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June 2018  IN THIS ISSUE:

  • How to breathe life into your stories!

- Did you know that a story is the heart of a presentation? 
- Did you know that characters' dialogue is the heart of a story? 
- Did you know that using characters' actual words is one form of dialogue which breathes life into your stories and, in turn, enhance the success of your speeches or presentations?
 
  • Super Summer Special audios + FREE e-Book copy! 
 
 
Take advantage of a limited time offer! (deadline July 19, 2018)
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Click this link and isten to what Craig says about my book:
                              
 
 
Quotations of the month:
 
"Don't retell your stories, re-live them!" Mark Brown 1995 WCPS
 
"If you tell me, it’s an essay. If you show me, it’s a story."
 Barbara Greene
 
"Don’t say the old lady screamed; bring her on and let her scream." Mark Twain
 
Story is the heart of a presentation! Dialogue is the heart of a story!
FACTS only TELL, but SUPERB STORIES SELL because people buy into your message and are moved to action only when they are engaged both intellectually and emotionally!
 
Dialogue can be used in 3 different ways:
-  character to character
-  inner dialogue
-  audience dialogu
e
 
 
This month we'll discuss how to breathe life into your stories by using characters and their dialogue. Character to character dialogue which hypothetically brings characters in a scene and gives them voices stating their actual words.
 
When we tell stories using 3rd person narrative format by always telling stories in the past, as in: 
 
"She ran up and shouted to us that she wanted to... " or

"He told me that he was confused and wondered if he could...."  or
 
"The athletic leader trained his team by telling the guys that they needed to..."

...your speeches will become too lengthy, impersonal, sounding like an article or report  and lacking life. The result: a bored, disengaged audience!  
 
                                                      _________________
 
 
On the other hand, when we tell stories using character to character dialogue where audience hears actual words spoken by characters, as in:
 
"She ran up to us shouting: " Listen to me, I want to..." or
 
"He sadly stated: "I am so confused and wonder if  I could ..." or
 
"The athletic leader trained his team by saying: "Hey guys, we need to..."

This is the difference between the use of 3rd person narrative and 1st person dialogue.
 
 
 
 Balance narrative with dialogue in your stories
and the result will be an interested, connected, engaged audience!  
 
 
WARNING: Too much narrative is a report!!! Too much dialogue is a play!!!
 
 
HOW TO DO THIS:
 
  • create a situation/scene where relatable characters act and react with emotion and body language
  • place this scene in a specific spot on the stage
  • use speaker's or recipient's name occasionally so the audience is clear who is speaking and who is listening
  • use vocabulary normally used by the real character i.e., age appropriate, personality appropriate
  • create a slight deviation from your normal voice for character differentiation
  • uncover humour through characters' reactions to events in the scene by  shoeing their facial expressions (the visual) followed by the words (the verbal)
 
 
         *******give BEST LINES to another character NOT TO YOU!*******
 (then they won't perceive you as a guru, the source of wisdom, and be turned off by your know-it-all attitude!)
 
 
Finally, to make your point of the story to the audience, step out of the scene and talk directly to your audience in a slower lower voice, stating your brief message/lesson and call to action, or a question for them to ponder abdout the story's message.
 
 
 Using character to character dialogue is a wonderful opportunity for vocal variety and body language when demonstrating emotions with the exact words and phrases stated by characters; it's also a way to breathe life into our stories and uncover natural humour. The audience becomes mentally and emotionally involved and engaged, and buy into your message more readily! Try it, you'll like it ... AND SO WILL THEY!
 
 
Until next month, when we discuss the other 2 forms of dialogue, I wish successful speaking to you!   Wink
 
       
________________________________________________________________________
   
***** SUPER SUMMER SPECIAL ******
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“… your book is amazing! I always base my readings on getting something to use (whether consciously or unconsciously) Your book provided that in the first few pages! I have been speaking for a few years but always trying to improve… a GREAT instructional piece as well as a great reference/reminder to keep myself centered.I will use it forever! 
 
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Kathryn MacKenzie, M.Ed. DTM
Presentation Skills Instructor/Author
  Keynote Speaker/Coach

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