How to Tell Good Stories | with Jeff Bartsch

05/16/18 • 57 min

If you do creative work for a living, you’re a storyteller.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a film editor like me working in scripted television, maybe you work in online marketing, you are a director, writer, graphic designer, composer, or anything else creative: You tell stories. Whether it’s with a single image, a specific font choice on a poster, a music cue to increase emotional impact in a scene, or any other decision that impacts how someone perceives your work - you must understand how to make sure the story you’re telling has maximum impact.

Even beyond telling stories in your work, the most important story that you need to be able to tell if you intend to be successful is your own story.

If you tell other people’s stories for a living with ease but you have no idea how to translate your storytelling abilities into crafting your own story, it’s a good thing there’s now a place for that: Story Greenlight.

Story Greenlight is the brainchild of Jeff Bartsch who is a multi-faceted author, teacher, and television editor based out of Los Angeles. He is the author of “Edit Better: Hollywood-Tested Strategies for Powerful Video Editing” and built his career editing television for ABC, NBC, Universal, Disney, Apple, and many others. (As a side note, Jeff edits American Ninja Warrior, so I might just be a tad bit biased!)

Jeff is the founder of Story Greenlight, a virtual community that helps online video creators connect with their audience, turn up the impact of their message, and change people’s lives.

Whether you create online content, you just want to perfect your elevator pitch or the about page on your website, or if you just want to better understand the fundamental building blocks of good storytelling, this episode is a must-listen.

And after listening if you want to dive even deeper into the power of story, specifically understanding how to make a living telling stories that you are proud of and overcoming the psychological barriers that might be holding you back in your career, I recommend sticking around for part 2 in my “Storytelling” series with Robert Hardy, the founder of Filmmaker Freedom.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

Learning how storytelling defines everything we experience and create
Structuring your origin story
What does storytelling look like in a reality show like American Ninja Warrior?
Jeff Bartch's guide to telling compelling stories
Understanding the most basic elements of story and their ubiquity in art
You can't NOT tell a story, so learn how to do it engagingly
The dangers of comparing your story to others instead of living your own
If you're struggling, remind yourself that you are at the beginning of your story
Stop making excuses and turn your problems into obstacles to be surmounted
Don't worry about being original, learn to be authentic

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Edit Better: Hollywood-Tested Strategies for Powerful Video Editing

Story Greenlight

Our Generous Sponsors:

This episode is made possible by Ergodriven, the makers of the Topo Mat, my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in moving more at their height-adjustable workstation. Listen, standing desks are only great if you’re standing well, otherwise you’re constantly fighting fatigue and chronic pain. Not like any other anti-fatigue mat, the Topo is scientifically proven to help you move more throughout the day which helps reduce discomfort and also increase your focus and productivity. And they’re really fun and a great conversation starter.

Guest Bio:

Jeff Bartsch is a multi-faceted author, teacher, and television editor based out of Los Angeles. He is the author of “Edit Better: Hollywood-Tested Strategies for Powerful Video Editing” and built his career editing television for ABC, NBC, Universal, Disney, Apple, and many others. Jeff’s commentary on the entertainment industry has been featured in TIME Magazine, USA Today, the Associated Press...

If you do creative work for a living, you’re a storyteller.

Even beyond telling stories in your work, the most important story that you need to be able to tell if you intend to be successful is your own story.

Jeff is the founder of Story Greenlight, a virtual community that helps online video creators connect with their audience, turn up the impact of their message, and change people’s lives.

Want to Hear More Episodes Like This One?

» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episode

Here's What You'll Learn:

Learning how storytelling defines everything we experience and create
Structuring your origin story
What does storytelling look like in a reality show like American Ninja Warrior?
Jeff Bartch's guide to telling compelling stories
Understanding the most basic elements of story and their ubiquity in art
You can't NOT tell a story, so learn how to do it engagingly
The dangers of comparing your story to others instead of living your own
If you're struggling, remind yourself that you are at the beginning of your story
Stop making excuses and turn your problems into obstacles to be surmounted
Don't worry about being original, learn to be authentic

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Edit Better: Hollywood-Tested Strategies for Powerful Video Editing

Story Greenlight

Our Generous Sponsors:

Guest Bio:

Previous Episode

Design Yourself Enrollment Opens Next Week! (Make Sure You're On the Waitlist)

Interested in joining my brand new Design Yourself program (with a 50% discount) when enrollment opens next week? Visit optimizeyourself.me/design to learn more.

Let’s be honest...

“A proven 5-step framework to help you overcome the procrastination, anxiety, and fear that keep you from following through with your goals”

...just doesn’t sound sexy.

You know what DOES sound sexy?

✓ Losing 25 pounds.

✓ Landing your dream job.

✓ Finishing that screenplay.

✓ Paying off your student loans.

✓ Celebrating a new promotion.

✓ Speaking on industry panels.

And people constantly asking you, “How do you do it all?”

If you’re ready to start taking action, I’m ready to open my playbook to show you how to Get. Sh*t. Done.

If you’re listening to this, I already know that you’re a high achiever because rather than wasting your time scrolling social media or binge-watching another four hours of The Office on Netflix, you’re here listening to me, and I greatly appreciate that. I want to apologize in advance because there not be a new episode this week because I’m just about to launch my first new online program in two years - Design Yourself. As a regular listener, you know that my mission is to provide you with the best content and interviews that help design the optimized version of you, and that’s exactly what this program does.

Design Yourself is an 8-module online learning course to help you organize your priorities, get important things done (note: important is very different from urgent), and (finally) follow through with your goals...without sacrificing your sanity in the process.

This program provides you with a simple step-by-step framework to break down seemingly insurmountable goals into simple and actionable tasks that will make your success look almost too easy. No longer will you procrastinate because you have no idea if the next task on your to-do list is going to change your life...or completely waste your time. Instead you will effortlessly and consistently take the right actions that will lead you down the unique roadmap to success that you design for yourself, no matter the obstacles in your way.

You might think “high achievers” have access to super-secret information you don’t:

They use the most cutting-edge daily planners and productivity journals
They consume the world’s most potent “superfoods”
They know advanced automation tactics in Trello & Omnifocus
They have the perfect 67-step morning ritual to “eat their frog” by 6am
They have a secret “Success Playbook” leading them down the perfect path to their desired career
They have unlimited access to the world's best coaches

Here’s the good news...none of this crap matters.

Want to know the secret that most productivity experts never talk about?

Most people procrastinate on taking action or downright give up on their goals because they lack just one thing:

CONFIDENCE

You have lost the productivity game if you ever have to ask yourself the following question:

“So...what am I supposed to be doing now?”

Imagine for a second: You wake up in the morning (without hitting the snooze button twelve times) having intentionally designed your day in such a way that you have 100% clarity about the goals you hope to achieve not only today but in the next week, as well as over the next 3 months, 1 year, or even the next 5 years.

Think about what it might feel like to have the utmost confidence that the next items on your daily to-do list are the right actions that will lead you to your destination (and ANY productivity app will work...including post-it notes).

Picture yourself confidently taking the right actions with consistency and without struggling to summon willpower you can’t find, motivation you just don’t have, and discipline you’d rather not develop.

If you’re interested in learning more about my brand new Design Yourself program, enrollment is opening the week of May 14th and it will only be open for 7 days, and the only way to sign up is if you’re a member of my email newsletter. I won’t be advertising on Facebook, you won’t see Google Ads, and there’s no link to join anywhere on my website. And only those on my email newsletter are getting 50% off enrollment as members of my very first class.

If you’d like to learn more about the program and be notified the second enrollment opens and get your 50% discount, just visit optimizeyourself.me/design and provide me with your best email. It’s th...

Next Episode

The Beginner's Guide to Alleviating Chronic Pain In 5 Min a Day...Right at Your Desk [VIDEOS]

I've already written extensively about how being sedentary is awful for your health and how sitting can kill your creativity. But in addition to the long term detriments of not moving at your desk, the immediate effects of sitting in positions not meant for the human body include acute pains, chronic pains, numbness and tingling, and even headaches.

There are few things that make it harder to "get in the zone" than constantly being in pain.

There's no getting around it: Working in front of a computer all day long just plain sucks.

Unfortunately if you do intense creative work under (insanely) tight deadlines chained to your workstation, finding the time for weekly appointments to the masseuse, physical therapist, or chiropractor is nearly impossible.

The fact is when you do project-based work your health just isn't a priority until "hiatus," but that hiatus never seems to come. And if a true hiatus does come, you're so exhausted you'd rather just sleep off the pain (or even worse...medicate it) than fix the source of the problem.

When I reached out to my creative community and asked what hurts the most as a result of working in front of a computer, the most common answer was: EVERYTHING.

When I reached out to my creative community and asked what hurts the most as a result of working in front of a computer, the most common answer was: EVERYTHING.

What really surprised me was not how common chronic pain is amongst "creatives," it was the mentality that we just have to accept this pain and discomfort as part of the job. Even worse is the mentality that someone else should be held responsible:

I say this with all the love and respect in the world: There is someone responsible for your health, and it's YOU.

Chronic Pain Isn't a Requirement Of the Job

Here's the good news: You don't need 24-7 access to a licensed chiropractor or physical therapist to alleviate and eliminate the pain you experience sitting at a computer. You just need to commit to putting your health before your career for a minimum of 5 minutes a day.

And then you need the right tools and the right exercises to ensure you use the little bit of time you do have to the fullest.

To be clear: If you are experiencing chronic pain and discomfort you should see a licensed professional. This article is not a replacement for medical advice. But at the same time, the videos below are all demonstrated and were designed by licensed doctors of chiropractic who specialize in working with both athletes as well as people who live in front of computers, so this is just about as close as you'll get to having a licensed "Chiropractor On Demand" if all you want is a little relief RIGHT NOW.

Want to understand WHY you experience chronic pain in front of your computer? Listen to my interview with Dr. Sadie Sanders from 'Health & Human Performance.'

Below I have provided a series of videos from the Move Yourself Activity Video Vault that demonstrate simple stretches and trigger point therapy techniques you can use right at your desk (or at least next to it) to help you do the following:

Alleviate Neck Pain

Alleviate Shoulder (and Upper Back) Pain

Alleviate Tension Headaches

Alleviate Wrist & Forearm Pain (and Numbness)

Alleviate Lower Back Pain

Alleviate Neck Pain

I'm constantly battling neck pain from looking between multiple monitors all day. At one point it was so bad I couldn't even look over my right shoulder (that made LA driving really interesting). Now I'm virtually pain free, partly because of my daily habit of stretching in front of the computer. Below are my three favorite stretches for alleviating neck pain that I'...