Only Seven

According to Christopher Booker, there are only Seven Basic Plots: 

1. Overcoming the Monster
2. Rags to Riches
3. The Quest
4. Voyage and Return
5. Comedy
6. Tragedy
7. Rebirth 

His convincing book is really much more than that hypothesis, making it very much worth a careful read.

He explains how and why we are all programmed to imagine stories in these ways and also why storytelling must be a part of your bits, ads, newscasts, branding, marketing and social media. 

As you read it, you'll ask yourself:  does our radio station and its personalities consistently make full use of every one of them for maximum impact?

Daily prep should begin by evaluating everything you "could" engage the listener with through the filter of how can we make sure today's "show" has all of them woven into it and which character on the team is best suited today to bring one or two of them alive authentically and naturally.

The more believable characters living through and coping with them, the more viral you'll be!

The "New Sincerity"

Misty Harris of Canwest News Service: "After decades of sarcasm as a second language, it seems almost heretical, but social scientists, happiness researchers and cultural observers alike say all signs point to a movement toward sincerity."

"We all really want to talk about optimism right now," says Neil Pasricha, author of The Book of Awesome. "There's so much in life to be happy about. And if we don't recognize that, the weight of the world becomes really suffocating really quickly."

Economic malaise is surely a partial driver. Because humans are hardwired to make themselves feel good, experts say it makes sense, biologically, that we'd double our efforts in tough times.

A recent study of some 7,500 newspaper articles finds bad news doesn't really travel fast; readers instead tend to email stories that uplift and amaze. In a recent half-year study of the New York Times' most-emailed articles, University of Pennsylvania researcher Jonah Berger found the more awe-inspiring a story, the greater its likelihood of being passed along.

"The data suggests people don't share things just to entertain or for utility," says Berger. "They do it to emotionally bond."

Thanks to Jay Bedford, PD at Cape Breton's Eagle 103.5 for turning me onto this thought-provoking research article.

I Never Thought I'd Link To A Story By Suzanne Vega

I've always loved her music and her artistry, but since this is primarily a blog about country music, country radio and my humble opinions, I have to say that sending you to her New York Times OpEd is the last thing that I would have ever predicted. However, take my word: this is very relevant and thought-provoking.

"So what is a melody for? I used to think of a melody as a kind of serving tray for the lyrics and the story within the song.... Melody is its own idea, like sculpture. You don’t look at a piece of sculpture to see what is resting on top of it. A great melody has its own design, a beautiful combination of intervals and rhythms usually expressing the emotion of the song. Somehow a melody is connected, like the sense of smell, to memory, so when you hear a song it connects you in a flood of emotions to the time and place of that song. I am sure there are reasons in the brain for this, but as a songwriter I don’t need to know how the brain does it, only that it does."

Brian Mansfield: Country's #1 Flat Broke Song

'Coat of Many Colors' by Dolly Parton (1971):

"Although we had no money, I was rich as I could be/In my coat of many colors my mama made for me." (When a girl proudly displays her new, multi-colored coat, lovingly sewn by her mother from donated rags, her classmates mock her poverty -- though, until that moment, she'd never considered herself poor.)

Click for many other (free) Mansfield-penned stories behind country's most enduring songs, by category (well worth the price and compiled by Jeff Green).

Country's Content Has Always Been About Storytelling

So, the only question is: why didn't someone write this book a long time ago??

You don't have to be a country music fan to enjoy these stories, but it doesn't hurt. Among the familiar names: Charlie Daniels ("The Devil Went Down to Georgia"); Tom T. Hall ("Harper Valley PTA" and "Song of the South"); and Kris Kristofferson ("Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make it Through the Night," "For The Good Times," "Sunday Morning Coming Down"). Plus a host of music makers whose work you've undoubtedly heard whether you're a novice or a veteran. But this isn't just a good ol' boys' club. Four contributors are women: Marshall Chapman (the first woman to front a rock band); Janis Ian (who wrote "At Seventeen" and has been part of the larger musical template for a long time; Tia Sillers (who co-wrote "I Hope You Dance" with Mark D. Sanders, another of this book's contributors), and Hazel Smith (who coined the phrase "outlaw music").

Lessons In Storytelling From CMT + A Fresno Mother And Daughter

Holly Hicks is a little bit country. Erica Hicks is a little rock 'n' roll. The differences between the Fresno residents is played out in the CMT series "Born Country" tomorrow night.

The mother, Holly, and daughter, Erica, were selected because of the letter Holly wrote to the show. There was just one little thing about the letter: Holly wrote it pretending to be Erica. The letter revealed that Erica always has thought her mother should give up the dream of being a country music singer.

"I would have never written the letter," says Erica, a local hairstylist. "When the people with the show called me and read me the letter, I told them everything she said was true. Dreams are great. But reality is bigger."

"My mom has always been an amazing woman. I just thought she needed to do bigger and better things."

CMT has found that powerful quotes, driven by relatable and entertaining narratives, increase 'time spent viewing.' You know that's true for radio too.

Is your show delivering powerful stories like this? How often? Are you making the most of them to build listening appointments?

Don Anthony Wants You To Help Write A Chapter Of His New Book

Maybe you've heard. I'm writing a book called "Why People Don't Like You'- Seeing Yourself The Way Other's Do. It's based on a theory that regardless of our likable qualities, it's the negative sides of our persona--the one's we don't see as easily--that hold back our likability most.

We'd like to think we know our shortcomings? To an extent, we do. But imagine being secretly videotaped for a week and then having it played back for review: Seeing yourself the way others do: in the checkout line at the grocery store; chatting with a mechanic, a friend, a relative, a stranger, or someone you don't particularly like. We might be surprised who we would see.

One of my chapters is called "The Ultimate Jerk." I haven't written it yet and there's a reason: I want your input. Basically, I'd like for you---with no names mentioned--to describe for me one of the biggest jerks, scumbags, pricks or... major ass----s youÕve ever known. I've yet to find anyone who doesn't know at least one. With your help and many others, I'll attempt to create "The Ultimate Jerk." Perhaps you can share a short story about this person that makes it clear why they're so detestable.

Email your input to themouth@tds.net And just for legal purposes, your input acknowledges that you"re sending this free of any compensation both now or in the future. Space permitting, I will try listing your name in our credits.

Now, close your eyes and picture your ultimate jerk.

Wow, that was quick, huh?

-- Don Anthony, Talent Masters, The Morning Mouth, Morning Show Boot Camp (AND SOON), author

You Are Invited To A&O's Pre-ACM Seminar In Las Vegas

Save the date: Monday, May 14!

Where: MGM Grand Convention Center, 3rd Floor, Premiere Ballroom

When: 9:00 am-1:00 pm

What: A seminar and workshop designed for air personalities, programmers, creative artists on "Storytelling, Using The Power Of Narrative To Improve Your Content."

It may sound like it's going back to school, but don't worry. We will have lots of audio and video examples of some of broadcasting's best story-tellers to get your creative juices flowing, it will be lots of fun and soon I'll bet you will be telling us YOUR stories!

Cost? FREE (but you need an invitation)

If you are reading this, you are invited. For now, just save the date and make plans to get to and stay in Las Vegas. Soon, we'll send our invitations out and begin getting RSVP's. I hope you can join us!