Lesson 4 - Finding Inspiration
You won’t always feel motivated as a storyteller. Great storytellers don’t wait for inspiration to strike. You need to be prepared to share the word when you have local ministry and hands-on experience. Evangelism is happening right now!
To be prepared and eager to share the Word, let’s learn about the creative process. Most creative people don’t like following the traditional formal story structure, but simply writing freeform usually results in a lot of one-liners but not story arcs for audiences to follow.
In this lesson, you will learn how to start with a few simple words and quickly build your story. Using these 7 steps, you can work quickly, stay organized, and often generate your creative energy.
Step 1: Choose the topic or premise
Stories are like rivers carrying audiences from one place to another. This can be a daunting concept when you are looking at a blank page. All you need is a drop of water.
Write just one sentence that answers why you are writing. This can be as simple as, “I answered the call to share the Word with a stranger today.”
This tiny drop of water brings a torrent of thoughts and ideas!
Step 2: Expand the sentence into a paragraph
Use the 4 P’s to explain further. All stories contain people, place, plot, and purpose. Each of these sentences forms the opening paragraph. For example:
- People - “I went to the city with friends. There we met people who had never heard the name of Jesus.”
- Place - “We sat on a park bench near a street busy with passing cars and people rushing through their lives.”
- Plot - “Just a few weeks ago, I was like those motorists and pedestrians so concerned with my day I could not hear or see those in need.”
- Purpose - “Sitting on the bench, I felt the power of Jesus transforming lives both my own and this stranger-now my new friend.
Step 3: Outline the Story through Characters
You will create a simple outline from this opening paragraph. Organizing ideas within an outline keeps your story structure intact and helps you fill in details as inspiration strikes.
- Build your character introductions into a full profile - Tell the story of each character before arriving at the place.
In this example, the first paragraph should profile the narrator and the friends as they go to the city. Why are you going? When are you going? Provide background into the journey.
The next paragraph profiles the stranger. What is their background? How did they come to this place? What circumstances prevented the word of Jesus from reaching them sooner?
- Inciting incident - End character profiles with the inciting incident. What brings the characters together?
In this example, the narrator meets the stranger and the two begin talking on the park bench.
- Plot the story - Write the key points from the inciting incident to the climax. What do the characters experience? What do they confront? How do they overcome obstacles?
Remember, outlining only needs to capture droplets. Give quick and simple bullet points to create your outline.
In this example:
- Myself and the stranger break away from the distractions of normal life.
- We confront the differences between ourselves.
- The word of God and teachings of Jesus break down the barriers separating the two strangers.
- I answer the call to discipleship.
- I share the Word.
- The stranger opens their heart to Jesus.
- We are both blessed.
By organizing bullet points you have created anchors to fill in the details. There are many similar techniques including Gabriele Lusser Rico’s clustering in Writing the Natural Way and Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method. Following this process introduces you to ways of creating consistently and achieving your goals of connecting with audiences.
Step 4: Add Engaging Details
Observation is the most powerful tool for storytellers. Listening, looking, and writing down details adds richness and emotion to your story.
Once you have the bullet point outline formed, add vibrant details to your story. You may already know the colors and textures you want to share. If not, use the five sense exercise and write down any details including sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound under each bullet point.
For example,
- Constant hum of cars on the highway
- Sun formed a hard shadow on the strangers eyes
- Sweating nervously
- Weathered hand, rough from years of hard work so much stronger than mine
- Petrichor potpourri from the morning rain lingered in the air
- Crooked smile reminded me of my grandmother
- Sounds of the city faded away as we began to pray
Storytellers often carry journals, record voice memos, or jot small details into notes on smartphones. These details carry your audience into your message.
Step 5: Write Your Story
Use the outline to write your story. Bullet points become sentences. Engaging details move the plot forward to the climax. The organization allows you to infuse your story with emotion and express heartfelt moments clearly.
Your resolution will summarize the people, place, plot, and your final statement should reinforce the purpose from your opening paragraph.
Two additional steps to consider to stay active even when are not feeling inspired:
- Step 6: Edit and Revise for clarity, grammar, and coherence. A great practice is reading each paragraph from the end to the start. This makes sure your message is effectively conveyed and that your story flows smoothly.
- Step 7: Share once you're satisfied with your story, share it with friends for feedback. Especially when you are in YWAM, peers are a tremendous source of encouragement and creative inspiration.
Activation 4
For this activation, you will follow the process within this lesson. There are two goals to this activation:
- Create a blog on the theme of Answer the Call. You will be writing about your recent hands-on experience in discipleship.
- Examine how the process empowers you to stay active even if you are feeling uninspired. As the lessons and activations progress, you will discover new skills and talents to use throughout your life.
ANSWER THE CALL Isaiah 8:12 God said, “Do not fear what they fear, nor be dismayed at what they dismay.”