I have been working in the creative industry for the last 6 months. When people ask me what I do, I invariably utter, “Producer” (because it’s written on my name card) although “Storyteller” is a label I associate better with (or want to associate myself with). Yet I feel this term has been overused and misused; many people call themselves storyteller these days in an age where anyone can become a content creator. What distinguishes one storyteller from another is therefore the quality of stories told. In other words, am I a good, average or terrible storyteller? The deciding parties are the audience and the storyteller (one without an inflated sense of self or an overly self-deprecating character). As a storyteller, I may not know which end of the trap I might fall into — I believe I hover nearer to the latter- so the audience by default becomes the most accurate indicator.
Yet how do I present a story to the audience until after it is written and produced? The only way is I must know my audience — what they think and how they feel — before I even produce my stories. My Achilles heel is generating an emotional connection between my story and my audience. I am aware of that because I find diving deep into my own emotions, and understanding how others feel, challenging at times.
Someone close to me suggested taking on a 21 days challenge, something that she did which she found useful. In these 21 days, I set myself a goal and go about accomplishing it. The best way to overcome challenges is by accepting they exist and then overcoming them (instead of head on collision). I have resolved to write a weekly journal on my emotional journey at work, play, with family etc., something that is a huge stretch for me, especially to an audience I do not know. It will get uncomfortable, I might not become used to it, but I think that’s the point. And hopefully I will be on my way to become a more proficient storyteller, one who does the hard work and also engages in the heart work.
