How to Preserve Memory Through Storytelling in 7 Ways?
Everyone likes a good story. This is why books and movies are so famous – we love to get lost in a narrative. And this is also the reason why storytelling is such an effective tool for memory retention. Storytelling has long allowed people to derive deeper meanings from their lives and make sense of the world since the beginning of human history.
Want to learn more about storytelling? Start by downloading the first chapter of The Storytelling Series for Small Businesses.
Although the delivery methods and techniques of good storytelling may have changed since the beginning, the power of storytelling to provoke a deeper sense of connection has stayed consistent. This article is all about the power of storytelling and how you can use it to preserve memory.
7 Effective Ways to Preserve Memory Through Storytelling
Humans are wired to love great stories. This is why we are drawn to books, movies, and even advertisements. When it comes to retaining information, nothing certainly beats a good story. That’s why you need to start using storytelling more effectively to increase memory preservation. Here are some top 7 ways to preserve memory through storytelling
1. Keep it simple
There are several ways to structure a story, but a good story is easy to follow. That’s why it is necessary to keep things simple while you craft a narrative for your memory. Remember, you are not trying to write a novel. Instead, you are trying to communicate a message as concisely and effectively as possible.
Basically, a story must have three ingredients – a beginning, a middle, and an end. However, on a more granular level, your story should have a few basic key elements including:
- A beginning
- A middle
- An end
- A conflict
- A resolution
Just hit on these key elements and you will be on the right track. Also, remember to keep things clear and concise to grab the attention of your audience so that they don’t get lost along the way.
2. Choose a clear central message
Your story should progress gradually toward the central moral or message. While crafting a story, you must have a definite idea of what you are building toward. When a story has strong moral components, you’ll want to guide the audience to its message.
In the case of a funny story, you can build toward a twist that may leave your audience in stitches. On the other hand, if you are telling an engaging story, you can increase suspense and dramatic tension right up until the climax of your memory.
Regardless of what type of story or memory it is, one of the most important things is to be quite clear and concise on the central theme that you are building your story around – or that is your memory around.
3. Engage your audience
Great storytelling, especially to preserve memory, requires you to connect with your audience. But more importantly, how you captivate your audience depends much upon the storytelling mode you use. For example, if you are reading a story in front of your audience, you may need to bring your gaze off the page to make eye contact with your audience every so often.
On the other hand, if you choose to record a podcast, it depends upon the expressiveness of your voice, tone, and your ability to convey emotions. However you choose to tell the story, make sure to consider the age and interests of your audience.
4. Narrow down the scope of your story
In memory preservation, you’re actually telling a true story, and it can be difficult to choose the main yet important points that you should include. Many people mess it up by including every detail which ends up updating their audience with facts that ultimately dilute the central arc of the story.
To avoid this, choose a clear starting and end to your story. Next, write the key events of the plot as bullet points between the beginning and the end. Trust that your audience will follow your story and try not to overwhelm them with tangential points and unnecessary backstories.
5. Embrace the conflict
While telling a story, you can’t just shy away from the conflict. Even great storytellers craft narratives that contain all types of obstacles as well as hardships strewn in the path of protagonists. The audiences have to watch the main characters struggling to achieve their goals, to be satisfied with a happy ending. Also, the main characters facing cruelty are okay.
In fact, the stories having conflicts are more compelling than those that don’t. This is why you must embrace the conflict and drama in your memories to become a better storyteller and enhance the retention of your audience.
6. Stories are memorable
Remember those bedtime stories from childhood? Even if it has been years since you’ve recalled them, probably you can still recite them today. How? That’s because stories are highly memorable. Even facts and figures can’t beat them in memorability.
And when it comes to preserving memories through storytelling, being memorable is the key. After all, you want your audiences to remember your memory – and the best way to do so is through a well-told story.
7. Target the emotions of audiences
Stories can evoke all sorts of emotions – from happiness to sadness and from anger to fear. And these emotions make stories so powerful that they stay with us long after we have heard them. It’s these emotions that even make stories influence our behavior. So, if you want your audience to remember a memory, try telling them a story that will inspire them by touching their hearts.
Conclusion on How to Preserve Memory Through Storytelling in 7 Ways?
Storytelling is a great way to communicate a vision, define culture and values, teach important lessons, or explain who you are and what you believe. Especially, when it comes to preserving memories, there’s no denying that storytelling is a powerful memory retention tool.
So, if you are not already using it, now is the time to start. You can use the ways in this article to get started and see how it can help preserve your memories.
Want to learn more about storytelling? Start by downloading the first chapter of The Storytelling Series for Small Businesses.
