Storytelling Tips

Concentrate on communicating with the listeners.

(Steer away from making storytelling a performance)

Find stories you like

Be yourself, develop your own style.

Storytelling is a process. Trial and error is the only method for becoming a successful story teller.

Embrace your mistakes; it makes the telling come alive.

Eliminate any extras in the telling until you can use them without interrupting the flow of the story.

Enjoy the telling.

(If you don’t, the audience won’t)

Storytelling Techniques

Begin by reading the story.

Fix it in your mind.

Write it. Either the whole story or an outline of the story.

It is important to choose exact language for

Transitions.

and/or

Tape the the story, so you can listen to it.

Tell the story in your own words

Practice, practice, ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE.

In the bathtub, on the bus, waiting for appointments, cooking dinner. Let it take over your mind for awhile.

Tell first to family, friends, pets, any supportive audience before telling for a formal audience.

In the beginning you may want to use cue cards/chart, until you are comfortable with the telling. After about ten tellings, the story should be yours.

Watch, listen, ask questions and analyze other stories and tellers for the things you like, want to incorporate in your own work, and can do.

WAYS OF TELLING

Voice

Sound effects

Language

Body

Gestures

Movement

Music

Art

Other sources of information: Check Aaron Shepard’s storytelling page (also a great source for readers’ theater scripts). Link on course website or:

http://www.aaronshep.com/storytelling/index.html