How to become a better storyteller?

[One on One]

Anybody got any tips on how to tell a good story? I am really bad at telling stories and don't really have many stories to tell. By nature, I'm a very brief person so my stories aren't very descriptive and usually don't go off well.

 

[BobbDobbs]

Good story telling starts with the basics. First you must speak distinctly.

Secondly, your words should flow smoothly. Halting speech is rather irritating.

Thirdly you should paint images with your words. These images should lead to something, should be related to the overall vision you are trying to describe.

Finally, even though you want some fill in detail, always remember that brevity is the soul of wit.

 

[sAxyguy83]

Don't overload on detail, but do use it when it helps to better paint the image you're trying to convey. Also, if it's a funny story, learn to do good imitations of the ppl involved

 

[Trickster_guy_2001]

A story has to grab the attention of your audience.

It should be something your audience can in some way identify with.

It should have a point to it. A beginning, a middle, and an end are improtant to have.

::Advice::

Take acting classes.

Listen to other good story tellers, and identify what it is about them that makes them good. You can look anywhere from books to movies and everything in between.

Now a story is important to me, since I graduated with an animation degree. I also perform magic, where it is very important to hook the audience with a good story. My favorite illusions involve stories.

An example:

I own an effect where a person picks a card out of a deck. I show 4 extra cards, all with little aliens on them. The alien cards change, and then I end up with 4 copies of the card they chose. Then they change back, and I'm done.


That sounds boring.

Now if you add a story about how this astronomer in deckville has first contact, meets these aliens, they probe him and then take his form. He devises a plan for escaping the ship, and he succeeds. The aliens leave, saddened that their mission was a failure... well, it adds something more to the idea of cards changing. It has a point to it, and it holds a little bit of interest, since you do kind of get (A little bit) attached to the character of the astronomer. It has a beginning, a middle and an end, and the hero wins.

Story is very important. It's something to always be looked at.

I hope this helped. Good luck.

 

[Starman]

and keep your stories to the point..leave out unecessary details..I cant stand when sum1 is telling a long winded story..only to have a mildly amusing ending

 

[spanky]

I agree with all of the above. I love to tell stories. I find that you must hook your audience in the beginning of your story. Also, as someone else stated, learn to use good imitations of people involved.

I am very animated and use a fair amount off gestures when I tell stories for the added entertainment. Also, your story must flow well. Avoid saying "oh, I forgot one part"-Your audience interest could drop signficantly.

Try to add humor somewhere in your story that will make your audience bust out in laughter. Try to add surprises and twists.

Finally, for an excellent and very entertaining example of good storytelling, rent Arabian Nights. It was an NBC special a few years back and received excellent reviews. In the movie, a couple of characters discuss the art of storytelling. Not to mention, the stories are very entertaining.

 

[Julian]

Stories dont have to be true. LIE LIE LIE

I always lie and make up stories, its funny lieing out your ass to a barber as they ask you inane questions about your life and you can just make a bunch of sh1t up. haha

 

[Sexy_Malibu]

Originally posted by Julian
Stories dont have to be true. LIE LIE LIE

I always lie and make up stories, its funny lieing out your ass to a barber as they ask you inane questions about your life and you can just make a bunch of sh1t up. haha

It's always so funny when someone is a really good liar... they can tell you the most outrageous story and you almost kind of believe them. My friend used to date this cop and he was telling me this whole story about how when they arrest someone for drug possession, they confiscate the drugs, and then they take it and sell it. I asked increduously, "really?" only for him to come back at me with "NO!" I felt so stupid. He was a really great liar and a really great storyteller.

 

[matius]

This is interesting...

...from Mark Twain:

http://www.boondocksnet.com/twaintexts/how_story.html

 

[Starman]

Originally posted by Sexy_Malibu
It's always so funny when someone is a really good liar... they can tell you the most outrageous story and you almost kind of believe them. My friend used to date this cop and he was telling me this whole story about how when they arrest someone for drug possession, they confiscate the drugs, and then they take it and sell it. I asked increduously, "really?" only for him to come back at me with "NO!" I felt so stupid. He was a really great liar and a really great storyteller.

LIAR!

 

[-HPNOTIQ-]

Art of a good story teller is to be animated.

Look at the best stand up comedians out there: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, Chris Tucker, Jamie Foxx....all these comedians have one thing in common. They are "ALIVE!!!!!!" when they are in front of their audiences.

They use their arms, hands, exaggerated facial expressions. Eyes become wide open to convey suprise or anxiousness. Foreheads wrinkle when confused. One eyebrow is raised to promote question They convey their message using different tones in their voice. They pace their story fast at some points, and slow to convey meaning. They are like a living cartoon!!!

Go out tonight and rent "You So Crazee" by Martin Lawrence. He does a great job being animated that you are anxious what he is going to say next. Regardless if you are telling a short story, or a long one, be animated and actually interested in the story you are telling.

IF you come out mono-tone, and not genuinely interested in your own story...why should anyone else be?

 

[Sexy_Malibu]

Originally posted by Starman
LIAR!

Oooooh starman don't you get me started! You want to psychoanalyze me???

 

[toot86]

cool

Alright someone eles that sees the importance of storytelling!!

here is a good thread some great minds gave some good tips on this one..
http://www.sosuave.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32643&highlight=storyteller

 

[BobbDobbs]

Originally posted by matius
This is interesting...

...from Mark Twain:

http://www.boondocksnet.com/twaintexts/how_story.html

I don't think that type of story works in the modern world. Attention spans are short. In Twain's day they sat around and whittled blocks of wood to pass the time.

 

[carbani]

one simple, good tip for a story/joketeller. Use names!
He wasn't "my friend" - he was "My friend,Johny"
He didn't wasn't in the restaurant,he was in Starbuck
He didn't order sth to drink, he ordered Pepsi.

 

[matius]

I don't think that type of story works in the modern world. Attention spans are short. In Twain's day they sat around and whittled blocks of wood to pass the time.

That's not the point...

I think it's all about delivery. That's the point.

I would most certainly slap somebody if they were trying to tell me a story like that today. LOL, btw.

 

[Chewy Bagel]

A good story MUST have CONFLICT. Think of any good story you know of and there is one form of confict. Man vs. Man, Man vs. Nature, Man vs. Self, etc...

Get that in the story and you're good.

 

[Psycho`Sexual]

Creativity

Access you "right brain" and start becoming creative with your stories.

Take an arts class, a beginners art class, they focus on a lot of projects to get you thinking with your right brain.

Some of the examples they have is seeing "negative space."

Do to this exercise grab a small kiddies coloring book, rip out a page, flip it upside down.

Put a blank sheet of paper on all of it, except the bottom inch or so.

Now, grab another blank sheet of paper, and draw everything you see in that one bottom inch, as close as possible to the original thing.

Slowly keep moving up the paper and drawing it inch by inch, until you have completed the entire picture.


This will take some time however, but since your right brain doesnt tend to create symbols and shortcuts, once you start gaining access, you wont care about the time.

Pay attention to how you "feel" while you are shifting into the right brain, and then try recreating the same effect while story telling. It will allow you to imagine the story more fully in detail, and describe it much more vividly.