HARNESS YOUR STORYTELLING VISION
      Practical tips for planning, capturing, and
      sharing your organization’s best stories.
                Michaela Guerin Hackner
                mhackner@forumone.com
           The Nonprofit Technology Conference
                     March 18, 2011
Michaela Guerin Hackner

Storyteller, photographer, changemaker
                @kalabird
The Visionary Process
  I. Develop Your Storytelling Vision

    II. Bringing Your Vision to Life

III. Sharing Your Vision With the World
Develop Your Storytelling Vision
“Being true to yourself involves showing and sharing emotion. The
  spirit that motivates most great storytellers is ‘I want you to feel
  what I feel,’ and the effective narrative is designed to make this
 happen. That’s how the information is bound to the experience and
           That’
                                 unforgettable.”
                       rendered unforgettable
                             - Peter Guber
Connections Catalyze Change
“Stories link one person’s heart to another. Values, beliefs, and
norms become intertwined. When this happens, your idea can
        more readily manifest as reality in their minds.”
                       - Nancy Duarte
Prerequisites
1. Organizational Backing – leaders share your vision
2. Empower others to own your vision
–   Training
–   Tools
–   Inspiration
3. Make investments in storytelling
–   Hire staff, conduct audience research, buy equipment (camera,
    video camera, audio recorder, lots of paper and pens!)
Where Are You Focusing Your Message?
  Who are your audiences? Prioritize 3 or less.
What Does Your Audience Want?
People Come to the Web to Consume
Identify what your audience is looking for, and make sure it’s ready and available:

                                      Read
                                   Download
                                       Buy
                                     Listen
                                     Watch
                                     Update
                                      Email
MEDIA Come to YOUR Website to Consume
Plan Your Stories Around Your Content
Leverage Universal Themes
                                                     Love
                                                    Death
                                                  New life
                                      The bond of family / relationships
                                                    Power
                                                 Loneliness
                                                  Surprise
                                                    Hope
                                                 Harmony
                                                   Balance
                                                   Beauty
                                                Old vs. new
                                              Past vs. Present

* Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
What Are You Trying To Communicate?
                               Choose 1-2 messages max

        message:
Primary message
The single most important thing you want the user to learn. (this
  message supports all of your business objectives).

          message:
Secondary message
  A group of key messages that extrapolate the primary message.




Adapted from Content Strategy by Kristina Halvorsen
What Can I Do?
          Give them something to do on each page!
  Your vision will inspire others. Give them a chance to participate.

• Choose stories that will get your message out and solicit action.

• Choose stories that have the potential to go viral. Ask yourself, do I
  want to tell something about this?

• Pick stories that you can’t get out of your mind and that touch your
  heart.
What Do You Want People To Do Once Inspired?
                             Your ultimate goal for your story
                                           (hint, this should include an action!)

                                                        Donate
                                                       Subscribe
                                                       Volunteer
                                                         Share
                                                      Get involved
                                                      Make a call
                                                       Comment

Adapted from Content Strategy by Kristina Halvorsen
Why Should They Take Action?
   Make the reward worth it
   How will they personally benefit from adopting your idea? What’s
   in it for them materially or emotionally?

   Benefit to sphere
   How will this help their sphere of influence such as friends, peers,
   students, direct reports? How can they use it to their benefit with
   those they influence?

   Benefit to mankind
   How will this help the humans or the planet?
Adapted from Resonate by Nancy Duarte
Bringing Your Vision To Life
Words Aren’t the Only Story
        “At church on the morning of January 28, 2011 the pastor joked
     that ‘Thanks to the Egyptian government we will not be interrupted
        by cell phones.’ But on that Friday despite the cutoff of Internet,
        cell phones and SMS messages feeding into Twitter, the largest
         demonstrations blocked downtown Cairo causing the police to
       close the square. While phones came back on Saturday (after the
      demonstrations) Internet and SMS were down for a week. Still, the
       demonstrations continued to grow daily. Social media may have
        been the trigger that initially got things going, but the gun was
      already loaded with social and economic discontent, and once the
      initial shot was fired, the demonstrations took a life of their own.”


http://www.irex.org/news/egypt-facebook-twitter-and-old-fashioned-organizing
http://www.irex.org/news/egypt-facebook-twitter-and-old-fashioned-organizing
Tools – the Easy Part
“Go For Bear”
• Plan a shot list in advance
• Wear comfortable clothing
• Pack for any conditions
• Charge all your batteries ahead of
  time
• Bring adequate memory cards /
  film
Create a Safe Space
• Put your subject at ease

• Put down your camera first and LISTEN

• Use the camera to gain access, but also don’t try to rush it.
Making the Shot




* Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
Capture Details




                                                         Photograph: lizainge.co.uk
* Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
Pick a “Hook”




                                                                Photograph: Steve McCurry



* Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
Wait For the Shot
     “The best photographs contain a number of elements that had to come together at that
         1/60th of a second to make the image. It’s rare that you won’t have to wait for it.”




* Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
Mining the Shot




* Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
Make it Interesting
     • Show scale. Size is relative. Pull in details that give a sense of
          scale and tell a larger story.
     •    Be sure you have a subject.
     •    Include a foreground – put something interesting in the
          foreground that helps tell the story.
     •    Check your horizon and make sure it’s straight.
     •    Keep an eye out for distracting elements and remove them.
     •    Know where the light is coming from and take advantage of it.
     •    Don’t forget to include emotion.
* Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
.
Use Techniques to Draw the Eye In
                                                        Large elements
                                                        Light elements
                                                         Warm colors
                                                      Focused elements
                                                      Isolated elements
                                                         High contrast
                                                         Oblique lines
                                                    Recognizable elements
                                                    Human / alive elements



* Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
.
Don’t Show Your Full Hand
                                                    .




* Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
Sharing Your Vision With the World
You Can Start Small and Build
Get Your Stories Out There
Don’t Bury Them On Your Website
Plan Your Social Media Around Your Stories
Resources
Storytelling Reading
            Resonate
          by Nancy Duarte

       Within the Frame
         by David DuChemin

        Content Strategy
        by Kristina Halvorson

Storytelling for User Experience,
by Whitney Quesenberry & Kevin Brooks

    Understanding Exposure
          by Bryan Peterson
Questions?
Michaela Guerin Hackner
 mhackner@forumone.com
      703.894.4347
       @Kalabird
      #11NTCStory

Harnessing storytelling vision

  • 1.
    HARNESS YOUR STORYTELLINGVISION Practical tips for planning, capturing, and sharing your organization’s best stories. Michaela Guerin Hackner mhackner@forumone.com The Nonprofit Technology Conference March 18, 2011
  • 2.
    Michaela Guerin Hackner Storyteller,photographer, changemaker @kalabird
  • 3.
    The Visionary Process I. Develop Your Storytelling Vision II. Bringing Your Vision to Life III. Sharing Your Vision With the World
  • 4.
    Develop Your StorytellingVision “Being true to yourself involves showing and sharing emotion. The spirit that motivates most great storytellers is ‘I want you to feel what I feel,’ and the effective narrative is designed to make this happen. That’s how the information is bound to the experience and That’ unforgettable.” rendered unforgettable - Peter Guber
  • 6.
    Connections Catalyze Change “Storieslink one person’s heart to another. Values, beliefs, and norms become intertwined. When this happens, your idea can more readily manifest as reality in their minds.” - Nancy Duarte
  • 7.
    Prerequisites 1. Organizational Backing– leaders share your vision 2. Empower others to own your vision – Training – Tools – Inspiration 3. Make investments in storytelling – Hire staff, conduct audience research, buy equipment (camera, video camera, audio recorder, lots of paper and pens!)
  • 9.
    Where Are YouFocusing Your Message? Who are your audiences? Prioritize 3 or less.
  • 10.
    What Does YourAudience Want?
  • 11.
    People Come tothe Web to Consume Identify what your audience is looking for, and make sure it’s ready and available: Read Download Buy Listen Watch Update Email
  • 12.
    MEDIA Come toYOUR Website to Consume
  • 13.
    Plan Your StoriesAround Your Content
  • 14.
    Leverage Universal Themes Love Death New life The bond of family / relationships Power Loneliness Surprise Hope Harmony Balance Beauty Old vs. new Past vs. Present * Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
  • 15.
    What Are YouTrying To Communicate? Choose 1-2 messages max message: Primary message The single most important thing you want the user to learn. (this message supports all of your business objectives). message: Secondary message A group of key messages that extrapolate the primary message. Adapted from Content Strategy by Kristina Halvorsen
  • 16.
    What Can IDo? Give them something to do on each page! Your vision will inspire others. Give them a chance to participate. • Choose stories that will get your message out and solicit action. • Choose stories that have the potential to go viral. Ask yourself, do I want to tell something about this? • Pick stories that you can’t get out of your mind and that touch your heart.
  • 17.
    What Do YouWant People To Do Once Inspired? Your ultimate goal for your story (hint, this should include an action!) Donate Subscribe Volunteer Share Get involved Make a call Comment Adapted from Content Strategy by Kristina Halvorsen
  • 18.
    Why Should TheyTake Action? Make the reward worth it How will they personally benefit from adopting your idea? What’s in it for them materially or emotionally? Benefit to sphere How will this help their sphere of influence such as friends, peers, students, direct reports? How can they use it to their benefit with those they influence? Benefit to mankind How will this help the humans or the planet? Adapted from Resonate by Nancy Duarte
  • 20.
  • 22.
    Words Aren’t theOnly Story “At church on the morning of January 28, 2011 the pastor joked that ‘Thanks to the Egyptian government we will not be interrupted by cell phones.’ But on that Friday despite the cutoff of Internet, cell phones and SMS messages feeding into Twitter, the largest demonstrations blocked downtown Cairo causing the police to close the square. While phones came back on Saturday (after the demonstrations) Internet and SMS were down for a week. Still, the demonstrations continued to grow daily. Social media may have been the trigger that initially got things going, but the gun was already loaded with social and economic discontent, and once the initial shot was fired, the demonstrations took a life of their own.” http://www.irex.org/news/egypt-facebook-twitter-and-old-fashioned-organizing
  • 23.
  • 24.
    Tools – theEasy Part
  • 25.
    “Go For Bear” •Plan a shot list in advance • Wear comfortable clothing • Pack for any conditions • Charge all your batteries ahead of time • Bring adequate memory cards / film
  • 26.
    Create a SafeSpace • Put your subject at ease • Put down your camera first and LISTEN • Use the camera to gain access, but also don’t try to rush it.
  • 27.
    Making the Shot *Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
  • 28.
    Capture Details Photograph: lizainge.co.uk * Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
  • 29.
    Pick a “Hook” Photograph: Steve McCurry * Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
  • 30.
    Wait For theShot “The best photographs contain a number of elements that had to come together at that 1/60th of a second to make the image. It’s rare that you won’t have to wait for it.” * Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
  • 31.
    Mining the Shot *Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
  • 32.
    Make it Interesting • Show scale. Size is relative. Pull in details that give a sense of scale and tell a larger story. • Be sure you have a subject. • Include a foreground – put something interesting in the foreground that helps tell the story. • Check your horizon and make sure it’s straight. • Keep an eye out for distracting elements and remove them. • Know where the light is coming from and take advantage of it. • Don’t forget to include emotion. * Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
  • 33.
  • 34.
    Use Techniques toDraw the Eye In Large elements Light elements Warm colors Focused elements Isolated elements High contrast Oblique lines Recognizable elements Human / alive elements * Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
  • 35.
  • 36.
    Don’t Show YourFull Hand . * Adapted from Within the Frame by David DuChemin
  • 37.
    Sharing Your VisionWith the World
  • 39.
    You Can StartSmall and Build
  • 41.
  • 42.
    Don’t Bury ThemOn Your Website
  • 43.
    Plan Your SocialMedia Around Your Stories
  • 47.
  • 48.
    Storytelling Reading Resonate by Nancy Duarte Within the Frame by David DuChemin Content Strategy by Kristina Halvorson Storytelling for User Experience, by Whitney Quesenberry & Kevin Brooks Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
  • 49.
    Questions? Michaela Guerin Hackner mhackner@forumone.com 703.894.4347 @Kalabird #11NTCStory