Like it or not, people born on this planet have a narrative. Everyone wants to talk. Some about an event. For others, it’s a task they finished or a budding relationship. Or maybe they just ended their marriage. Whatever it is, you will find someone ready to tell you all about it! And what is the goal of each individual? It’s to tell their story.

Like it or not, we’ve got stories. Some of us have myriads of experiences, traveling to exotic places, meeting exciting people, or doing exciting things. Others don’t, feeling their experiences don’t measure up to those who’ve done the fun, adventurous stuff. But here’s what I find fascinating about these collective experiences; each person’s experience differs. To me, that’s where the fun is! Sharing those experiences helps them see that their life isn’t dull or ‘plain vanilla.’

Growing up, I didn’t think my life was all that exciting. Every other kid did the same thing as me – go to school and do my homework (sometimes). We played outside until it got dark, ate dinner after riding our bikes or playing games, and went to bed. Rinse. Repeat. Monday through Friday, five days a week. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year.

Unlike my classmates, Dad’s primary occupation was telling stories using a medium called ‘slides.’ Slides morphed into film and then video. Then Dad’s running his own video production company. But how do slides, film, and video fit into telling stories? The choice of medium was the only difference between what Dad and I did. Creative writing is my medium, whereas Dad uses images to convey his stories. He and I do the same thing – provide the vehicle to deliver a narrative. Which one works better? I don’t know, but I believe each serves its audience differently.

Storytelling was a part of me long before I learned to read. Dad said I was speaking worlds and creatures into existence, one that only existed in my imagination. Part of that was birth order, being the oldest of three boys. My younger brother, James, was 17 months younger than me. It took roughly a year for James to catch up to me. Up until then, I didn’t have anyone else to play with that could talk. Then, like it or not, James was enamored with everything his older brother did. That whole birth order thing. (By the way, there is no escape from that. As the oldest, you just deal with it.)

Learning how to read? That changed my life forever! Experiencing other people’s narratives, visiting their worlds, and hearing about their experiences. I got to do that instead of relying on my faulty imagination! Now, these tellers-of-tales would take me to visit their worlds, their creations. And some of their stuff was amazing! Others, not so much. Like an all-you-can-eat salad bar, I took what I wanted, building from their experiences while creating some of my own.

Playing with other kids gave fodder to my storytelling and imagination. Some of the most intelligent kids I knew in school weren’t smart. Not in the sense of intelligence quotient-wise. Some may have been, but I’d be willing to bet more than not that these kids had parents who kept them on task, making sure they were completing their homework. And that’s all it took to be competent in elementary school. But these same kids were the imaginative ones! These were my friends because they were dreaming of places far from our world. These were the Karens, Lauras, Lisas, Jasons, Jills, and Davids in my childhood. These same folks build the worlds you read about today. Because they had great stories!

My English teachers in school drove this point home. Be clear. Be concise. Adapt your message to your audience (okay, that part came later during high school and college, but you get the idea). It didn’t take me long to grasp the concepts of English, but also the way sentences were constructed. Through trials and so many errors, I learned how to make paragraphs work. How to clarify transitions and all kinds of other stuff that English professors and teachers know but few people care about!

Unfortunately, that means I see holes in the plot, flaws in various characters, and bad writing on sight. Clear communication, for me, means taking the time to identify who your audience is and what message you want to convey. You aren’t a good storyteller if that’s not what you do. It’s why I will turn off some television shows or refuse to watch some actors. The writing isn’t exemplary. And yeah, I guess I’m kind of a snob now. But how can you watch or read something that feels like the storyteller didn’t care enough to give it their best? A great example is the movie, ‘The Princess Bride.’ Not only did the filmmakers take the time to care enough about the characters, they specifically built the sets and costumes to fit it all: the plot, the characters, and the telling of the story!

Can you tell a story? Can you deliver the message in the right way to the right audience at the right time? If you can, good for you! Do your very best to write clear, consistent language. Do your best not to use words that everyday people won’t understand. My sister-in-law says I use 50-cent words, saying it’s difficult for her to interpret what I’m saying. I don’t use words outside my vocabulary, but when you use the word audacious daily, and your family needs a dictionary to understand that? Probably not the best use of language. Instead, I try to speak to my audience. But even I struggle with that.

If you can’t tell a story, find someone who can, someone who tells stories. Pick a medium that’s going to work for you. Chances are they’ll tell your story for you, knowing how to put all those vocabulary words they learned in school to good use.

And if they don’t want to tell your story? Ask me. I’m always looking for new material.

Have an idea for a story? Want to tell your story but don’t know where to start? Let’s talk! I can help you with that.