By Bob Dotson

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 Clichés
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