To be a good storyteller, you need to have the right coaching.
The art of storytelling is so crucial to your success that you can’t neglect its shortcomings. Whether you’re landing a new job or creating content that inspires people, a good story can truly transform your output. Unfortunately, learning this process can take quite a bit of time as resources to understand it are not that readily available.
However, there are some great online academies that could bring your storytelling to a whole new level. Today we are going to go through some of the popular ones so, in the end, you can decide which storyteller academy to enroll in. Each of them tackles storytelling in its own way, so you always have an option.
So, without wasting much time, let’s get straight into the topic!
Part I. Does Storytelling Matter?
The most important soft skill a person could have in his life is storytelling. If you could include amazing stories in your discussion, then no matter in the field, your words will connect and even, in many cases, inspire others. These days our attention is divided into many forms, so it is not always easy to share ideas or influence others. However, if you know how to tell stories, then people will listen.
Let’s suppose that you’re informing your friends or family members about a hike that you did last summer. In this case, if you only told them about the raw details, then it’s more likely that they won’t be much interested.
When you put this information in a story’s context and apply its rules 9/10 times, your details will be more engaging. So, yes, storytelling is a game-changer in any situation.
Part II. The (8) Best Academies to Become a Storyteller
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at some well-known storytelling platforms and learn what makes them the best. These are under as:
1) STORYTELLER ACADEMY - To Write Children’s Books
Storytellers Academy is a popular online coaching institute that teaches you how you can create some amazing stories without much of a hustle. Their coaching platform is dedicated to amateur writers who are looking to learn the art behind children’s content. With Storyteller Academy , you will be able to write some excellent children’s books with a story behind them.
Everything at Storytellers Academy is streamlined, and you can fully control your learning curve. They have acquired professional grade teachers who have previous experience in the niche. This means that your storytelling techniques will be polished as you gain experience.
Pricing
$75 for Pro package ($750 annually) & $25 for basic plan ($250 annually)
Best for
Aspiring children’s book writers
Courses
Crafting a strong beginning, Crafting picture-book stories, Making comics, Writing early readers, and so on.
Course Name
Crafting a Strong Beginning
Brief Intro
Guides you through writing the start of a picture book
Teacher
Marcie Colleeen
Price
$ 25 / month
Reviews
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2) ACADEMY OF STORYTELLERS - For Filmmakers
If you are an aspiring filmmaker who is looking to improve their craft in storytelling, then the Academy of Storytellers is the right way to start. They are another leading coaching platform that helps you understand story narration’s importance in your video content. No matter your background or experience, you will definitely gain from their well-sought-out courses.
Their content is put together by industry leaders who know what works best. With their help, you can learn multiple viewpoints and philosophies in filmmaking and gain experience along the way. So, join the academy of storytellers and get ahead of the curve.
Pricing
Free + Paid ($549) membership
Best for
Independent filmmakers, editors, or production company
Courses
Storytelling Fundamentals, Starting and growing a podcast, Narrative filmmaking
Course Name
Narrative Filmmaking
Brief Intro
A course where you can learn how to tell better stories while filming
Teacher
Ryan Booth
Price
Free or Paid membership
Reviews
“The Academy has truly helped me move outside my comfort zone” - Corinne Maunder.
3) Pixar in a Box - For Animators & Artists
Pixar in a Box is a collaborative initiative of Pixar with Khan Academy. It allows individuals a platform where they can learn animation, simulation, character modeling, storytelling, and lightning effects all in one place.
Every course is tailored to individual needs so that you can learn at your own pace. Pixar in a Box will also introduce you to some of the fundamental concepts behind movie making in Pixar so you can land your dream job in any animation studio.
Pricing
Completely free
Best for
Story artists or aspiring animators
Courses
The art of lightning, Simulation, Virtual cameras, The art of Storytelling, and much more.
Course Name
The art of Storytelling
Brief Intro
Learn about story narration in animated movie making
Teacher
Pete Doctor
Price
Free
Reviews
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4) Udemy - For Part-time Learners
Udemy is a tried and trusted platform where users can learn multiple courses and enhance their skills at their speed. They offer a plethora of storytelling courses as well, which is ideal for those who are just starting out and professional employees. Each class is designed to be user-specific, so you can start your next gig without any hurdles.
Pricing
$15 per course
Best for
Underemployed or part-time students
Courses
Storytelling to influence, The complete storytelling course for speaking and presenting, The story course - Storytelling masterclass, etc
Course Name
Storytelling to Influence
Brief Intro
Learn to add stories to your communication
Teacher
Jeff Tan
Price
$13.99
Reviews
“Easy to understand courses under the right duration” Jessica B.
5)
LinkedIn is a communication and employment discovery platform, but it offers a couple of well-picked courses that everyone should definitely give a try. One such program is storytelling which gives beginners a platform to hone this soft skill. Whether you want to incorporate a story into your writing or create a well-narrated presentation, there will be an option for you.
Pricing
Free + Premium subscription at $29.99/month
Best for
Writers, Marketers & General audience
Courses
Shane Snow on Storytelling, Creating a short film, The art of storytelling, and much more.
Course Name
Shane Snow on Storytelling
Brief Intro
Like storytellers academy, the key emphasis of this program is to tell you the basic principles behind storytelling.
Teacher
Shane Snow
Price
Free of cost
Reviews
“I can relate a lot to what he says” - Anne Mawatha.
6) MasterClass - For Professionals
MasterClass is a place where industry leaders (celebrities) come together to teach you the ins and outs of many skills. These professionals have a well-sought-out background, so you can trust their teaching procedure. This platform was initially created for filmmakers and photographers but soon became a hub of modern-day writers and storytellers. Although their courses are paid, that’s to be expected from the experience they share.
Pricing
$180 on annual membership ($15 per month)
Best for
Professional producers, project managers, and business personals
Courses
Storytelling with light, The importance of oral storytelling, Drawing from storytelling traditions, and many more.
Course Name
Discover the Art of Storytelling in Literature/Fiction
Brief Intro
Learn how to communicate that influence and master storytelling
Teacher
Neil Gaiman
Price
$15/month
Reviews
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7)
Acumen Academy is a non-profit organization that plans on building a community of social innovators. They offer a bunch of soft skills which everyone can opt for and enhance their public speaking or become a well-rounded individual in society. The courses at Acumen Academy usually range from a few hours to some weeks with on-demand access. Unlike the academy of storytellers, their enrolments are free of charge.
Pricing
Free of cost
Best for
Every type of individual (both beginners & professionals)
Courses
Social entrepreneurship 101, Chris Anderson on public speaking, Storytelling for change, etc.
Course Name
Storytelling for Change
Brief Intro
Best for public communication and story narration
Teacher
Greta Cowan
Price
Free
Reviews
“I’m thrilled to have completed Storytelling for Change. It eliminated my fear of public speaking“ - Nicky.
8) Business Storytelling Academy - For Corporate Personnel
The final program on our list is from Business Story Academy . This institute specializes in providing engaging lessons on the technique of storytelling so you can excel in your work-space. Once you enroll in their courses, you will be greeted with easy-to-understand concepts and decent pacing. You can choose your schedule and learn story narration on the go. Besides, some of their packages are flexible for those on a budget.
Pricing
$140-215, depending on the course
Best for
Business professionals, marketers, corporate employees, etc
Courses
Their two well-known courses are the Business storytelling foundation course & Be a presenter.
Course Name
Business Storytelling Foundation Course
Brief Intro
Bring storytelling and business practices to the same table with this course.
Teacher
Chris Hewitt
Price
$215
Reviews
“Great introduction to storytelling” - Rob Hardwick
Part III. Get Started With Storytelling Through these Amazing Tools
Understanding storytelling is a long process, one that requires quite a lot of trial and error. Even if you enroll in a storyteller academy, read books about it or attend a workshop, taking the first step is always difficult. That’s why we bring you the top three storytelling resources to help you create captivating stories right off the bat. These include:
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