It’s a struggle to find episodic content that Shirin and I can watch. This is a list of programs that we’ve felt are worth watching and worth avoiding (we jumped off the train after 1-2 episodes). You’ll see the year we watched the series, not necessarily the year it was released. We list the most […]
Clyde and Shirin’s “Series to Watch and Avoid” Read More »
In March 2018, I gave my Story workshop at the Eurasia Media & Distribution Consultation in Thailand. After the session, Yuri, a brother from East Europe, asked me if I would like to hear his “storying the Gospel.” In 10 minutes he took me through an oral version of the entire story arc of Scripture.
I taught a workshop on the Four Elements of Story in Chiang Mai, Thailand last month. I borrow most of my material from my story mentor Jeremy Casper. There were a few people who questioned if the “heroes journey” structure is more of Western construct. This conversation came up again in a recent series of
Do All Cultures Share the Same Story Structure? Read More »
What is Your Final Image? (Jeremy Casper) Getting Back to the Basics I recently returned from a trip to the Middle East where I was blessed to stand before a group of eighteen students from five different countries and teach them about the art of crafting short stories. My overseas teaching experiences are rewarding beyond
What is Your Final Image? Read More »
Opportunity It has been said, “He who has the best story wins.” But in reality, “She who tells the best story wins.” She wins our attention, our interest, our loyalty and our financial investments. As Christ followers, we have the Greatest Story Ever Told, yet we do not tell the best stories. It is vital
Welcome to the world of story-writing! Everyone has a great story in their soul. Some actually envision it in their minds. Fewer still dare to begin to write. The rarest breed of all is those called “writers” (they write nearly every day…year after year). Here is my advice for those who are beginning to actually
Are You Beginning to Write? Read More »
Jeremy Casper knocked it out of the park with this 30-minute overview on the three-act structure. Thank you Jeremy. Here is a teaser of what you will get… What makes a story? Somebody wants something badly and goes after it against great odds. Act 1: Somebody wants something badly Act 2: And goes after it
By Brian Bird 1. Do you have confirmation from at least two other people whose opinions you trust? Mommy and Uncle Joe don’t count. 2. Why are true stories better… as opposed to fictional stories? 3. Does your film have the “wow? or “gee wiz” factor? 4 Does your protagonist have a strong character quest?
8 Ways to Know If You Have a Great Story Read More »
Go here for the VSN Story Resource wiki. 1. Stories are about people. Even if your organization (a) is devoted to saving flora and/or fauna, (b) toils in the dense thicket of policy change, or (c) helps other organizations work more effectively, human beings are still driving the action. So your protagonist has to be
The 10 Immutable Laws of Storytelling Read More »