Forget the facts, tell me your story!

The world of science and the world of the arts seldom overlap but here is a great quote from cognitive scientist Roger C. Shank that connects the two:

"Humans are not ideally set up to understand logic; they are ideally set up to understand stories."

I spent many, many years as a professional persuader, also known as a salesman. During my career I saw some of my colleagues talk themselves blue in the face going over the facts and details of their products to no avail. Those who could tell a good story describing how the items they happened to be selling would help the prospective clients almost always got the sale. Everybody has to tell stories to get through this world, we writers are just a little more honest about what we do than the average individual.

If you need help telling your stories, be sure to keep checking the Ligonier Valley Writer's website ( LVWonline.org ) for upcoming events and classes.

Thanks for reading.

Jim Busch 

What's the difference between writers and liars?

Here is a great quote for writers and storytellers of all kinds:

"A storyteller makes up things to help other people, a liar makes things up to help himself." Daniel Wallace

This says something about writers, though writers are often thought of as recluses or anti-social, they are motivated out of love. They don't write for themselves (that's a diarist), they write to share with others. We all secretly hope that our work will touch others and maybe make their world just a little better.

Keep those stories coming. Thanks

Jim Busch for the Ligonier Valley Writers