Story Template for PPEI and Pechakucha

Title of the Story

You usually say explicitly the story title. For rare instances, you don’t.

Perspective-ask yourself the following:

n Which side of the story needs to be heard?
n Which character needs to tell it?
n In which voice does it need to be told?—first, second, third person?

Layers of meaning: themes, key message, key message

n Who is your audience?
n What is the main theme of the story?
n What’s the key message? What is the universal or human message?

Start the story

n How do you want to launch the story? What’s your opening lines? Avoid a long,
winded declamation. Rather, use an image the audience can latch on to.
n How would you paint that image?—what’s the context? What’s the setting?
Who’s the main character? Other characters? Names?

Get to the core conflict

n How does the plot unfold to reveal what the problem is?
n What’s the conflict—the problem/struggle/trouble—what’s at stake? What’s the
risk?
n How are the characters relating to the core conflict?
n How is the story arc shifting to reveal the awareness of the characters. In other
words, how is the story unfolding such that the characters become more and
more responsive to the conflict?
n How are barriers or obstacles overcome?

Making your story sizzle!!!!!

n How can you bring the characters to life? What sort of dialogue is happening
inside their heads? Or externally with other characters?
n How can you appeal to the five senses [Language Of The Senses of LOTS]
n Can you add a stark contrast?
n What irony can you add that embellishes the story?
n What figures of speech can be added to enhance contrast and visual language?
Figures of speech are oxymorons, metaphors, similes, analogies, aphorisms.
n How can you strengthen the emotions created in the story?
n What tension twists can you build into the story by waiting to reveal key pieces of
information until the end?
n If appropriate, can you add humor?
n What unexpected events or decisions can you add to enhance drama and
surprise?
n What surprising obstacles suddenly appear?
 n Where can you add exaggeration or repetition?

End of the Story

n What’s the resolution of the conflict or problem?
n What’s the key message of the story? What new insight is gained?
o Do I want this key message delivered by me, the storyteller? Or by the
character in my story?
o Is there a question you can pose to your audience?
o Is there a quotation you can use that can lead you to the key message?
o Can you use a personal reflection to strengthen the key message?
n What parting lesson/message is offered?