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December 2019

How To

Be A Great Storyteller

    • TNN
    • Publish Date: Sep 9 2019 4:54PM
      • |
    • Updated Date: Sep 9 2019 4:54PM
Be A Great Storyteller

Good storytelling is a social skill that everyone benefits by – the teller and the listener. It is a great bonding experience that helps lift conversations from non-starters to unforgettable experiences; from the mundane to extraordinary. A good storyteller is popular and always welcome in any company.

Since you can only tell the stories that appeal to you and the ones you found striking, a good story told well, projects the teller as a warm, likable person. A recent study shows that women consider men who can tell stories more attractive as long-term partners, perhaps because this ability seems to suggest a man is able to connect emotionally and is vulnerable.

So, how can you become a good storyteller? Stories in this context do not refer to fiction, but to incidents and experiences from everyday life that we share with others. When there is a point or a context to the telling of that incident, it obviously becomes that much more interesting and valuable to the audience. For instance, if you share a story to prove a point you made, such as how technology is having an adverse impact on our memories, and give personal examples, this is something that affects everyone.

In the telling of a good story, it always helps to share something of your own self. Sharing humorous incidents from your own life is always a winner — such as the time I found myself (honestly) trying to rewind a movie dialogue in a cinema hall by pressing buttons on my cellphone, or how two days ago while reading the newspaper (actual hard copy) I touched the line “Contd on pg 12”, expecting the page to turn!

While a bit of embellishment is fine, too much exaggeration takes away from authenticity and puts off your audience; after all people have settled to hear you share a personal experience, not your wild imaginings or fiction!

People who have a sharp sense of observation – not just for actual physical or the obvious aspects – but also for the nuances, quirks and body language that go beyond – always make better storytellers. A good delivery and tone of voice also help. Audiences love their emotions to be aroused. Using your voice to express emotions and drama is sure to keep your audience mesmerized. You can use your voice to great dramatic effect to help build passion, tension and drama, or to arouse emotions.

Do not hog evenings or conversations with long-winded tales that go on and on. Learn to be brief and to the point. Be on the watch-out for signs that you are boring your audience. If so, either change technique or wind up your story to give others a chance with theirs.

And most important, do not repeat your stories so often that people get scared of meeting you! Keep enjoying new experiences, examining them, hone your observational and learning skills – and keep creating new stories. You will always be popular and cherished.



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Comments

Nayan Singha Kendriya Vidhyalaya no.1 jamnagar, Gujarat

Well first we need to define – what makes a story a good story? I''d argue the definition of a good story is very simple: A good story holds the listeners'' interest, builds feelings of connection between narrator and audience, and provides a satisfying conclusion In other words, these are the three ingredients to a good story 1) Holding Interest 2) Building Connection 3) Providing a Satisfying Conclusion.

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