In this 15‑minute StorySpark session, Haritosh Srivastav introduces the rhetorical device anaphora as a content‑success tool. He defines anaphora as the repetition of a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses, citing Charles Dickens’s famous opening from A Tale of Two Cities. Participants (Venkat and Dr. Alka) engage in a guided visualization exercise where they craft personal anaphora statements using the prompts “I will grow because…”, “I will inspire because…”, and “I will succeed because…”, repeating each twice. The group shares their sentences, reflects on how the repetition feels, and discusses insights such as the distinction between seeking validation versus growth, and the power of framing success as a milestone. Haritosh emphasizes that anaphora is widely used by motivational speakers, storytellers, and politicians, urging learners to notice and apply it in their own communication. The session wraps up with announcements about the upcoming Storython event, a teaser for Day 26’s next content‑success tool, and a call for participants to write and share their own anaphora sentences.
Chapters
Awesome! Welcome everyone to day 25 of StorySpark session where we meet every day at 6 AM for 15 minutes of quick, short, sparky, spicy storytelling session. And you learn something, you implement, and you go with the success. So let's get started with today's one, and today's one is very, very interesting. Which is— so if you remember, in the last week's Storytime, we talked about some content success tools, which means that there are some rhetorical devices and tools which can make your story, which can make your speech very interesting, very memorable, right? So one of them is called anaphora, and that is what we are going to implement today. So what is anaphora? Anaphora is basically the beginning of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. When you have the repetition of a word or phrase at the start of successive sentences, successive clauses, that's when it becomes very, very interesting. And that's what we are going to practice. An example of this is from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, where you will see He starts every sentence with 'it was the best.' It was the best of time, it was the worst of time, it was the age of wisdom, and so on so forth. And this is how it becomes very, very memorable. So the question is, what are we going to do for this? So this one will require you to do a little bit of visualization, and in this visualization process, I want you to think about how you want to be successful, how you want to grow, how you want to inspire others. And let's take 30 seconds to think about that. And this is going to be the exercise where once you do the visualization, I want you to form it, the whole sentence in this way. So you're gonna write it: I will grow because— that's the dash. I will inspire because— dash dash dash. I will succeed because— dash dash dash. And I want you to do, because we have less people in attendance, so I want you to do the 2 repetition of this. So let's take, uh, 30— not 1 minute, 1 to 2 minutes to basically think, visualize yourself, and just write and complete these sentences. Okay, clear? Is it clear, Venkat?
Yes, yes.
Okay, so let's, let's do the exercise. I'm gonna play the music and yeah, let's start writing. Dr. Alka, the exercise today is that we need to fill in this. So we are doing something called anaphora where things start to do this. Pause this. So basically, uh, we are doing something called anaphora where the repetition of the same word at the start of the sentences happen. So we have many examples like this. Charles Dickens, it was the best of time, it was the worst of time. So we are going to create our own anaphora example where we are going to visualize our own success and growth and inspiration, and we are going to write a paragraph of 'I will grow because' whatever sentence you want to add, 'I will inspire because,' and 'I will succeed because,' and we are going to do it 2 repetitions. So once we'll do 'I will grow because,' 'I will inspire because,' 'I will succeed,' and then we'll do another round. So let's take, since you're here, let's take another 1 minute and then we'll start with Venkat. Okay, Venkat, are you ready with your sentences?
Yes, yes, Haritosh Srivastav.
Okay, go ahead.
Good morning to all.
Good morning.
I will grow because I I am not seeking validation. I will inspire because my story has power to inspire others and have a takeaway message. I will succeed because I have great mentors like Haritosh Srivastav. Thank you.
Okay, one more round. Did you do the second round as well? Yes, you can repeat the same thing. Yeah, did you do the one more time?
Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.
You can just repeat the same if you have not done. Just repeat once more.
Yeah, okay. I will grow because I have— I'm not seeking validation. I will grow because I have great mentors. I will grow because I am— have— I have a growth mindset. I will inspire because my story has a strong message. I will inspire because it's my lifetime goal. I will succeed because I am taking action every day.
I'm a—
I will succeed because of— because I am a massive action taker.
Excellent, excellent, awesome, great job! Let's everybody write story power to you, SPDY. Awesome! Dr. Alka, are you ready with your sentences? Please unmute.
So what I have written is, I will grow because I am prepared for struggle. I'm not getting struggle, struggle, struggle, struggle. I will inspire because I help others to take action in their own lives, and action is what gives them success. I will succeed because I help others to succeed. So I will grow because I am prepared for going into the discomfort zone, and I'm prepared for struggling, I'm prepared for working hard. I, I will inspire because I help others to take action in their lives, and that is what helps them to become successful. I will succeed because I help others to succeed in their lives.
Awesome story! Power to you as well. Let's everybody write SPTY. All right, and I will say my sentences once and then we'll go into reflection mode. So I will grow because I am hungry, super hungry for growth. I will inspire because I love inspiring people to get results. I will succeed because success is just another milestone and not the destination for me. All right, so let's reflect quickly on how did this exercise make you feel. Let's go start with Venkat.
I am not using this anaphora in my stories, but I will plan to add this session next. Remember all the points.
Yeah, that's okay. Yeah, that's okay. But how did it make you feel right now when you use that? When you verbalize it.
Yes, repeating word, we confirm the point and it's the expression, it's a strong expression, not a normal expression, it's a strong expression.
Absolutely, absolutely. Yes, Dr. Alka, how did it made you feel?
Yeah, so what I realized is that the idea for growth Inspiration and success is different for different people. So when you said growth, I'm thinking of I grow only in struggle. So I have to struggle to grow, or I have to go in the discomfort zone to grow. But what you said is I'm hungry for growth. That's a better way of putting it, you know. You— that means when you're hungry for growth, your purpose is so clear that I want to grow no matter what. So that gave me insight in what you said. And inspiration, I can't remember what you said, because you inspire others. You inspire.
I love inspiring others.
Yeah. And you said success is a milestone and not a destination, which is so beautiful. Because if we succeed and if we just stop over there, then it is of no use. So what you're saying, success leads to success and you can go move ahead in life. So I love that. And also Venkat, Venkat also what he said very nicely that I don't want validation.
Yeah.
I grow. So when we are looking for validation, the purpose of our performance is changed completely. But if you're looking for growth, then the purpose of a performance is very different. So Venkat, thank you for inspiring, very beautifully said.
Thank you, thank you.
And I really love your stories. I really love your lower KG and upper KG stories and the way you have gone from one school to another. It has got rapid— actually, you know, you are the best person for anaphora. You have been telling this story again and again. It has gone into my subconscious also.
Wow.
Yeah, and it took me back to my KG days. And I was thinking what I was doing in the KG class, and I wrote down a story in my story bank because of what you did, and because something opened up inside of me. So thank you.
Wow, thank you. Yeah, totally power to you, both of you. And yes, even though I didn't think it this way, I wanted to use it as a content success tool. I think this is really inspired both of you. So now the challenge for you is when you go and watch any inspirational speaker Of course, watch it for inspiration, but also analyze it, that what are the tools they are using. And anaphora is very, very widely used by all the inspirational speakers, all the motivational speakers, all the storytellers, and also all the politicians. You'll see it repeatedly, they are using it. Now, we are doing this, we are doing this, we are doing this. I am doing this, I am doing this, I am doing this. When you say this thing, this is where you realize the power. And if you say to yourself, you will see the power. And when you say in front of audience, they also feel the power. So start using the power. And this was day 25. We have completed 25 sessions of StorySpark. We are going, we are going to have the Storython session on Saturday based on the poll. So we'll have the sessions tomorrow at 8 PM. So that means that tomorrow morning we'll have another content success tool which is equally powerful as As an aphorism, and I'll see you tomorrow. And for those who are watching it on video, please write down your sentences as a comment, or if you want to create a video, I'm just going to put that slides for you for 5 seconds. Just write down, I will grow because I will inspire, because I will succeed, because— Story power to you all, and as I say every time, until next time. Keep learning, keep growing, and keep going out of your comfort zone. See you tomorrow for Day 26 of Storypark session. Take care, stay safe, stay blessed.
