---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I look at myself more as a storyteller…"
description: "\"I look at myself more as a storyteller than a screenwriter, as pretentious as that may sound, but that's what really attracts me to TED Talks. For me, ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/damon-lindelof-6799_attracts_i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-t_2141067.jpg"
---

#  I look at myself more as a storyteller than a…

![“I look at myself more as a storyteller than a screenwriter, as pretentious as that may sound, but that's what really attracts me to TED Talks. For me, the really effective ones are being presented by expert storytellers.” quote by Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/damon-lindelof-6799_attracts_i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-t_2141067.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/damon-lindelof-6799_attracts_i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-t_2141067.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/damon-lindelof-6799_attracts_i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-t_2141067.jpg)

> “I look at myself more as a storyteller than a screenwriter, as pretentious as that may sound, but that's what really attracts me to TED Talks. For me, the really effective ones are being presented by expert storytellers.”

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He sees himself as a narrative creator, valuing storytelling over technical scriptwriting, especially for TED Talks.

**In simple terms:** He prefers storytelling to screenwriting for TED Talks.

Key Takeaway

Embrace storytelling to engage audiences.

Themes

storytelling communication media authenticity

Mood

inspired reflective

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- TED Talk preparation
- content creation
- personal branding

Key Concepts

narrative craft audience connection personal branding

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance story flow with clear structure?
- What stories best reflect your message?

A Different Perspective

Storytelling may lack structural rigor of traditional scripts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Expert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expert/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Pretentious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretentious/) [Screenwriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screenwriters/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Storyteller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyteller/) [Storytellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytellers/) [Ted talks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ted-talks/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [I feel like great TED Talks are ones that are a little bit subject to interpretation, that do provoke further conversation - and potentially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-feel-like-great-ted-talks-are-ones-that-are-a-little-bit-subject-to/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [I love documentaries and TED talks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ren/i-love-documentaries-and-ted-talks/)

[Alexis Ren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ren/)

> [I listen to a lot of TED talks and motivational speakers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-burroughs/i-listen-to-a-lot-of-ted-talks-and-motivational-speakers/)

[Jordan Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-burroughs/)

> [I was listed in 'Time Magazine''s 'Thirty under Thirty' and have given three TED Talks, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-makosinski/i-was-listed-in-time-magazine-s-thirty-under-thirty-and-have-given/)

[Ann Makosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-makosinski/)

> [I'm obsessed with insects, particularly insect flight. I think the evolution of insect flight is perhaps one of the most important events in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dickinson/i-m-obsessed-with-insects-particularly-insect-flight-i-think-the/)

[Michael Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dickinson/)

> [I don't just look at things as an actor. I've also written several films, so I look at it as a storyteller and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunnam/i-don-t-just-look-at-things-as-an-actor-i-ve-also-written-several/)

[Charlie Hunnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunnam/)

> [I spoke at TED Global 2010 about the ways that video games engage the brain, and in particular, the idea of reward structures: how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-chatfield/i-spoke-at-ted-global-2010-about-the-ways-that-video-games-engage-the/)

[Tom Chatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-chatfield/)

> [“To position yourself as an expert, share your knowledge with others. Deliver presentations and teach others on your topic. Look what TED Talks have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/to-position-yourself-as-an-expert-share-your-knowledge-with-others/)

[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

> [I would love to do something with space. I'm obsessed with it. I just can't stop reading about it or watching videos about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alycia-debnam-carey/i-would-love-to-do-something-with-space-i-m-obsessed-with-it-i-just/)

[Alycia Debnam-Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alycia-debnam-carey/)

> [I'm a terrible sleeper because I work all the time. I stay up late almost every night working, whether it's on a TV or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-barry/i-m-a-terrible-sleeper-because-i-work-all-the-time-i-stay-up-late/)

[Keith Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-barry/)

> [The most animated talks we have are about...things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/the-most-animated-talks-we-have-are-about-things/)

[Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/)

> [I didn't really - at least intellectually and creatively - have a particularly compelling experience in college. But during my junior year, they made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-popova/i-didn-t-really-at-least-intellectually-and-creatively-have-a/)

[Maria Popova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-popova/)

> [Human relationships are rich and they're messy and they're demanding. And we clean them up with technology. And when we do, one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/human-relationships-are-rich-and-they-re-messy-and-they-re-demanding-2/)

[Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/)

> [“We stigmatize mistakes. And we're now running national educational systems where mistakes are the worst thing you can make -- and the result is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/we-stigmatize-mistakes-and-we-re-now-running-national-educational/)

[Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/)

> [ I saw the first one \[video with Hans Rosling \] when he did - I think it was his first one - in 2006,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-devlin/i-saw-the-first-one-video-with-hans-rosling-when-he-did-i-think-it/)

[Keith Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-devlin/)

## More by Damon Lindelof

> [I make no distinction between writing and storytelling; I've always wanted to tell stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-make-no-distinction-between-writing-and-storytelling-i-ve-always/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [I've always believed that a good twist is one that, when it is presented to the audience, half of them say, 'I saw that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-ve-always-believed-that-a-good-twist-is-one-that-when-it-is/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [I'll never be immune to criticism, and that's okay, and I'm very comfortable with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-ll-never-be-immune-to-criticism-and-that-s-okay-and-i-m-very/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [I don't think anybody wants to see a dour 'Star Trek' movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-don-t-think-anybody-wants-to-see-a-dour-star-trek-movie/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [There is a reason behind life. There is some connectivity between living beings. Whether you want to call that 'God' or 'The Force' or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/there-is-a-reason-behind-life-there-is-some-connectivity-between/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [I remember what it was like to be doing 'Lost' and how creatively immersive it was. I just couldn't really engage on anything else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-remember-what-it-was-like-to-be-doing-lost-and-how-creatively/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [My father - until the day that my dad died - didn't know how many points you scored in a touchdown. He could say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/my-father-until-the-day-that-my-dad-died-didn-t-know-how-many-points/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [Look, we can definitively agree that cable is far superior to network. That isn't to say that there can't be a great network drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/look-we-can-definitively-agree-that-cable-is-far-superior-to-network/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [I feel like great TED Talks are ones that are a little bit subject to interpretation, that do provoke further conversation - and potentially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-feel-like-great-ted-talks-are-ones-that-are-a-little-bit-subject-to/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [I love the 'Lost' ending. I stand by it, but there are a lot of people out there who hate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-love-the-lost-ending-i-stand-by-it-but-there-are-a-lot-of-people/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [You can watch an episode of Friends or an episode of Law &amp; Order and just drop in, but you're not going to in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/you-can-watch-an-episode-of-friends-or-an-episode-of-law-order-and/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [Michael Arndt, that guy - you're just supposed to say nice things about other writers, but I worship Michael Arndt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/michael-arndt-that-guy-you-re-just-supposed-to-say-nice-things-about/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [The interpretive element of 'Lost' - the fact that you immediately need, as soon as the episode is over, to seek out a community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/the-interpretive-element-of-lost-the-fact-that-you-immediately-need/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [Star Wars' is a galaxy a long time ago, far, far away. 'Star Wars' is not about our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/star-wars-is-a-galaxy-a-long-time-ago-far-far-away-star-wars-is-not/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

> [I felt like if I said something positive on Twitter, it got no play. But if I said something negative on Twitter, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-felt-like-if-i-said-something-positive-on-twitter-it-got-no-play/)

[Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

[Explore all 97 Damon Lindelof quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/)

## More Attracts quotes

> [Nothing attracts me like a closed door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/nothing-attracts-me-like-a-closed-door/)

[Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/)

> [It is in general the unexplored that attracts us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/it-is-in-general-the-unexplored-that-attracts-us/)

[Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/)

> [In literature it is only the wild that attracts us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-literature-it-is-only-the-wild-that-attracts-us/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The mind attracts the thing it dwells upon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-attracts-the-thing-it-dwells-upon/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [What attracts the photographer is precisely the chance to penetrate inside phenomena, to uncover forms... He pursues them into their last refuges and surprises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brassai/what-attracts-the-photographer-is-precisely-the-chance-to-penetrate/)

[Brassai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brassai/)

> [The quality of writing attracts me to films, also who the other actors are, who the director is, where it's being shot. Any or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dance/the-quality-of-writing-attracts-me-to-films-also-who-the-other-actors/)

[Charles Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dance/)

> [Life attracts life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/life-attracts-life/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“Happiness attracts happiness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-jeem/happiness-attracts-happiness/)

[Ibn Jeem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-jeem/)

> [The most likely explanation is the most practical. 'Macbeth' is a very popular play with audiences. If you want to sell out a theater,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/the-most-likely-explanation-is-the-most-practical-macbeth-is-a-very/)

[Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/)

> [Let your REal attitude attracts someone, because physical beauty is not a LIFETIME ASSET..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dela-cruz/let-your-real-attitude-attracts-someone-because-physical-beauty-is/)

[Andy Dela Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dela-cruz/)

> [The first thing that attracts me to any script is the writing. If I find myself becoming lost in a good yarn, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-duff/the-first-thing-that-attracts-me-to-any-script-is-the-writing-if-i/)

[Anne-Marie Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-duff/)

> [A burning purpose attracts others who are drawn along with it and help fulfill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/a-burning-purpose-attracts-others-who-are-drawn-along-with-it-and/)

[Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/)

> [Being thankful for and celebrating what is attracts more of what can and will be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-thankful-for-and-celebrating-what-is-attracts-more-of-what-can/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Beauty attracts us men; but if, like an armed magnet it is pointed, beside, with gold and silver, it attracts with tenfold power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/beauty-attracts-us-men-but-if-like-an-armed-magnet-it-is-pointed/)

[Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/)

> [Hair on a guy is something that attracts me first; if you've got a good head of hair, and you're able to style yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-stroup/hair-on-a-guy-is-something-that-attracts-me-first-if-you-ve-got-a/)

[Jessica Stroup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-stroup/)

Browse all 124 Attracts quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I look at myself more as a storyteller than a screenwriter, as pretentious as that may sound, but that's what really attracts me to TED Talks. For me, the really effective ones are being presented by expert storytellers.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Damon Lindelof"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-than-a-screenwriter-as/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attracts"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-than-a-screenwriter-as/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/damon-lindelof-6799_attracts_i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-t_2141067.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/damon-lindelof-6799_attracts_i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-t_2141067.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/721/damon-lindelof-6799_attracts_i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-t_2141067.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I look at myself more as a storyteller than a screenwriter, as pretentious as that may sound, but that's…” — Damon Lindelof",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Damon Lindelof",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I look at myself more as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-than-a-screenwriter-as/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/i-look-at-myself-more-as-a-storyteller-than-a-screenwriter-as/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
