Speak Out: Crafting a Story to Create Change
From dinner table conversations to best-selling novels, everyone has a story to tell — and the way you tell your story can spark connection, inspiration, empathy, and real, lasting change in your local, state, and national communities.
Review the resource below to better understand the impact that storytelling can have on advocacy work, learn the basic structure of effective storytelling, and practice telling stories that create empathy, unity, and urgency.
The content below has been adapted in part from The Commons Social Change Library.
Why do we tell stories?
People have been telling stories since the beginning of time. From cave drawings in Lascaux, France to the oral traditions that gave us The Iliad in Greece, the Epic of Gilgamesh in Mesopotamia, and the fables of indigenous peoples that are still with us today, all cultures are built on stories about who we are, how we got here, and who we should be in the years ahead.
And you’re a part of that legacy! Think about this morning. Did you wake up and scroll on your phone? Recount a dream you had? Listen to music? Turn on the news?
So much of our lives are built around storytelling, whether we notice it or not. This is because a well-told story offers its audience…
- Instruction. Many stories exist to help us understand the world through information and fact-sharing. For example, The Very Hungry Caterpillar helps children understand the life-cycle of a butterfly.
- Empathy. Perhaps one of the most impactful aspects of storytelling is its ability to give audiences a lens through which to experience new concepts or ideas. Through Winnie the Pooh, we learn to understand the perspectives of friends who might have different worldviews or outlooks than we do.
- Connection. Often, stories can draw connections between people or ideas. Perhaps, you’ve shared Peter Rabbit with your children because your parents shared it with you — and now, you have a shared cultural reference point to better understand each other.
- Inspiration. A particularly effective story will usually provide enough instruction, empathy, and connection to inspire the audience to take action. The Lorax is a great example of how storytelling can encourage people to create change.
The power of a good story
One example of the power of a good story comes from the archives of Family Equality’s history!
During the height of the fight for marriage equality, Family Equality collected stories from LGBTQ+ youth and families across the country to garner public support and shape the perspective of people in positions of power. We submitted those stories in our Voices of Children amicus brief to the Supreme Court.
Those stories were so powerful that Family Equality’s brief was quoted directly by the Supreme Court justices. Much like the bedtime stories described above, the stories of our families helped…
- Demonstrate to others the impact that marriage equality has on those who may otherwise be underrepresented in the national dialogue (e.g., youth with LGBTQ+ parents),
- Put real names and faces to the popular issues of the time,
- Connect those from all sides of the conversation to the shared value of family and putting the best interests of children first, and
- Inspired long-lasting change in the form of nationwide marriage equality.
What makes a story?
Of course, knowing why people tell stories is only the start. The next step is understanding how a good story is crafted.
There are lots of elements that make up a story. For many, “plot” — or the series of events that make up a narrative — might be the central building block of a story. For others, “character” — or the people who are involved — might be important.
Perhaps the easiest way to break down a story is to look at it as a challenge, a choice, and an outcome.
- A challenge can be anything that has happened in your life that has helped to shape you. It might be a particularly difficult experience or injustice — or, it might be a struggle that you welcomed with open arms.
- With every challenge comes a choice. How did you approach that challenge? Where did you get the courage or the hope to proceed?
- Finally, all stories have a final outcome — the result of the choice made to respond to a challenge. This might be a lesson learned, progress made, or changes that occurred.
Do it yourself!
Get started telling your own story by taking five minutes to think of a challenge, choice, and outcome that shaped your life.
Remember: Good stories are specific. Rather than thinking about the “challenge of becoming a parent,” think about the specific moments in your journey and the choices you made to reach the outcome you wanted.
The story of self, the story of us, the story of now
To really take a story from its most basic form into something capable of inspiring both the head and the heart of your audience, you must find a way to connect it to their experiences and the current moment.
In order words, take the challenge, choice, and outcome that you explored in the section above, and think about…
This is your story at its most basic: A time when you were challenged, made a choice, and saw an outcome. Why were you called to do what you’ve been called to do, and what was your response to that calling?
Build on your story by relating it to your audience. What is the shared value within your experience that your audience might also connect to? Perhaps you have shared purposes, goals, visions, or motivations. Tap into that to help your audience understand what’s at stake for them. Remember: You’re working together to create change, not against one another.
Connect this story to current events or actions that you want your audience to take. Usually, in storytelling that creates change, there’s an urgent issue that you’re hoping to address. Using the story of us and the story of self, determine what that challenge is and what can happen right now to make it better.
Practice!
Take the time to reflect on your own stories. Start with a notebook and your story of self. Think about your childhood, your past, moments in life where you felt you needed to act, instances where you learned something important, or some other story that might allow you to speak to something happening in the world right now.
Then, expand. Consider the experiences of the audience that you’re hoping to address. Think about what you have in common with them — do you have the same values? Goals? Visions? What makes your community a community, and how can those details shape how you decide to tell your story?
Finally, add in your call to action. What do you hope your audience will do as a result of listening to your story, and why should they do it?
Where can you share your story?
Now that you know how to share your story effectively, the next step is determining where to share it!
Here are a few ideas:
- Family Equality’s blog! Family Equality accepts guest blog post submissions any time, and we can work with you directly to polish your story. Review our guidelines and reach out to submit your story today!
- The opinions section of your local newspaper. Look up your local paper’s submission guidelines for opinion pieces and letters to the editor.
- Everyday conversations. If you don’t feel ready to go completely public with your story, that’s okay! A simple but effective way to practice sharing your story is to start with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Even changing one person’s mind makes a huge difference.
- Legislators. Your story is a powerful tool to change laws and policies near you! Calling or emailing your lawmaker, attending lobby days, or submitting comments during comment periods are all great ways to use your story to advocate for positive change. Learn more about these opportunities by connecting with your local LGBTQ+ organizations and Family Equality.
Sign up to become a Family Equality storyteller!
Our stories are powerful tools for creating change. At a time when school boards and politicians alike are seeking to silence LGBTQ+ families, Family Equality provides resources, connections, and opportunities to train and empower people like you to speak up in your local, state, and national communities.
Become a Family Equality storyteller for the chance to be featured on Family Equality’s materials, hear about storytelling opportunities in your area, and get access to resources and trainings to improve your skills!
