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Storytelling Structure: Nancy Duarte

    As a storyteller, I believe that I’ve usually done a good job maintaining a focus on the details that are relevant, and with my story structure. When telling a story I have usually relied on the structures that I learned in primary and secondary school. I remember studying the storytelling 5 act structure of the storytelling pyramid. Duarte (2011) recounts this storytelling technique throwing me back into my tenth-grade literature class, only to tell me that this structure does not in fact capture the hearts of audiences and inspire change! Duarte (2011) contends that the best storytelling structure involves highlighting the gap between the status quo and an alternative future while alternating between these ideas. The structure ends with a call to action. She also describes effective storytelling techniques including modeling behavior, variety, audience engagement, repetition, and metaphor (Duarte, 2011). 

Image from: https://seattlewebsearch.com/2020/09/make-more-creative-content-using-pixars-elements-of-storytelling/

    I do not claim to have ideas and visions of the future that would change the world like Steve Jobs or Martin Luther King, Jr. I see ways that I can use techniques from these wise people and  “to have a dream and make it real” (Duarte, 2011, 15:56). I am currently in the process of creating a future story for myself. This story is a vision of the future and where I’d like to see my place in it. In my story, I explore personal, professional, and lifestyle. In order to leverage the storytelling back and forth storytelling stricture, I can tell the story of what is, in regards to each element of my life followed by what could be.

    Alternating, between these two states, rather than telling the full story of what is, followed by the full story of what could be helps to raise the excitement of the audience. The modulating structure also allows me to built excitement with repetition and provides an opportunity to ensure there is variety in storytelling. I do worry that the audience and purpose of my future story are too narrow. The story of my future is very personal and salient to me, but using these techniques to tell the story in a compelling way will be entertaining, informative, and hopefully inspiring to others. 


References

Duarte, N. (2011). The secret structure of great talks. TEDxEast. https://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_duarte_the_secret_structure_of_great_talks?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare


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