by Doug Stevenson 2002

This is the FROM THE GROUND UP issue

“Tragedy brings forth the need to create meaning – to tell new stories that can reweave the frayed ends of live into a coherent whole.”
Joan Borysenko

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THE GENESIS OF A STORY

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I'm going to share with you my process for choosing and developing a story from the ground up.

I've taken up running as a way to work out and stay in shape. It's a painful exercise. I used to pump iron at the gym and work out on the Stairmaster. That was painful too. As a matter of fact, everything I've ever done to strengthen my body and stay in shape has been painful.

Back in the early 70's, I got into Hatha Yoga at the Integral Yoga Institute in Los Angeles. My guru at that time, Swami Satchidananda had a saying, “No pain – no gain.” He was right – even doing (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson

This is the FRAME IT WITH A STORY issue

“We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything.”
Thomas Alva Edison

“Reality is a crutch for people who can't cope with drugs.”
Lily Tomlin

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ENCOUNTER THE OBSTACLE

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I was in a coaching session with a CFO, the other day. He was preparing a presentation and wanted to make it more interesting. As we talked about the presentation, it became obvious that much of what he had to communicate was rather boring. It was financial stuff, rules and regulations. There was one new regulation in particular that was causing problems for people and he wanted to make sure they understood the gravity of the situation.

“Where you can help me is with the story, Doug,” he said. “I just don't think that way. I can just tell them about the new regulation,” he continued, “but I don't think they'll really get it that way.”

He made (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson

This is the DON’T MAKE ME STOP THIS CAR Issue

“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.”
William Shakespeare

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STORY THEATER Tip of the Month – Be Pithy

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Webster’s defines “pithy” as: “having substance and point; tersely cogent – concise.” When you are making your point, be pithy. Don’t use too many words. Say just what is needed. Be pithy!

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DON’T MAKE ME STOP THIS CAR

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When you hear that phrase, can’t you just see a mom or dad sitting in the driver’s seat of a car yelling at a kid, or kids, in the back seat? I can. It’s a phrase that has become an idiom in our cultural dialogue. Another one is, “I’ll give you something to cry about,” which ranks right behind, “You just wait till your father gets home.”

Idioms are a great way to connect with your audience. Because of my playful personality, I like (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2000

Start with the destination in mind.

I often have a great beginning for a story. The words just seem to flow from my tongue and before I know it, I’m crafting it. I slip comfortably into the free flow of creativity because it feels good just to create. And then it hits me. What is this story about? How will it end? What’s the point?

Many of us have unbridled creativity inside that is like a mischievous friend calling us out to play. It doesn’t care that there are chores to be done, it just wants to play. This creativity is great, if it can be channeled to a purpose.

Channel your creativity by starting with the destination in mind. When you get an idea for a new story, immediately leap to the end. How will the story end? What are the points that this story may make? Develop an (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2003

This is the “Connect” Issue

“One of the most obvious facts about grown-ups, to a child, is that they have forgotten what it is like to be a child.”

Randall Jerrell

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CONNECT WITH YOUR PLAYFUL SPIRIT

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While standing in the baggage claim area of the Dublin Airport, I was watching a mother and her young daughter. The daughter was just getting used to running on her chubby little legs and she obviously couldn't get enough of it. She'd run one way and then the other defying the laws of gravity with each wobbly step until the inevitable happened and down she went. After ten seconds of tears, she was up and at it again. The joy on her face lit up the entire area. Everyone watching this little ball of energy had a smile on their face.

Did you ever notice how enjoyable it is to watch someone who's having fun? It's (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2000

Story Theater Tip of the Month: TIMING

As a coach, one of the most gratifying aspects of what I do is to help people with their comedic timing. For natural comedians, timing is an instinctive ability to know when to pause and for exactly how long. For them, timing is like the syncopation of music. At its best, comedic timing is the interplay of inflection, gesture, pacing, attitude and rhythm. It’s like jazz with words.

When I am coaching a student, I may work on their timing of a phrase or sequence over and over until the student feels the rhythm of the timing. It is impossible to do on paper.

There is, however, something that you can do to improve your comedic timing and it’s a lot of fun: Rent comedy concert videos and study them three ways.

First, watch the video all the way through just for fun. Don’t (Continue Reading…)

Five Criteria for Choosing a Mentor

by Doug Stevenson 2004
Story Theater Retreat graduate, author of Parent as Coach

“A coach is not just a cheerleader, but one who helps an individual explore his or her potential and supports them in moving on to bigger and better things.”
Diana Haskins

Be careful who you listen to. There are people who will willingly and eagerly give you advice that can damage you and stifle your progress. You need to develop a filter so that you can differentiate between those who know what they are talking about and those who are trying to dump their limitations on you.

This has been brought home to me by numerous students who have attended my Story Theater Retreat. Their intention is to move to the next level of expression and power through storytelling. They have usually gone as far as they can on their own and recognize the need for coaching. (Continue Reading…)

Business as Unusual

by Doug Stevenson

HUMOR TIP OF THE MONTH – THE SHIFT

The shift is a staging technique that physically defines the punch line or laugh line (or word) thereby generating a bigger laugh. This is how it works.

Picture yourself facing straight out, front and center, to your audience. Now turn forty-five degrees to the left of center. Deliver the setup to your punch line to the people facing you on the left. After the setup and before delivering the punch line, shift your feet and hips ninety-degrees to the right. You are now facing forty-five degrees to the right of center. Now, deliver the punch line to the people on the right. It’s that simple. By physically shifting your body and your focus from one side to the other, you are separating the setup from the payoff visually and vocally. Visually, your audience sees the transition and vocally, the (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson

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WOMEN OF POWER SPREAD THEIR WINGS

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We had a great Story Theater Retreat in Colorado Springs last weekend. There were three men and three women – a nice balance of energies. Interestingly enough, two of the female participants shared a common issue. Having worked with and coached hundreds of women, I am only now beginning to grasp the scope of the problem. Although it is more pervasive in women – it is not purely a women's issue – many men deal with it in a different way. So listen up men – this applies to you too!

Many women are afraid to spread their wings. Regardless of their culture, body type or ethnicity, this pattern of behavior rears its ugly head time and again. It's as if their elbows are stitched to their sides and any large gesture involving powerful arms and shoulders immediately labels them as unprofessional. The two (Continue Reading…)

By John Cantu

This article gives you some concrete suggestions on how you can evaluate your current presentation and discover how effective your presentation’s current humor really is. If you are not totally satisfied with the effectiveness of humor in your presentations right now, chances are that your material can be slotted into one of the following three situations:

1. You have a fully developed presentation that you give on regular basis which does not change much from engagement to engagement except for minor customizing and you want to increase either the quality or quantity, or perhaps both, of the already existing humor.

2. You have one or more vignettes/stories that you believe could be improved by the addition of some humor.

3. You have one or more undeveloped ideas, topics, or concepts that you would like fleshed out into a more presentable and humorous form. In order to improve your humor quotient you (Continue Reading…)