How do you overcome common storytelling pitfalls? I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions?

Storytelling is taking your reader on a journey. Think of your words as the vehicle, and your story as the road. The way you operate your words will ultimately give your reader the experience of journeying through that road, and you get to decide what kind of experience that is.

Stories are hyper targeted while all stories can move people to take action, storytelling isn’t a one size fits all. The most effective influencers learn to flex their narrative based on the audience’s time or their level of expertise. A story that works on the stage doesn’t work in the boardroom A story that works in the boardroom doesn’t work in a team meeting A story that works in a team meeting doesn’t work in a one-to-one conversation A story that works in one-to-one conversation doesn’t work in sales…

In my experience, it’s important to identify where your audience is coming from, and where you want to go, so that you can adequately connect these two perspectives. Your ability to bring the audience on the journey with you to a specific end goal of the story is imperative

Let's mix it up on avoiding common storytelling slips. First, understand your audience then picture it like creating a playlist for a gathering. Tune in to who you're talking to and what tunes they love. Steer clear of drowning in details and stick to the main storyline, like taking the scenic route instead of getting lost in the woods. Season your story with your unique spice. And remember, storytelling is more of a leisurely stroll than a sprint. Navigate around these traps, and your storytelling adventure becomes a breeze.

Avoid long boring technical language in sentences if not necessary to tell your story or train staff. Keep your story going and not lag in the telling.

Story telling is often very dependent on the story teller. A great story teller can make anything work, but a great story is all of the above. It does have appropriate form and structure, it creates and develops characters central to the theme and if it is well done, it is a piece of art. I see story telling as a craft, a skill set, a profession.

Surprising readers is a very effective way of attracting readers ánd keeping them engaged. So once you have your clear structure, play with it: for example, you can often place fragments of your end 'scene' before the real introduction. Present a solution(/action) before the problem(/situation) etc..

Clarity is key. Clear, concise language and structure makes your story accessible for all audiences. Your first draft shouldn't be your final draft. Keep improving upon your story, find ways to share it, and incorporate notes and feedback to improve upon it.

Story telling may not necessarily start and end in a routine manner. Today's digital era provides scope for a sharper approach. The summary or impact or the outcome of the story can be narrated first and one can bring out the detailed narrative in a flash back style.

From my perspective, storytelling is an art: not a science. There is a place for formulas and templates, but to me that's like cranking out widgets. It's widget writing--not storytelling. Stories have a beginning and an end. What’s in between is what the audience will remember. What if every pie had the same filling, or every cake was frosted in only one flavor? The best bakers are like artists and so are the best writers.

And the most effective sensory details in storytelling are sight and sound. Some research shows that text social media posts that are accompanied by visuals are eight times likely to attract an audience; than those without. The human brain is effortlessly attracted by visuals. Hence to overcome the pitfall of boring an audience, especially in NGO communications, use of infographics, photos and short videos is necessary- in fact it is mandatory.

No todos percibimos la vida de la misma manera, y eso influye también a la hora de transmitir y recibir un Storytelling, Aprender a desarrollar tu sensorialidad te permitirá dar matices a tu historia que la hagan interesante, comunicar tocando todos los sentidos al escribir, hará que llegues a conectar con más personas de una manera profunda, de una forma sincera y coherente, porque has de sentirlo primero en ti mismo y en tus experiencias. Los ejercicios de visualización de un momento, poniendo atención en todos los sentidos de nuestro cuerpo y lo que activan, te ayudarán a contar mejores historias. Te animo a probarlo y a anotar todo lo que sientas para trasladarlo después a tus Storytelling.

Storytelling is all about using words in a way to help audience actually imagine it. If it’s well described, right from visualising to imagining the actual emotion, audience will be able to picture it. When information and value is combined with a memorable experience, it’s a sign of a good storytelling skill.

Add “color” 🎨 to your story: put a mix of short lines then long ones, go detailed then go with an overview, use gestures then use body language. Think of a song 🎶 and how it’s never just the same note or the same melody over and over again. We would skip to the next track if we had to listen to a song like that. The same can be said about stories because adding “color” helps your audience follow you better, and ensures you don’t leave them behind. You don’t want to be the only one left telling and following your story!

One effective strategy we have found is the intentional use of white space on a page. In instances where you want your reader to pause, consider, reflect, etc., consider using unconventional spacing. One sentence per line (max 3-5X), using ellipses, using list formats, and one-word 'sentences.' Creating a pattern interrupt for your reader is a great way to keep your reader interested. It will help you with literary ways of sharing your tone and inflections and injecting your personality.

After 25 years of storytelling, I believe pausing, pacing, and inflection, are like super powers. *A strategically placed pause is powerful: often more powerful than words. *Pacing sets the tone. If you have to race through the script, your words are lost in a blur. Instead shorten the script so your story can breathe. *Inflection, properly used, can build suspense, or reveal a surprise. Inflection draws out emotion which draws the audience in.

I record all of my storytelling performances so I can hear when an audience laughs, reacts, or where my story is possibly falling flat or running long. Listening back to your stories allows you to note yourself and make edits for the future.

I agree with with Julia’s contribution. We can be our own best constructive critics and boosters. I used to watch/ listen to my stories over and over from different perspectives. I would watch it for pacing, inflections, timing of nat sound pops: did these elements enhance the story, or distract? Were the soundbites too long? Would they have been more powerful if they were shorter? We innately know. I may watch a certain portion I was happy with five times: isolating-why did it work? Sometimes I would cringe, and watch it several times: what went wrong? How can I do better? Did the story flow smoothly, engaging me: or did it drag? Either way: why? What worked? What didn’t? As our own critics, we’re honest, and we grow.

To me, the best way to avoid storytelling pitfalls is to strive to be unique. Storytelling is an art, not a science. What makes your topic fascinating? Find it, share it, as only you can.

To be authentic, one should write with your heart to share their stories and it will be naturally powerful as the readers are able to feel it!

Overcoming common storytelling pitfalls: 🕳️ Lack of Focus: Define the core message. Stick to it without meandering. 👥 Disconnected Audience: Engage directly; ask questions or use relatable anecdotes. 📜 Over-Complexity: Simplify. Ensure concepts are easily digestible. 🔄 Monotony: Vary pacing, tone, and include compelling visuals or anecdotes. 🌐 Lack of Context: Set the scene and give background where necessary. ❌ Being Inauthentic: Always remain genuine. Authenticity resonates. 📏 Too Long/Short: Tailor content length for audience attention span. 🚫 Ignoring Feedback: Actively seek and apply audience feedback for improvement. Remember, these are humans with unique emotions and attention spans.

Add emotions simply without saying. Example : ❌“My boss was extremely pleased.” ✓“My boss came up to me and patted me on my back with a big smile on his face.” ❌ "Sheela was very surprised with the results.” ✓ "Sheela stood there with eyebrows raised and mouth wide open.” Hope it helps