In the video below, author Kurt Vonnegut, talks to an audience about storytelling.
In very plain and simple terms (while writing on a chalkboard) he shows us the not-so-easy art of storytelling.
The video looks to be from the 1970s, however, the information is relevant today.
In fact, Vonnegut speaks to the story outline that EVERY SINGLE STORY since the BEGINNING of TIME has ever used.
What I love about what he describes what he calls “the shape of stories” is that it’s simple.
He literally draws on a chalkboard in front of an audience the basic ‘shapes’ of stories. He does emphasize, like so many other great authors – he starts from the overview. The big overview comes FIRST.
He’s pretty funny and entertaining as an instructor too.
This 4 and a half minutes is well worth the watch if you do any type of writing at all. Have a look.
It’s true that storytelling is the most ancient form of entertainment and Kurt Vonnegut is an expert at this form.
A good story well told lives inside a person. A good story changes our psyches.
This type of storytelling is as old as the hills. It’s the reason troubadours sang for their suppers and Shakespeare still lives on.
The video is only a few minutes long. Have a look and see what you think. Whatever your thoughts on it I’d love to hear them. Feel free to leave a comment below.
I can (practically) guarantee you it will help your own storytelling abilities.
Kurt Vonnegut is a renown novelist who’s books include; Slaughterhouse Five and Breakfast of Champions.
Wishing you much imagination…
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