Online stories: StoryNights on Zoom
StoryCraft 101
StoryCraft 101
StoryCraft 101
StoryCraft
Personal Narrative Storytelling
Your story is already there,
Waiting to come alive.
We start with structure, find the pulse,
Then you're in it. So is the listener.
How This Works
We always start with this conversation—
Hey, what’s your story?
What happened to you, specifically?
How did it change you?
How does that change show up now?
Then we find the structure that supports the story.
Sometimes a structure reveals itself in the conversation.
We then explore—
What you already know how to do that serves this story.
What you can still learn to make the story shine.
How to get you inside the story—
not reciting it, but experiencing it as you tell it.
Finally—
You learn to tell it so the listener can live in the story with you.
This approach grew out of my work with the Stanford Storytelling Project. It continues as I coach and curate stories for a national audience on the PBS / World Channel television series, Stories From the Stage.
Right now:
I’m working one-on-one with a small number of storytellers,
helping them find, shape, and deepen stories for performance.
I’m also developing some new StoryCraft classes and workshops.
If this sounds like work you’d like to do, stay connected.
I’d love to have you join me.
Watch a StoryCraft coached story:
What Storytellers Experience:
Michelle understands that great storytelling involves more than crafting the right words. She works with clients as whole humans, helping them access compelling narratives and share them with presence and authenticity. (Kat Koppett, Founder, Koppett)
Working with Michelle Darby on Stories from the Stage was a transformative experience. I didn’t think I could tell a seven-minute story without notes, but she helped me shape my experience into something memorable and a joy to share. Michelle has a remarkable ability to zero in on what a piece needs—from tightening structure to eliminating filler words to helping me articulate my story with clarity and confidence. I couldn’t have done it without her. (Amy Cuomo, Professor, West GA University)
Michelle Darby’s coaching was instrumental in preparing me for my Stories from the Stage filming at WGBH. Her approach is deeply personal and trust-building, helping me sharpen my narrative, be concise without losing depth, and land my message with the right emotions. Because of her guidance, I felt grounded, confident, and fully myself on stage. (Paul Francisco, SVP, State Street; Chief Diversity Officer)