Editing Telling Stories (section)

=== Story of Now ===
A Story of Now articulates the urgent challenge your Us faces and the threat to your shared values that demands immediate action. Paint the picture of the future if we fail to act (the “nightmare”) and the future if we act together (the “dream”).

A Story of Now also bridges from story—why we should act—to strategy—how we can act. It should end with a clear “hard ask.” It’s your job to motivate listeners to act and to offer a specific, concrete way to do so.

<div style="background:#f5f5f5; border:1px solid #ddd; padding:1em 1.25em; border-radius:6px;"> <p>In developing your Story of Now, reflect on these questions:</p> <ul> <li>What urgent challenge does your Us face?</li> <li>What change does this community hope for, and why? What would the future look like if the change is made? What would it look like if it isn’t?</li> <li>What choice are you asking people to make, and why now?</li> <li>What action are you asking them to take, and what impact will it have on the bigger picture? What’s the risk if we fail to act?</li> </ul> <p>For more help with developing your Story of Now and full Public Narrative, see the “[https://harper.whc.ca:2083/cpsess2505230392/frontend/jupiter/filemanager/showfile.html?file=worksheet+-+Developing+your+Public+Narrative.pdf&fileop=&dir=%2Fhome%2Flqpvahro%2Fpublic_html%2Fresources%2Fassets%2Fworksheets&dirop=&charset=&file_charset=&baseurl=&basedir= Developing your Public Narrative]” worksheet.</p> </div>

When woven together, your Public Narrative should present a plan to overcome the challenge at hand and offer listeners a meaningful opportunity to join you in action. Remember: storytelling in organizing is, above all, a leadership practice—a way to connect, inspire, and motivate one another to create change.

<div style="background:#f5f5f5; border:1px solid #ddd; padding:1em 1.25em; border-radius:6px;"> <p><strong>As you listen to others’ Public Narratives, consider:</strong></p> <ul> <li>What values did the speaker’s story convey?</li> <li>What details reflected those values?</li> <li>What were the challenge, choice, and outcome in each part of the story?</li> <li>What did the character learn from those outcomes?</li> <li>What was the speaker motivating people to do?</li> </ul> <p>For a more comprehensive guide to listening to and coaching others in telling stories, see the “[https://harper.whc.ca:2083/cpsess2505230392/frontend/jupiter/filemanager/showfile.html?file=worksheet+-+Coaching+Stories.pdf&fileop=&dir=%2Fhome%2Flqpvahro%2Fpublic_html%2Fresources%2Fassets%2Fworksheets&dirop=&charset=&file_charset=&baseurl=&basedir= Coaching Stories]” worksheet in the Appendix.</p> </div>