Top 5 Careers that Involve the Art of Storytelling

In many ways, the story is rooted deeply in the history of mankind. From rudimentary cave paintings that told the tale of hunts and anecdotes uttered around fires in the wilderness after language evolved, to consuming digital content on handheld devices, storytelling has been the backbone of human existence since its inception. It is little wonder then that a good story is so captivating. It evokes a primal recognition in us spanning millennia.
The art of storytelling has birthed multiple careers over time. If you have a passion for writing or narration and know just how to capture magic with your words, you might want to consider a career involving storytelling. If you are unsure about whether to take the leap, you might want to start with these 5 books that will inspire you to take up a career in writing.
 
Here are 5 Careers That Tap into the Art of Storytelling
1. Professional Storyteller
A professional storyteller invokes the art of storytelling to regale their audiences. These are usually men and women with an incredible talent for narration and building a bond with their listeners. Professional storytellers perform at gigs, usually picking a story that is personal to them. They use a variety of narrative devices, gestures, voices, and tonalities to enrich the audience’s immersion in the tale.
A few characteristics that most professional storytellers possess are the ability to be extroverted when the situation demands it, comfort in front of crowds, and theatricality on tap. One may start with freestyling at open mics and steadily move on to workshops for children and adults, and corporate gigs. Multiple storytelling courses exist online as well as offline at institutes such as Kathalaya’s International Academy of Storytelling and Truth School in Haryana.
 
2. Author/Editor
The most fundamental use of storytelling is all around us today. Whether it is novelists, poets, bloggers, journalists, or newspaper editors, every written sentence is essentially designed to rivet the reader’s attention. The most successful writers of any profession have mastered the art of storytelling.
Embarking on a career as a novelist or an author is pretty straightforward, albeit with a fair bit of struggle involved. It starts with building on a unique idea, writing and rewriting it to refine your story, and hoping the timing is just right for it to take off. Formal training as a writer is a bonus, but not strictly essential.
To become an editor, however, it is generally recommended to earn a degree in a related field. Editors write frequently, offering alternative versions of sentences and plotlines to improve on existing material. Doing so requires analytical skills as well as a deep understanding of the art of storytelling.
 
3. Content Writer
Content writers have demands that vary depending on the client and the nature of the work. They are usually tasked with building the image of the brand. The art of storytelling is involved to help build an emotional connection with the brand narrative. Like most writing roles, no formal education is required to step into the role of content creation.  It is, however, imperative to stay up to date with writing trends and know what your audience would best connect with.
The profession involves considerable amounts of trial and error, as even the best-written copy might not engage the target audience meaningfully. With the advent of digital marketing and the use of social media as a tool to boost brand value, many content writing courses have sprung up and with good reason. As Daniele Orzati, Head of Strategy at Storyfactory says, “In the old days, when the mass media did all the work, one piece of content sufficed for sales: horizontal, immediate, attractive. Nowadays, if I want to use the available communication channels, especially social media, I have to offer a wealth of information, content, and stories.”
 
4. Screenwriter/Scriptwriter
At this stage of human existence, saying audiovisual entertainment is here to stay is tantamount to saying water is wet.
Film and television are bottomless forms of creativity, whose bedrock lies in the mind of the scriptwriter. Like indelible paint on a canvas, the art of storytelling brings their vision to life on the big screen. Add the era of fast internet speeds, entertainment available at a click, and cheap subscriptions to online streaming services, and you have a winning combination. Audiovisual media offers many opportunities for those seeking a career in storytelling. You can start by volunteering at film festivals or filmmaking clubs or joining a screenwriting course and networking.
 
5. Marketing Executive
All marketers are essentially storytellers. An upcoming approach to marketing called brand storytelling has been making waves.
Brand storytelling deals with making customers the centre of the marketing narrative. For instance, at the time of writing this article, Nike Training uploaded a collage of athlete Amy Bream on Instagram. Bream was born without her right leg but persevered to become an elite athlete with the use of a prosthesis. Bream’s story is incredibly inspirational, but it also ties right into Nike’s ethos and helps advertise their training app. Nike does not directly market itself, the story takes care of it.
Brand storytelling resonates with customers emotionally. It is up to the marketing department to utilise the art of storytelling in order to build a marketing strategy. That is where gifted storytellers come into play.
Are you a student looking to gain a competitive edge in the advertising industry? Look no further! Our Virtual Internship Program is designed specifically for students like you. You will learn the latest advertising strategies, including the power of storytelling. Storytelling is a key element in advertising that can help you to build emotional connections with your audience, making your message more effective. 
 
Conclusion
If a penchant for weaving words or imagining fantastical tales is an intrinsic part of you, you might have a gift you are unaware of. If your favourite memories saw you immersed in plots, chronicles, or storylines, there’s a chance you possess the art of storytelling too. The good news is that a love for stories can be transmuted into a thriving career with real-world applications. Writing or storytelling as a career may have a low threshold for entry but requires dedication and imagination to stay relevant.
If you are interested in pursuing a career involving the art of storytelling but want more information about the available options, reach out to our experts for career counselling online.
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