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There’s a lot of advice out there about storytelling. Many resources about technique and structure – but somehow they don’t feel right. Sure, a story needs a beginning, a middle and an end, but what makes a story a story is connecting the dots. It’s making sense, offering an insight, teaching a lesson, creating meaning, engaging with the emotions. The structure helps, but a story isn’t a story just because of its architecture. Once Hemingway was challenged to write a story in

I’m blessed with a daughter and a son. They are my first and most honest audience. Over the years I’ve told them thousands of stories, some from books, others from my life and the lives of family members and finally – the most risky – ones I’ve made up for them. Occasionally I get “Mum, this is a terrible story. Tell me another one!” Then it’s clear to me that this story didn’t hit the bar, and that if I don’t want to end up stuck in the room for another thirty minutes I’d b

I know it’s a kind of myth, but I’ve seen it. I’ve seen people hitting sudden success and sometimes collapsing out it. Interestingly, when things arrive too early, rather than bringing experience or knowledge they can merely be disappointing. In these rare moments you may need to do a reverse process, from reality to vision: what do you want to see flourishing? Where are you heading with your actions? What is the story that you’re going to tell, and why is it important? When