Supercharge Your Storytelling

Beyond the sharing of information, storytelling has the power to create empathy, provoke self-reflection, build a sense of belonging, inspire change, and spur us to act. Compelling stories can amplify the lived experiences and achievements of underrepresented voices in ways that build a more profound sense of connection between us. Supercharge your storytelling by considering the following:

Hook your reader’s interest

Your first sentence needs to grab your reader’s attention to keep them invested in learning about what happens next. Consider opening your narrative in the middle of things with your subject expressing their thoughts or describing an incident. You can fill in details about the context or their experiences as you flesh out your story.

Keep people front and center

Balance the need for stating facts with seeking opportunities to help people talk about their work, projects, and experiences in their own voices. Keep the focus on how they overcame challenges, faced conflicts, seized opportunities, or made discoveries. People respond to people.

Give the reader a reason to care 

The more your readers can relate to your subject’s experiences and subject matter, the more engaged in your story they are likely to become. As the writer, you help answer the question, “Why does this story matter?”  

Look to amplify diverse voices  

Seek opportunities to write about how others have utilized their lived experiences to inform their work at Yale. Ensure authenticity, especially when the story is not your own, by using your subject’s voice and point of view.
Royce K. Young Wolf moves beyond her boarding school experience, which discouraged the exploration of her Native cultural practices and language, to a new role at Yale that ensures that Native and Indigenous voices and perspectives are shared and preserved throughout Yale’s collections, museums, and galleries.  

 Think about your story visually  

Show and tell. Including visual elements in your story will enrich the reader’s experience and help engage them. There could be an opportunity for an extended photo or video storytelling piece.

 Make your story memorable

What makes your story memorable and matter to your readers is the emotional core or heart of your story. Emotionally compelling stories make us more empathic; they can change our perspective, opinion, behavior, or even inspire us to act. What do you want your reader to remember?

Every story has the potential to become a belonging story.