The eNotes Blog Through the Ira Glass Advice on Storytelling From the Host of This AmericanLife

Through the Ira Glass Advice on Storytelling From the Host of This AmericanLife everybody goes through that. Ira Glass shares advice on how to tell your story across any medium. Ira Glass of NPRs This American Life recorded a session about storytelling with Current TV back in 2009. The videos just popped up on my radar again recently, courtesy of the wonderfully animated version of one portion below, which inspired me to share. I think its important to note that Iras advice isnt on writing, but on storytelling, which applies to every creative  endeavor imaginable. Whether youre making music, crafting a radio program, taking a photograph, or engaging in any other artistic medium, youre essentially telling your audience a story. And anyone whos ever tried to do that will probably  be familiar with the frustration Ira articulates below. The thing I would just like to say to you with all my heart is that most everybody I know who does interesting creative work, they went through a phase of years where they had really good taste and they could tell what they were making wasnt as good as they wanted it to be. They knew it fell short. It didnt have the special thing that we wanted it to have. And the thing I would say to you is everybody goes through that. So you see, youre not alone storytellers. The only remedy is to plow through and get your story out there. Your taste will tell you when youve got it right. But dont take it from me. Take it from the melodic, dulcet, if slightly nasal tones of radios favorite curator, Ira Glass.