Presentation Project
By pumpkinjam
@pumpkinjam (8754)
United Kingdom
April 24, 2021 4:33am CST
Good morrow, fellow myLotters. One hopes that ye all fare well.
I would like to pick your brains, if I may. Not literally, of course, that would be creepy. I'm a linguist, not a scientist.
I am currently completing a short course on presentation skills. I'm quite familiar with the content as it's mostly stuff I've done in other contexts. I need to create a presentation - again, something I've done plenty of times.
My problem is this - all of my presentation projects have been training manuals. They didn't need any story-telling, I just needed to write what was necessary for a person to understand what they needed to do. When I write fiction, I just write what's in my brain but don't think much about it.
What I need to do is to create a factual presentation in a story-telling way. I'm honestly a little perplexed by this. I'm not even sure what subject to use as an idea. I thought about using something I already have but a lot of it is specific to my job so not appropriate for a wider audience. I've also considered writing about the benefits of a 4 day week - but I'm not sure how I could employ the appropriate techniques to make that particularly engaging.
I have, therefore, come here to see if any of you lovely people have any ideas or could offer guidance. What subject would keep your interest. If you're familiar with story-telling techniques, which of those would be most appealing to you?
10 people like this
9 responses
@LadyDuck (471272)
• Switzerland
24 Apr 21
I surely like the story-telling way because it's just like listening to people talk, no irrelevant details and visual.
I like mystery, this surely is what is most appealing to me. Not too many characters, because I get confused, but an interesting story with some surprises that keeps me interested to go on reading to see what happens next.
4 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8754)
• United Kingdom
24 Apr 21
That is very helpful. Thank you.
I think this is part of the problem I am having. I also like things just how you've said - no irrelevant details, surprises to keep interest. I've just read an example of what I'm meant to do. I got bored in the first paragraph because it was more of the person's life story than whatever it was that was supposed to be the subject! It's quite difficult to add an element of surprise to a factual presentation, but I could try 
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471272)
• Switzerland
24 Apr 21
@pumpkinjam Good luck. I agree that it is hard to add an element of surprise to a factual presentation, but this should be the element that makes the presentation unique.
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8754)
• United Kingdom
24 Apr 21
Thanks. I am a writer, but this is something I've not done to this extent before. I've written fiction, I've written articles, and I've written training manuals. I've always thought of presentations and stories as two separate things. I'm having trouble applying storytelling techniques to a boring presentation 
I'm working on it, though, and I have a few ideas.
I'm working on it, though, and I have a few ideas.2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
24 Apr 21
Sorry can`t help you out on this. I`m also poor in story telling
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (177898)
• United States
24 Apr 21
I recently took a survey about the benefits of a 4-day week; so that would interest me. You could talk about how it would benefit working mothers since they would have one less day to find child care. People would have less expense this way, also in gas money and many other benefits.
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8754)
• United Kingdom
24 Apr 21
Thank you. I had made notes about having other commitments, but hadn't mentioned the savings on travel 
2 people like this
@nicegolden (284)
• Shenzhen, China
24 Apr 21
i'm a realism writer,only i pause creating basely at present but philosophy.
by the way,if i mean to issue my fairy tale,which newspaper or magazine you suggest ?
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8754)
• United Kingdom
24 Apr 21
Are you asking where you should submit a story that you've written? Because I don't really know the answer to that. Have a look for magazines local to you or online that are accepting new writers.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89832)
• Arvada, Colorado
4 May 21
I like an interesting story that is about it.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30338)
• United Kingdom
26 Apr 21
I may be too late responding to this now...
Also I'm finding it difficult to come up with suggestions with no idea of what sort of subject you might be covering.
I guess, if I were trying to present similar subject matter to a training manual, but in a more engaging 'story' style, I would intersperse instructions with light-hearted points regarding what happens if you follow the instructions and/ or what might happen if you don't!
For example, step-by-step instructions for assembly of flat-pack furniture, lightened up with funny anecdotes, maybe cartoons, of what might happen if you use the wrong tools, try to do a two-person job without help etc., and then mentioning that it might look daunting at the start, but just take it one step at a time, and at the end show how pleased the person will feel when they have done it!
Not sure if that is any use... what subject are you writing the presentation about?
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8754)
• United Kingdom
26 Apr 21
I like that idea. I've got something ready that's about the advantages of a shorter working week, but I might use something different. Not sure what, though!
1 person likes this
