The Story You Want To Tell

Video is a hobby I once wished could be a career.
Making stories come to life is immensely satisfying. Surely it would be the ideal job? It’s not. Not for me. But lessons learned in the video editing process are critical.

Editing means cutting.
But not cutting at random.

Editing is more than saying, “No”.
Anyone can say that.
Editing is saying “no” to the right things so that you can say “yes” to the right things. There is a purpose behind the no. A three-minute video must have less than three minutes of footage. There are opening, closing, and transitions. And space.

Editing means creating blank space.
Great stories need breathing room and negative space. A well-edited video story doesn’t mean packing as much as possible into my three-minute timeline. The L-cut fades to black. Every story needs room to wiggle around. Live a little.

Great editors say “no” to average, so that they can say “yes” to amazing.

I said “no” to pursuing a vocation of video storytelling, so I could say “yes” to what I am supposed to be doing with my three minutes on this planet.

Think well about your “no” today.
Edit with purpose, knowing that life is limited.
You can only cram so much into your story.
What is the story you want to tell?