The mark of a good story is that it changes behavior and inspires action. Sometimes the storyline itself does the heavy lifting, with how smoothly the writer makes the point or how simple the central storyline is; and other times its the relevance and context we meet or relate to the characters that outweigh the storyline.

However, you might be surprised about how such a simple story can make a big impact and still - how many completely miss the mark.

Great stories evoke emotion, they don’t need to be amazing stories that are capable of being turned into cinematic ‘big screen’ performances; but rather tell a clear, vivid and relatable sequence of events that are memorable when strung together.

Only the best stories are retold. Humans evolved into storytellers in an effort to survive. They told stories to avoid danger, attract a compatible mate to reproduce and protect our whakapapa (both ancestors and offspring).

Emotions helped to make connection with the stories so that they would be memorable and retold if the conditions are right. To create the right conditions, the story must convey value to both the teller and the reader (or listener).

The test is whether the story is valuable enough for the listener to become the teller. The art is that the story then becomes their adventure, the legacy of the story is when the instructions in the story help the reteller create their own adventure.

Some useful tips are:

1. to set the scene quickly so that people are ready to listen;

2. position the story’s relevance to the reader (or listener) at the outset; and

3. guide them through to a moment that shows how the story can help them.

The next challenge for authors is to look for ways to trigger the stories they want to be told (or retold) and guide them to and through those stories in a safe and memorable way.

The Book Brooklyn Builds A Bridge - acts as a bridge itself - which leads rangatahi to our well established local wisdom and oral history stories within Tauranga Moana and - at the same time - leaps them towards a future where they are charting a new course with something as intangible as an idea.
Stacey Mareroa - Roberts

Tell stories that bridge the gap.