The Moment of Reflection

Ira Glass, has a very interesting video out on Youtube about what makes a story good, which I encourage anyone who is involved with telling stories, whether that be through presentation, to blogs to papers to take a few minutes and watch.


In storytelling there are two basic building blocks as Ira explains: the anecdote, and the moment of reflection.
The anecdote, being a sequence of actions, where as one thing follows from another, avoiding the use of disjointed facts.

"The Power of the anecdote is so great...No matter how boring the material is, if it is in story form...there is suspense in it, it feels like something's going to happen. The reason why is because literally it's a sequence of events...you can feel through its form [that it's] inherently like being on a train that has a destination...and that you're going to find something..."

— Ira Glass

The anecdote should also raise questions, providing the "bait" for the story. Raise questions right from the beginning to enticing the participant. Implied in any question that you raise, however, is that you are going to answer it. Constantly raise questions and answer them. Shape the story through throwing out questions and answering them along the way.

Secondly, the moment of reflection. What is the key point? What does this all mean? Why have I asked you to sit and listen for 30 min, etc. It is not just a series of facts/events. Many people get the first part, they tell an interesting sequence of events, but in the end it fails because it doesn't say anything new, it did not have meaning. Conversely sometimes people have the reflection part and the question is clear in their mind, but they fail to put it in a sequence that compels people to follow and engage.


In a good story you need both the Anecdote and the Moment of Reflection interwoven to make a valuable story for the participant.