Early on in school, we all learn that to tell a good story it must have a beginning, middle and end. Sounds easy enough, right? Not quite. There are other elements along the way that make a story great; interesting characters and setting, climax of the main plot line and resolution.
As an actress, I’ve been telling other people’s tales my entire career and when I became a professional interviewer, I realized there was a whole new aspect to storytelling: helping others to tell their own stories. I’ve learned that one simple question can be the key that unlocks an entire story someone may never have told before. It’s one of the most exciting experiences! This is especially fun when interviewing creative people who are making important things happen in the world.
Beginning
Starting a non-profit, company or a production of any kind is no small feat. In the beginning it starts as an idea or cause. This original process deserves to be recognized and is often the most interesting part of the story. What you do in the beginning of your creative endeavor’s story is vital as you take the time to make this ‘dream’ a reality. Something I found extremely helpful when creating this business was the company Seeing Beauty. They “help you to develop your business your way” through online ecourses that ask questions that need to be considered, when starting something new.
Middle
The middle of every story is often where the drama is. This is where the exciting parts happen! Once you’ve made your creation and you’re truly living in the world you’ve built, things get interesting. It can be complete magic but it can also be an incredible learning experience through various successes and failures. All of these things make your story yours. The middle of many stories can be terribly frightening and sometimes you must be reminded of why you started this in the first place. There is an amazing TEDx video – Getting stuck in the negatives (and how to get unstuck) with Alison Ledgerwood from the Department of Psychology at UC Davis, who talks about how we allow failures to stick in our minds. This video reminds me to focus on my successes so that I can continue to succeed. The middle of every story is often the hardest part, so keeping going is really important.
End
Then, there is the end. When I speak of this, I don’t mean the literal end but rather as a company, non-profit or creative producer of any kind, I mean the end of a certain project. This part is super thrilling and where I think you might just learn the most. This is the jumping off point, where you take all the things you’ve learned and apply the ones that work to the next project or film. No matter what the end result is, you deserve to celebrate your accomplishments. There are so many people in this world that only make it to the beginning or maybe the middle, but to make it to the end, no matter what it is, is a true win. An acting teacher of mine, Richard Lawson taught me the incredible value of celebrating your wins. I think of him when I complete a project no matter what the outcome, because I did it.
Helping people to access and celebrate their stories is the reason I love my work as a professional interviewer. Which part of your story are you in right now?