Pain & Art: Write What You Honestly Know | Ryan Gattis | TEDxChapmanU

When a gang lord told novelist Ryan Gattis to cut to the chase, he did. Surprising to the Chapman University professor was that the command was also a gift that released his creativity and helped guide him to the completion of his acclaimed novel about the Los Angeles riots of 1992, All Involved: A Novel of the 1992 L.A. Riots.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

Gattis is also the author of novels Kung Fu High School and Roo Kickkick & the Big Bad Blimp, as well as two novella, The Big Drop: Homecoming and The Big Drop: Impermanence. He lives and writes in Los Angeles, where he is a member of the street art crew Uglarworks.

[Funandconsciousness]

"Authenticity says 'I trust you to see who I really am'." WOW!!! That had impact!!

[evasco]

5 essentials of immersive story telling


1. Hooks - they grab our attention

2. Unexpected- the art of surprise. It unbalances the audience and makes them wonder what is coming next.

3. Cause and effect - a link of series of events (one thing happening after another) that creates a dynamic chain of occurrences.

4. How did it feel - explaining mentally, emotionally, physically how you feel in a given story helps audience connect on a given level.

5. Concrete, specific detail - it is the lifeblood of storytelling: it convinces us.

[AmbiCahira]

"Fluent in pain" ... I felt that hard. I'm going to use that from now on because it perfectly describes it.

[darioushmohammadian]

I think the lecture itself had "hook", "the unexpected", "Cause and effect" "how did it feel" and "specific details" in leaps and bounds

[joelhendrix]

This man has an incredible way with words - truly relatable from any walk of life just by the language & honesty he uses. So dope.

[JR-emmo]

the more specific to the human condition you can get the closer you can be with someone so different from you.

[kiddiefables]

"I moved and I moved on" wow. That one sentence. I can't even express what it did to me.
He has a way with words. Concise but to the point

[Sacrednalej]

I could imagine everything he said from begging to end.

[alabamajenny]

That! THAT my friends is a gift, molded to perfection. He put his honesty, his mild mannered heart and drive into that conversation. I love this so much. It is all about connecting with people on a human level. Bravo!! Bravo!

[helium]

I wanted to be a writer yet it never occured to me that I should practice telling stories. I've never really told stories. I remember a beautiful girl asked me once "Tell me a story". Here I was wanting to be a writer but I don't remember if I actually came up with one. My whole family stories. Maybe that's why I wanted to be a writer.

[CoachSteveu]

This is one of the best Ted Talks ever. This reminds me of why I write.

[LeonellCassio]

Woah. Beautiful! One of the greatest speaches ive heard!

[shanebrennan]

So random, i accidently pressed my phone screen decided to let it play and WOW what a great story told 👌

[desisess]

All I needed. Same awakening in different way. I write music. Thank you Ryan grattis

[aj.]

Do not doubt your creativity. If you continue to explore, and not give up, you'll be incredibly rewarded. The magic will literally to come to life on your pages. Give it time.

[ajarofpotential]

Thank you. It continues to amaze me how the gems of wisdom i needed to hear, like this, find their way to me.

[codacreator]

It takes big brass ones to expose yourself as weak, flawed, hapless, vulnerable. But that’s exactly what it takes to be truly authentic. Read Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt for a truly artistic example of the language of pain.

[JeremyReardon]

Thank you for sharing your stories! You help give me hope! And thank you for supporting our troops by being there for them!

[vivianeb]

Great talk and touching, too. Gives me hope as a failed someone.

[KatieLee]

this is fantastic... i don't know why it doesn't have more views! sooo good and helpful.