The Basics

What is Storytelling?

Storytelling is an art form that doesn't get enough recognition. Poets, writers, actors, comedians, oral historians, motivational speakers, and journalists around the world are reviving this art form to cultivate influence and affect positive change.

Why? Because stories are powerful. What else can so easily span the ages and connect generations? That embodies history and traditions, our values and life lessons, our hopes and dreams? So, start today. Enrich the world with your story . . . with a little help from Evoca.

Evoca will change the world . . . of Storytelling

Evoca provides the means and the medium to enrich the world with your story.

Read this quick guide to storytelling and learn how to prepare, perform, record, store, and spread your narrative around the world! And, if you're really good, we'll show you how to make a few bucks as well.

Creating YOUR Story

Find your story

Your story must speak to you. It must inspire and captivate you. It must grab you and say, "TELL ME!"

Finding that special, personal connection to a story just might be the most difficult part in the entire storytelling process. But once it's found, everything just flows.

Here are a few places to start your search:

• The Children's Book section in libraries or bookstores. Be prepared to read many - perhaps hundreds - of stories before you find THE ONE.
• Recall stories told to you as a child
• Listen to stories told by professionals
• Reflect upon small moments of realization in your life

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Memorizing your story can get you into DEEP trouble. If you memorize something, you're delivery won't be communication, but it's ugly step-sister: recitation.

Basically, the problem with memorization is that it doesn't give you room to feel and interpret your story. And heaven forbid you get nervous and forget.

Our solution: KNOW THY STORY

• Push on through the plot again and again (by reading or rehearsing) until you are familiar with its "voice."
• Focus on each section until the story is being told in YOUR voice.
• Eventually, the story will become part of you - and its telling will become as simple as downloading podcasts (you do that, right?).

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Establishing "Truth"

Most stories convey a certain lesson. But when preparing your story, remember that a lesson shouldn't require loads of explanation.

• A proper delivery can transform flat, standoffish, "blah" advice into vibrant, inspirational, mountain-moving lessons that your listener will remember forever.
• Clothe your truth in colorful narrative - your listener is much more likely to invite a dressed man into his house than a naked one.

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Smooth Lift-off

Think of your introduction like the frame of a beautiful piece of artwork: it draws people in and provides a focus without people realizing it's even there.

Your introduction needs to efficiently grab your audience:

• Take the time to craft something creative and enticing - anything unexpected is always a great idea.
• Clichéd introductions, such as "once upon a time," "the name of my story is," "I heard this story years ago when," "now boys and girls," are recipes for boredom.
• This is no time to wing it!

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Smooth Landing

A fabulous story will take a turn for disaster if you don't know how to end it. DO NOT just keep talking, prolonging the inevitable crash landing, hoping the perfect ending will just pop into your head. Instead, know how your story will end. Craft a smooth, meaningful ending that will bring listeners back from the land of their imaginations and into the real world.

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411 on Freestyle

Some people are great ramblers - natural storytellers who can deliver a story on the spot and it's perfect.

But most of us are not. Most of us need to be very, very prepared.

It's always a good idea to know the ins and outs of your plot and the eccentricities of your characters (things that make them come alive!) in order to effectively communicate your message to others.

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Be Sense-full

• Take time to embellish the details
• Animate your story with feeling, tastes, sounds, sights, and smells and make it a participatory experience. Incorporating the senses can be a very powerful tool - especially because they're often linked to other memories and emotions.
• Communicate atmosphere, communicate feeling, communicate the little things that add LIFE to your story.

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From Speech to Song

With storytelling - and especially with Evoca - your voice is an instrument that you must master. Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo said that he did not "make" the sculpture but rather "liberated it" from the stone. Apply the same concept to storytelling: don't speak - communicate.

Here's a few pointers:

• Omit (needless) words. Be succinct and chose words carefully.
• Pausing. Moments of silence give your listener time to participate, to think, and to process. When properly timed, pauses can convey emotion more than any other combination of words.
• Pacing. Your story needs rhythm. Proper pacing can engender excitement, calm people down, and create the mood.
• Tone. Your tone of voice will make or break your power to captivate and influence.
  • If your tone communicates arrogance, anxiety, or "I know my story isn't that great," people are likely to put up walls.
  • If your tone communicates affected, theatrical, or "I'm trying too hard," you will come across as fake or needy, and people won't be able to relate.
  • The best thing to do is this: DON'T THINK. Dive into your story, and let it consume your mind and body. From there, the proper tone will flow naturally.

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Evoca + Storytelling

5 easy steps to Storytelling with Evoca

• Set up. Go to "My Account" and create an album specifically for your stories
• Record.Capture your story with your digital voice recorder
• Upload. Click the "upload a recording" link on your home page.
• Organize. Tag your recording with key words that capture the essence of your story
• Share. Go to "My Account" and create a group for your story. Invite other people to listen or make your group public so all the world can enjoy your wonderful tale. By creating a group, people can subscribe to it and be notified each time you add a story.

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Ready to sell?

With Evoca, you can see how many people have visited your group and listened to your story. If you're a professional storyteller or just a popular novice looking to make a few extra bucks, you can charge members to listen to your stories. All you have to do is specify the price in your recording's settings..

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