Tell a Story

Whenever I am asked to speak, I tell a story.

Sometimes it’s my story of how I overcame a devastating diagnosis and poured my disappointment and creativity into writing books. Other times, I share the inspiration for my books, especially the backstory of writing The Text. Even more, I talk about the book’s story, only instead of using the character names, I use “you” to draw in the audience. I NEVER read the back cover of a book! People can read the back cover themselves. What they can’t read is what it would be like to be in the story.

While speaking and storytelling comes as natural to me as breathing, I’m amazed at how many professionals are terrified of public speaking. Although speaking takes practice, telling a story is the best way to overcome your fears and relate to your audience. After all, the story is yours, so no one will know if you forgot a detail!

The techniques I’m about to share apply to any speaking engagement. Whether you’re speaking to corporate colleagues, charity volunteers, or ministry workers, storytelling is captivating and engaging. So, the next time you’re asked to speak instead of panicking, here are some guidelines to get you started.

Tell Your Story Every event in our lives shapes our story. Circumstances, events, and decisions mold our character. Family, friends and relationships affect our decisions, which push us in certain directions. If you think about it, every piece of our lives is masterfully woven together to form our story.

Every piece of our lives is masterfully woven together to form our story.

This is the story of why you do what you do, why you believe so strongly in what you’ve been asked to speak about. This is the story that led you to write a book, join a charity, start your own business, or form a ministry. Only you can tell your back story and you will tell it best. Sharing from the heart draws in an audience. They naturally want to know more.

Share Your Inspiration

I recently met one of my favorite authors, Charles Martin, at a book signing. I asked him what inspired him to write the Murphy Shepherd series, which tackles the tough topic of human trafficking. His answer shocked me. He personally witnessed human trafficking. The experience angered him, and he wanted to do something to help spread awareness. He turned his anger to paper and has sold millions of copies. No wonder The Water Keeper felt personal. It was. I could feel the author’s emotions on every page. I shared how The Water Keeper inspired me to get involved. This led to my involvement with a local charity called Jesse’s House, which rescues girls from human trafficking and abuse.

My frustration with current events led me to write The Text, a dystopian future of technology controlling its citizens. The warning of the book is if we continue down this path, this could be the future that awaits us. I’ve shared many times the inspiration for the young adult novel. I’ve found that once the audience understands the inspiration, they can’t help but be intrigued.

Show Your Book’s Story

As writers, we are constantly bombarded with show don’t tell. This same principle applies to speakers. I was accepted by a well-known book launching company in Atlanta and given the opportunity to speak to a large audience. I told the book’s story in a way the audience could relate. Here’s a snippet of my speech. “You wake up to a mobile outage. All cell phones have crashed. Yet somehow you receive a text message from an unknown number that you’re being watched. That night, your mom vanishes.”

By simply replacing the character’s name with “you”, the audience is instantly drawn in. They feel like they’re in the story and the story is about them. Using this technique allows you to show the story rather than tell it.

If you don’t have a published book, substitute book for a person your ministry or business has impacted. Show the impact the ministry made on his or her life. Bring their story to life by using you rather than the person’s name. It’s a powerful and effective tool.

Never be afraid…