Storytelling techniques -
How to be an effective storyteller

Storytelling techniques is an oral tradition that has survived through the ages. Being an effective storyteller is a skill that will leave a lasting impression on listeners long after the story has been told.

Source: Flickr - kodomud

There are a few storytelling techniques you should know that can make you a memorable, effective storyteller.

Selecting the right story

The art of storytelling begins by selecting just the right story. Stories that are especially suitable for storytelling are myths, fables, legends, ghost/scary stories, tall tales, fairy, and folk tales.

The story should have a well-defined theme, clear plot, interesting characters, be of high interest, and suitable for the intended audience.

These stories generally have a moral to the story, are engaging, and have a satisfying ending. The level of engagement in these high interest stories makes them especially suitable for dramatic oral interpretations. Sources for these stories include the public library and the Internet.

Bringing the Story to Life

Once you have chosen a story, read the story, and become very familiar with it. Pull out the essence of the story. Where are the moments of description? Where is the action? Description is imagery or language that appeals to the five senses: taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight. Imagery creates pictures in the mind of the reader. The more details given, the clearer the picture. Emphasizing moments of description with sensory language can engage the senses of your audience.

Stories are divided into 3 main parts: beginning, middle, and end. The middle of the story is where the action is usually located. Consider what sound affects and physical actions you can include to enhance the action of the story. Embrace the story. As the narrator, bring the characters to life by talking about them as if they are someone you know personally, like talking about one friend to another.

The Props of the Storyteller

The storyteller's props are his or her voice, gestures, and sounds. Use your voice to create the appropriate mood for the moment in the story. If the character is in peril, then your voice should also sound as if you are in peril. Read sound affects as if they are actually happening.

Create the mood with the pitch and rate of your voice. Use a different voice for each character. This brings the character's roles to life. Gestures add greater detail to your stories. If the story is shocking at the moment, looked shocked as you deliver your lines. If the character in the story is surprised, look and sound surprised as you deliver the lines. A good storyteller is essentially acting for an audience.

You can provide the sound of a character in pain, a door slamming, a character laughing intensely, or even snickering. It adds depth to the story and captures the heart and mind of your audience. Your storytelling techniques recreate the story as life for your audience. Good storytelling will leave an audience spellbound and in awe.

More resources for storytelling techniques

• Wikipedia story telling
• BBC's The Speaker series as resource for storytelling techniques