10 Fundamental Laws of Storytelling

10 Fundamental Laws of Storytelling2010 Grinspoon Institute Annual Conference

November 21, 2010

* Thanks to Andy Goodman for these rules

Panelists – Thank You!

Rabbi Ron Klotz Director URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute

Jodi Sperling Director Camp Wise/Mandel JCC of Cleveland

Debbie Sussman Director Camp Yavneh

Rabbi Loren Sykes Director Camp Ramah in Wisconsin

Molly Wernick Educational Director Habonim Dror Camp Galil

10 Fundamental Laws of Storytelling

1. Stories are about people.2. The people in your story have to want something.3. Stories need to be fixed in time and space.4. Let your characters speak for themselves.5. Audiences bore easily.6. Stories speak the audience’s language.7. Stories stir up emotions.8. Stories don’t tell: they show.9. Stories have at least one “moment of truth.” 10.Stories have clear meaning.

Stories are about people.

The people in your story have to want something.

Stories need to be fixed in time and space.

Let your characters speak for themselves.Camp changed me…

I learned how to be a leader at camp.

When I first saw my wife, we were singing

my favorite camp song

One

tim

e, a

t Je

wis

h su

mm

er

cam

p…

As a counselor, I wanted to share everything I learned

from MY counselor!

The sun felt warm as we started on

our journey…

The smell of pine and warm embers always brings me

back to camp.

Audiences bore easily.

Stories speak the audience’s language.

Stories stir up emotions.

Stories don’t tell: they show.

Stories have at least one “moment of truth.”

Stories have clear meaning.