of your head, only to feel the sun radiate from your
scalp. Sweat trickles down your back and the once ironed shirt clings to your
sides. The pavement roasts your feet even through your thick-soled shoes. You've
been walking for a 45 minutes, trying to find the office where you are scheduled
to make a sales call. Suddenly, a swoosh of cold air swirls at your side as a
young couple comes charging out of an ice cream parlor, licking swirls of
raspberry and vanilla perched in a sugar cone…
I'll bet you're ready for some ice cream!
What engaged you was the reliving of a common experience. I didn't need to
itemize the benefits of cooling off or list the features of ice cream and this
particular store. You were drawn in by your imagination. Facts tell. Emotion
sells. You imagined how you would win over the odds of heat by taking a break
for ice cream.
We follow leaders who capture us by stories that draw us in and give us purpose
for being part of the company. We buy products when we see or read of the human
experience with that product. (Remember the Maytag Man?) And we accept the call
to action if we hear a compelling story about triumph over odds. Think about the
solicitation letters you get from non-profits. They are often stories of
individuals who suffered greatly until the non-profit's "product" allowed them
to regain a semblance of their life.
In short, crafting compelling, honest stories that resonant core values in
action is a skill worth learning by any leader, manager, sales executive, or
parent.
In his best-selling book Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles
of Screenwriting, Robert McKee, the world's best-known and most respected
screenwriting lecturer, argues that stories "fulfill a profound human need to
grasp the patterns of living-not merely as an intellectual exercise, but within
a very personal, emotional experience." Or as USC leadership guru Dr. Warren
Bennis states, "Man cannot live without story any more than he can live without
bread."
What's the point you want to make at your next meeting? Is there a story that
can be crafted to that point-not a sermon to be intoned?
Who has used your product and reported a wonderful story that came as a result
of that product? Or did you even say, "Tell me a story…"
What stories are told in the coffee room about what it is like to work where you
are? What contribution could you make to this story that could improve the
ending?
What future do you want? Create a story about it.
Remember, people are not inspired to act by reason alone. The heart holds hands
with the head.
© 2003 by Eileen McDargh. All rights reserved
_____________________________________________________________
About The Author
Eileen McDargh is an author, radio commentator, organizational development
consultant, acclaimed international speaker, and retreat facilitator. Eileen is
the author of four books and is a frequent contributor to numerous business
journals. Visit her web site
www.eileenmcdargh.com or contact her toll free at 877-477-4718;
Eileen@EileenMcDargh.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/
If you
have a comment to make about this piece or would like reprint
rights (as this piece may not be reprinted for free), please
contact Aneeta at editorhowtotellagreatstory.com
If you would like to submit your own article on storytelling,
please click here...
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BOOKCLUB
Mathrubhoomi - A nation without women
Excerpts ...
Briefly, it's
a tale opens with a man who is pacing in front of his home. He is
anxious that his wife is enduring so much as she is about to deliver
their child. When the child is eventually born, he discovers the child
is actually female and is deeply disappointed. He, thereafter, drowns
the baby.
Fast forward twenty
five years or so and in this same village, there are now no more women. The
story revolves around Ramcharan and his five sons. He’s desperate to find wives
for them. Desperate for sexual interaction, some of his sons and friends indulge
in pornography, homosexuality, bestiality and violence. If the topic is not so
tragic, it’s really very funny.
To read more, please
click here
If you would like to submit your own article on storytelling,
please click here...
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RESOURCES FOR STORYTELLERS...
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WEBPAGES FOR STORYTELLERS
Merlyn Swan:
http://www.howtotellagreatstory.com/webpages/merlynswan.html
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TELL EVERYONE ABOUT ...
How are people going to know about your great storytelling
resources [books, websites, newsletters, forums, e-books,
manuals, ideas, thoughts, tapes and so much more] if you
don't tell them? Here's your chance - Send info about your
stuff and we'll post it here for free. Please keep the
number of words to no more than 125. Send an email to
editorhowtotellagreatstory.com
with 'Tell Everyone About ...' in the subject line.
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WHAT OUR READERS ARE SAYING ...
And we can both be thankful
to Aneeta for providing yet another way of making the world smaller
through networking.
Dr. Neill Neill
Yes, one of the beautiful things about Aneeta's work is that it
brings people together.
Rosemarie Skaine
I have just ordered your e-book and read your bonus #4 Great
Storytelling Articles. WOW! did I enjoy. I heard a lot of wisdom
coming from your printed words and look forward to reading the
rest of your book. From what I've read so far, I know that I'm
in for a treat. ...
Looking forward to consulting with you (a first for me),
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READERS
WANT TO KNOW ...
Thank you for your regular newsletter. I would to know if you have
contacts or know people who have worked on story telling for
business development and corporations. Do you have any study on
dreaming as part of storytelling. Is there any University that gives
Master or PhD degree on corporate storytelling and corporate
dreaming through lifetime experience. Your feedback will be
appreciated.
firoz55@hotmail.com
If you have a
query you'd like to post to our readers, please send it to
editorhowtotellagreatstory.com
and we'll see what we can do to help you.
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