"All the cutting edge technology I learned in college-typewriters, film splicers, glue-is now in a museum; the one thing that hasn't changed is how to tell a visual story."-Bob Dotson Make It Memorable provides a distinctly different, hands-on introduction to the craft of visual storytelling. Many texts have been written to help people master the changing technology of journalism; here, Bob Dotson teaches readers how best to tell a story once they do. This second edition of Dotson's classic book offers dozens of new tips for the digital age and a step-by-step explanation of how to find and create all kinds of visual stories under tight deadlines. In addition to new scripts annotated with behind-the-scenes insights and structural comments, the book includes links to online videos of all the story examples. There is no other text quite like it. Additional videos that can be utilized for class assignments and exercises are available on www.nbclearn.com/makeitmemorable.
Chapter 1: How to Become a Storyteller Reporting vs. Storytelling The Rule of Threes and Filling the Silence The Question That is Not a Question Script #1: Lives Lost The Most Important Thing You Should Do Before an Interview The Best Thing You Can Do After an Interview How to Quickly Write a Good Opening Line Chapter 2: The Game of What If? Hey. You. See. So. Script #2: Pops Dream Surprises Script #3: Farm to Fame Humor Structuring a Visual Story Planning Notes for YouTube Star Segment What Went on the Cutting Room Floor Script #4: YouTube Star Chapter 3: Getting Started Look for Different Ways to Tell Your Story Script #5: Found Art Find a Strong Central Character Script #6: Park Avenue Peeler Find Interesting Stories and People to Interview, Even When Time and Money are Tight Script #7: Living Ghost Town Chapter 4: I'm Sorry This Story Is So Long. I Didn't Have Time to Write a Short One. Pictures Come First Write the Middle of Your Story Next Ask Yourself, "What Does This Mean?" Don't Throw Away Thoughts Script #8: Cave Rescue Highlight a Story's Natural Drama Working Fast Script #9: Ruby Bridges Scene Setting Foreshadowing Conflict Character Growth Resolution Put Stories into Context Chapter 5: The Building Blocks of a Story Words Video Silence Natural Sound Sound Bites Reporter On-Camera Stand-Up Graphics Script #10: Pearl Harbor's Untold Story Editing Stories Chapter 6: A Survival Kit for Professional Storytellers in the Social Media Age The "So What" Test "One Thing is Certain . . ." You Are Not the Story It's Video Folks, Not the Movies Be Conversational Gobbledygook and Cliches Active Voice Write in Threes How to End a Story Car Wars A Final Thought Appendix: Reporter's Checklist Glossary of Script Cues Acknowledgments Index About the Author
