In a previous post I made the point that the cruise ship lecturer needs to be a good storyteller.

People don’t remember facts. They do remember stories. And sometimes they will remember the facts that were a part of the story.

What are some of the key ingredients that make for a good storytelling?

1. Characters 

   Your story needs to have characters. There needs a people in your story that your audience can identify with. Your characters need to be someone/s that people sitting there in front of you can root for or against or both. As Twain said, “Don’t tell them the lady screamed. Bring her up on the stage and have her scream for them.” Bring characters in your presentation to life.

2. Content

   Give your audience the who, what, where, when, why and how of the people, the setting, the venture, the what was and what is and why and how it happened.

3. Motivations

   Give the audience a glimpse, or dive deep into your characters. Don’t tell them somebody discovered someplace. Tell them who the rascal was and why he was on the search in the first place. Then tell them how his life was changed as a result.

4. Conflict

   Audiences love a fight. Especially when they are not in it! The Panama Canal is there now. But it wasn’t there before. Was it all smooth sailing from concept to completion? Not a chance. Tell the story.

5. Resolution

   Is the world a better place now because your characters were there? Is the world a better place now because the destination you are headed to is not what is used to be? Tell the story of change and outcome.

Add these elements to your lecture and you will have happy listening campers. You will have more fun, too!