Storytelling Dialogues
In Minnesota, there is a 4-letter word that many do not like to hear: S-N-O-W. While it may cause trouble on the highways and give us all cabin fever by February, sometimes it’s the perfect excuse to curl up on the couch, wrap yourself in a warm blanket, and delve into a good book.
A book that captivates you so entirely that you can’t put it down, staying up all night to read every last word.
A book whose characters are so genuine and likeable that you cry sympathetic tears when a cruel twist of fate delivers them a blow.
A book that has you on the edge of your seat with anticipation, your heartbeat speeding as the action intensifies.
A book you finish and find yourself pondering long after the last page has been turned and the cover closed.
What is it about a well-told story that captivates us so entirely that we are moved, stirred, and inspired? How is it that a storyteller can capture our attention so entirely that their narrative evokes an emotional, gut-level response from us? Why do some stories cause us to take action and do something meaningful as a result?
At our recent Firefly Dialogue, storytelling coach and author, John Capecci, shared with us just that: what our stories can do for ourselves and for others. In creating and refining our story, we have the opportunity to heal through owning our experience, discovering purpose and meaning, and empowering ourselves. Similarly, we learned how sharing our stories can increase awareness, invoke compassion, reflection, and empathy, and move our listeners or readers to action.
John began with a simple question for participants: “In just six words, why do you tell your breast cancer story?” While it may have been easy to write a sentence or two about why we tell our stories, it was quite a task to whittle these down to six key words. At Firefly, our six words became: So no woman faces breastcancer alone (yes, we cheated a bit by making “breast cancer” into one word!).
Following this, John discussed five qualities of a well-told story, leading attendees through writing exercises for each:
- A well-told story is focused. It’s strongly linked to our goals and any key messages we want to convey to our audience.
- A well-told story is pointed to the positive. It moves our listeners from empathy to action and points them to future possibilities.
- A well-told story is crafted. It’s edited to contain selected events in which emotional, evocative language activates the listener’s senses and fully engages them in the story.
- A well-told story is framed. This framing puts the story in context and helps the listener receive the story as you intend (e.g., sharing common values, a theme, a desired outcome, etc.).
- A well-told story is practiced. It’s natural, genuine, and confidently told, but allows for improvisation and creativity, too.
Feedback from guests at the Dialogues was very positive, with agreement that John was highly knowledgeable and engaging. In the words of one attendee, “The content was just what I was expecting and needed in order to get myself organized to tell my story!”
Three lucky winners at each Firefly Dialogue walked away with an autographed copy of John’s book, co-authored with Timothy Cage, Living Proof: Telling Your Story to Make a Difference. Tremendous gratitude goes to John Capecci for donating the books and sharing a wealth of information with Firefly volunteers, participants, and guests. A heartfelt thank you also goes to The Randy Shaver Cancer and Community Fund for their generous financial donation, allowing us to present the Dialogues and bring women together for such a meaningful experience.
May you find healing and meaning in your unique story!
For more information on John Capecci and his work, visit his website at www.capeccicom.com.
Written by Amy Tix, Firefly Staffer and breast cancer survivor.
This Is Living With Cancer