How to Tell a Story Like a Professional
Storytelling is an art that anyone can learn and enjoy. Whether you want to entertain, persuade, or inform your audience, you need to know how to tell a story well. Here are some steps to help you master the fundamentals of storytelling, use your voice and body effectively, and improve your storytelling skills.
Mastering Storytelling Fundamentals
– Engage your audience.
The first step of storytelling is to capture the attention and interest of your listeners. You can do this by asking them a question, making a surprising statement, or telling them what the story is about and why it matters. For example:
– If you are telling a fairy tale, you could ask: “Have you ever wondered why the moth chases the flame?”
– If you are telling a funny story, you could say: “I have the college roommate story to end all college roommate stories. Let’s just say it involves a toilet.”
– If you are telling a personal story, you could say: “This is the story of how I met my best friend and how she changed my life.”
– Build the scene.
Once you have hooked your audience, you need to set the stage for your story. Give them some details about the time, place, characters, and situation of your story. Use sensory language to help them imagine and feel what you are describing. For example:
– If you are telling a fairy tale, you could say: “Once upon a time, when the world was old and magic still lived and beasts still spoke…”
– If you are telling a funny story, you could say: “I’m sort of the quiet, owns-multiple-cats type, right? But my roommate was very much the what’s-a-liver partier.”
– If you are telling a personal story, you could say: “It was a rainy day in June, and I was waiting at the bus stop when I saw her.”
– Build tension and release tension.
A good story has a plot that keeps the audience engaged and curious about what will happen next. To create a plot, you need to have conflict, challenge, or problem that the main character has to face and overcome. You also need to have moments of relief or humour that break the tension and give the audience a chance to breathe. For example:
– If you are telling a fairy tale, you could say: “Moth approached the tall, white pillar and there was Flame, burning in her glory. Moth felt hooked somewhere around his stomach and the tug of love set in. Of course, heroes do not rescue their princesses on the same day, and Moth spent many splendid moonlit nights falling deeper in love with Flame.”
– If you are telling a funny story, you could say: “One night, I came back from the library and found my roommate passed out on the couch with a pizza box on his chest. I thought he was just sleeping off another binge, but then I noticed something odd. There was a trail of toilet paper leading from his mouth to the bathroom.”
– If you are telling a personal story, you could say: “We started talking and I realized we had so much in common. She liked cats too, and books, and music. She was funny and smart and kind. I felt like I had found my soulmate. But there was one problem. She had a boyfriend.”
Using Your Voice and Body
– Use expression and emotion.
Your voice and body are powerful tools for storytelling. You can use them to convey the mood, tone, and emotion of your story. You can also use them to act out some parts of your story or imitate different characters or sounds. For example:
– If you are telling a fairy tale, you could use a high-pitched voice for Flame and a low-pitched voice for Moth. You could also make whooshing sounds for Flame’s fire or fluttering sounds for Moth’s wings.
– If you are telling a funny story, you could use exaggerated facial expressions and gestures to show how shocked or disgusted or amused you were by your roommate’s antics. You could also mimic his slurred speech or snoring.
– If you are telling a personal story, you could use changes in volume and pitch to show how excited or nervous or sad you were at different points of your story. You could also smile or frown or cry depending on how you felt.
– Make eye contact.
Eye contact is essential for connecting with your audience and keeping them interested in your story. You should look at your listeners as much as possible, especially when you are making a key point or delivering a punchline. You should also vary your eye contact and look at different people or parts of the room so that everyone feels included and engaged. For example:
– If you are telling a fairy tale, you could look at your audience when you ask them the opening question or when you reveal the ending of the story.
– If you are telling a funny story, you could look at your audience when you make a joke or when you show them your reaction to your roommate’s behaviour.
– And if you are telling a personal story, you could look at your audience when you tell them why the story is important to you or when you share your feelings with them.
– Avoid filler words and pauses.
Filler words are words or sounds that you use to fill in the gaps or pauses in your speech, such as “um”, “uh”, “like”, or “you know”. They can make you sound unsure, unprepared, or unprofessional. Pauses are moments of silence that can be used for effect, such as to create suspense or emphasis, but they can also make you sound hesitant, nervous, or boring. You should avoid using filler words and pauses as much as possible, and instead use clear, concise, and confident language. For example:
– If you are telling a fairy tale, you could say: “Moth decided to take a risk and fly closer to Flame. He hoped she would notice him and fall in love with him too.” Instead of: “Moth, um, he wanted to, like, get closer to Flame. He was hoping that she would, uh, see him and maybe like him back.”
– If you are telling a funny story, you could say: “I followed the trail of toilet paper and opened the bathroom door. And what I saw was unbelievable.” Instead of: “I followed the toilet paper and I opened the bathroom door. And… (long pause) … it was crazy.”
– If you are telling a personal story, you could say: “She told me she was moving to another city with her boyfriend. I felt like my heart was breaking.” Instead of: “She told me she was moving to another city with her boyfriend. And I was like… (long pause) … so sad.”
Improving Your Storytelling
– Know your audience.
Different stories work for different audiences. You should tailor your story to suit the occasion, the purpose, and the expectations of your listeners. You should also consider their age, background, culture, interests, and preferences. For example:
– If you are telling a fairy tale to children, you should use simple language, colourful imagery, and moral lessons. You should also avoid scary or violent scenes that might frighten them.
– If you are telling a funny story to your friends, you should use slang, jokes, and references that they can relate to. You should also avoid topics that might offend or bore them.
– If you are telling a personal story to a potential employer, you should use formal language, relevant details, and positive outcomes. You should also avoid topics that might make you look bad or unprofessional.
– Edit your story.
A good story is not too long or too short, but just right. You should edit your story to make sure it has a clear beginning, middle, and end. You should also cut out any unnecessary or irrelevant details that might distract from the main point or message of your story. For example:
– If you are telling a fairy tale, you could start with the opening question or statement that introduces the characters and the problem. Then you could move on to the rising action that shows how the problem gets worse or more complicated. Finally, you could end with the climax and resolution that show how the problem is solved or not solved.
– If you are telling a funny story, you could start with the set-up that establishes the premise and context of your story. Then you could move on to the punchline that delivers the surprise or twist that makes your story funny. Finally, you could end with the aftermath that shows the consequences or implications of your story.
– If you are telling a personal story, you could start with the hook that tells your audience what the story is about and why it matters. Then you could move on to the challenge that shows what obstacle or difficulty you faced or overcame. Finally, you could end with a takeaway that shows what you learned or gained from your experience.
– Practice your story.
The best way to improve your storytelling is to practice it as much as possible. You can practice by yourself in front of a mirror or a recorder, or with someone else who can give you feedback. You can also practice listening to other storytellers and learning from their techniques and styles. For example:
– If you are telling a – fairy tale, you could practice by reading or watching classic fairy tales and noticing how they use language, imagery, and structure to create a magical world and a captivating story.
– If you are telling a funny story, you could practice by watching or listening to comedians and noticing how they use timing, delivery, and exaggeration to make their stories hilarious.
– And finally, if you are telling a personal story, you could practice by listening to podcasts or TED talks and noticing how they use emotion, detail, and message to make their stories meaningful and memorable.
I hope this article helps you to tell a great story. Good luck! 😊
