Are you starting your story right? Scene-setting secrets all storytellers must know
Have you ever been a victim of a badly told story? The story got to the end and, instead of laughter or gravitas, it was awkwardness – thick, palpable awkwardness – that filled the air. Perhaps, with a touch of confusion. My condolences. While it is possible it was a bad or ill-fitted story for the occasion, it is more likely the problem was not with the story, but with the telling of the story.
You see, even though many people tell stories, most are not good storytellers. Good stories are not accidents—there is a structure to them that makes them work. Which is why in this article we discuss an important aspect of your story – the beginning - also called the scene-setting stage.
This is the second article in a series on storytelling. In the first article, I shared why stories are so powerful as well as the mindsets of master storytelling. You can read that article here. In this one, I will share how to start your story right, what needs to be included and mistakes to avoid. Let us begin.
Every story needs a scene
How you set the scene for your story will make a huge impact on whether or not the story is successful. If you have ever seen someone backpedal in the middle of a story to quickly insert some information before proceeding to a high point or punchline, they likely didn’t set the scene effectively.
This type of back and forth is jarring and can distract or frustrate the audience as they hustle to do the shuffle with you.There are a lot of elements that go into good scene-setting and these can get pretty granular pretty quickly. For example, you could do a lot with stylistic language and physical movement. Or you could use props and pictures or stage-blocking even or...These are all great techniques, but they are methods to convey meaning. The meaning is what we are after.
Therefore, the focus here is on the critical bits of information that convey meaning right at the start so that the audience can engage with the story as it unfolds. If they are not engaged, the story is not working.Here are the two vital aspects of the scene to keep in mind – time and place.Let’s talk about them.
Time
Once upon a _______ …
Stories happen in time. Without a sense of the time, you leave too much open for the audience to fill in. And often in filling in, they will not use the material you have nestled away in your mind. They will use theirs, and that is probably not good for the success of your story.Details like the season, the year and even the era or age can make a profound difference.
Look at the example below:
It was a warm sunny day in the year 1945 – the first summer day since the end of the war…
You will instantly appreciate how much is packed into that one short sentence. But let us break it down anyway…
“a warm sunny day” – the season is summer – a time of joy, new life and new beginnings and usually a happy time for people of Western persuasion.
“1945” – not modern day. Already the audience is making mental shifts to locate themselves in that era.
“the first summer day since the end of the war” – Whoa! Now that is some serious time-setting with an emotional punch. Suddenly, the audience is pulled in – they can’t help it. They are wondering what comes next. The irony of the summer season is imminent.
Note that all this is effected with just 20 words. When done deliberately and well, scene-setting need not be bloated.
The point? Whenever you are telling a story, be sure to purposefully and skillfully set the scene in time.Now for the second critical element of scene-setting.
Place the story in the right place
Where a story happens can be often as important as when it happens. Places carry valences that you can use to apply a whole lot of meaning to your story. A story like our example set in time at the end of World War II will be very different if it unfolded in Nairobi versus Berlin, or in the suburbs versus the slums in either case.
For our example…It was a warm sunny day in downtown Berlin in the year 1945 – the first summer day since the end of the war…
With this short sentence, your audience has just been transported to a different time and place.They are no longer just listening to your story, they are entering into it. And that is where the magic happens. Now for an important caveat.
Caveat – you MUST fire Chekhov's gun
There is a saying attributed to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. He was a Russian physician, author and playwright who lived in the late 19th century and is regarded by many, as one of the greatest short fiction writers in history. The saying goes
If in Act I you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must be fired before the end of the last act.
Anton Chekhov
The message is clear – don’t add anything to your story, especially something that attracts attention, if you will not use it in the story. The reason is not hard to deduce—if you never make the connection, the audience will be left wondering and using up valuable neurons and brain space they could instead be using to engage your story and message. Perhaps this has happened to you as a listener. So what do you do to avoid this trap?
Edit ruthlessly and intelligently
As tempting as it may be to provide all kinds of interesting tit-bits at the start of your story from how the air was exactly the same temperature as it had been the night your puppy was born, to how Saturn was at an unusual angle in its orbit in relation to Uranus, don’t do it!Unless it is relevant, leave it out.
It is crucial that you only introduce relevant information. Otherwise, the extraneous data will distract and confuse the audience and detract from your message.In our example, if the fact that it was summer, and the end of the war have nothing to do literally or metaphorically with our story, then we would do well to leave it out. No matter how flowery it makes our intro sound, we simply cut it! That would be the smart thing to do.
Length, breadth, depth and time
We are beings who operate, not just in time, but in space as well. These elements govern how we perceive and respond to our physical environment. But it also defines our imagination which is where your stories operate.
Therefore, to start your story strong and get your audience engaged, always tell us when and where. That way, we can be there and not just hear, but experience the story. It helps us connect with you and your message on a deep level right from the start. As an audience, we love that! And we will give you our attention and admiration in return.
In the next article, you will see why you should never serve an audience cheese :)
Until then, speak with skill.
