How to Learn More About Storytelling

Q: I want more knowledge about telling stories.  Like you explain in your podcast – the rule of three, how to open and close with the same topic, how to tell things as a story with suspension…Can you suggest a book or an article on the effective story telling?

A:  Allow me to introduce you to the three people that introduced to me the power and the structure of story Ira Glass, Doug Stevenson, and Studs Terkel

You can buy stuff from Doug Stevenson but he also has some great resource links

Ira Glass, host of NPR’s This American Life, has a four part series on You Tube that worth looking at.  I think he is the best story teller in the world.

I highly recommend that you listen to his show, This American Life on  podcast to hear excellent examples of stories. The Moth is another great resource for hearing good stories.  Of course, you could also find local story slams in your own area.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t highly recommend reading, “Working” by Studs Terkel. This is the book that made me understand the power of story.  I read it in my early 20’s and it had a HUGE impact on me. It is still my favorite book.

Good luck and link to your first story.  We’d love to read it!

There are 6 comments .

Mika —

Lisa, thank you so much for the through answer!
I listen to your podcasts whenever I’m in my pottery studio working, and i listen to this american life and the moth too! and enjoy them very much.
I agree with you on Ira glass, the only thing is that – I dont undertand how he makes this magic happens…When you explain why thing works like you did in the podcast of the three, or in that podcast when you told us to take blanc pages and write a word on each (that was Owesom!) that way you brake out the task and it make me think I cando it myself.
I approched you about reading matterial because i want to try write a blog, which is really small stories right? and i learn best from reading. so if you had written a book about that, I’d really want to purchase it!
As you dont have one yet…I’ll go check the links you gave: “Doug stevenson” and “Stud terkel”.
Thank you again for the great matterial in your podcast, and your answer,
Mika.

Reply »
Mika —

Lisa, thank you so much for the through answer!
I listen to your podcasts whenever I’m in my pottery studio working, and i listen to this american life and the moth too! and enjoy them very much.
I agree with you on Ira glass, the only thing is that – I dont undertand how he makes this magic happens…When you explain why thing works like you did in the podcast of the three, or in that podcast when you told us to take blanc pages and write a word on each (that was Owesom!) that way you brake out the task and it make me think I cando it myself.
I approched you about reading matterial because i want to try write a blog, which is really small stories right? and i learn best from reading. so if you had written a book about that, I’d really want to purchase it!
As you dont have one yet…I’ll go check the links you gave: “Doug stevenson” and “Stud terkel”.
Thank you again for the great matterial in your podcast, and your answer,
Mika.

Reply »
Thomas E Kenny —

Hello Lisa,

I’m currently getting allot of useful information from Chip Heath’s book “Made to Stick”. I especially love the sections regarding what makes urban legends stick!

Thomas Kenny

Reply »
Thomas E Kenny —

Hello Lisa,

I’m currently getting allot of useful information from Chip Heath’s book “Made to Stick”. I especially love the sections regarding what makes urban legends stick!

Thomas Kenny

Reply »
Christian Robles Ch

I’m just getting to know your work Lisa, and I find it amazing.
Will digg in more 
Chris

Reply »
Christian Robles Ch

I’m just getting to know your work Lisa, and I find it amazing.
Will digg in more 
Chris

Reply »

Leave a Reply to Christian Robles Ch

Click here to cancel reply.

Name: Email:  
Copyright Lisa B. Marshall ©2012-2016. All Rights Reserved. Photo of Lisa B. Marshall by Joan Ford Photography.