Go beyond the basics of news reporting
These questions are journalistic tools that can help us find stories — or condemn us to a lifetime of cranking out just-the-facts-ma’am pieces.
To do more of the former and less of the latter, shift focus. When you’re interviewing for story, Richard Zahler of The Seattle Times suggests, reframe the five W’s. Let:
- Who become character
- What become plot
- When become chronology
- Where become setting
- Why become motivation
Using this approach, “what,” for example, is transformed into questions like:
- “What happened next?”
- “What were you thinking when …?”
- “What made you say that?”
Those questions can lead beyond just the facts to fascinating anecdotes.
Master the Art of Storytelling
Stories are so effective that Og Mandino, the late author of the bestselling The Greatest Salesman in the World, says, “If you have a point, find a story.”
Master “the most powerful form of human communication” at Master the Art of Storytelling — a one- to two-day creative-writing course — to your team.
There, they’ll learn to find, develop and write stories that engage readers’ hearts and minds. They’ll help you grab attention, boost credibility, make your messages more memorable — even communicate better.
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