It’s Time to Learn How to Tell Great Stories

Good storytellers can make small moments more interesting and can weave them into larger stories. Those who don’t understand how to tell stories will bore you with the most amazing plots. These five tips are the key to telling a great story in conversation. They have also practiced their craft for years. You don’t have to be an actor or comedian to become a skilled narrator. Just learn a few tricks and you will be the talk of the town in no time.

Prepare a good story

Before you tell a story, think about whether it is universal or if it works best with a specific group of people. Take, for example, a story about your fantasy football team. Include a lot of inside jokes and references that everyone would understand, but not others. Imagine telling this story to your partner. What would they think? You can’t explain everything, so it takes away time from the story.

When we look at Harry Potter, it is clear that no one has ever been to Hogwarts or practiced magic. Because of her story, J.K. Rowling has become a millionaire. Why? Rowling’s story has universal truths: friendship, growing up, fighting good against evil. Everyone can relate to them. That is why Rowling is so popular. Most authors don’t have that ability. To be able to tell great stories in conversation, you need to think about the universality of your story. Are strangers able to relate? You probably have the most important aspect of storytelling if you can. Your experiences may be unique, but the themes that run through them are universal. Life is full of them. While we don’t recommend writing your story down before telling it, it is worth considering whether the story is worthwhile.

Your story should have structure

Now that you have a story you believe worthy of being told, let’s get back to high school language arts and see what makes a great story. Do you remember the plot charts? We’ve all been telling stories since the beginning of time. Kurt Vonnegut and other geniuses have made it a science. Each story should have a beginning and a resolution.

Interviews on late-night TV are a great way to see live storytelling. They allow guests to share their thoughts and can even extract it from the hosts. When you are trying to communicate a compelling story to your friends, take the time to understand the structure. You can build up to the ultimate laugh or leave your friends guessing what happens next. Keep the ending in mind, because that’s what everyone will remember.

Engage people in your story

Now that you have your plot and theme, what next? How do you tell a great story in conversation? This is where your flair for dramatic storytelling comes in. Your account should be well-thought out and engaging. Engaging storytelling is the best way to stimulate dopamine and other chemicals. Although there is a way to tell the story of going to the grocery shop that will grab people’s attention, if you take it step by step you’ll see a lot more blank faces and dead eyes than you reach the checkout.

Engaging stories require that you think about what concrete details you can include in your re-telling. It is easy to remember to think about the best ways to use your five senses. You will be more likely to synchronize brains if you have more sensory images in your listener’s head.

Most people can picture a group running away from a bunch of rats, even if they have never seen the movie. Simple metaphors do the job perfectly. It is always helpful to have a story that is engaging. While a story about a flight delay may not be very interesting, the story of your mistaken plane landing in another country is probably more fascinating.

Make everyone laugh

Humor is a great way to connect people.  Why is it so important to include humor in our storytelling? We share our vulnerability with our audience when we laugh at our jokes. But if they don’t, it can be very distressing. You can also consider the possibility that your story is self-deprecating.

We know from experience that male friendship is vital for building close friendships. The same applies to sharing a great story during conversation. A study found that sharing laughter can communicate to others that we share a similar worldview. This strengthens our relationships. When we tell stories, we are more likely to be trying to establish a connection with several people or just one person. Science has shown that laughter is one of the best ways to communicate and build those relationships. Laughter can also be a good indicator of the progress of your story.

Are you able to deliver a punch line that is hard to ignore? Perhaps it’s time for a little speed. Is everyone laughing or rolling around on the ground? If so, you are great in your storytelling skills. Acting out your story can add humor to it.  For a moment, think about your story. How can you tell it? Do you have any funny characters? Perhaps there are actions that you can exaggerate to make your story more entertaining. Anything that makes your audience laugh will bring you closer.

Be careful with time

Mastering the art and science of timing is a key skill in telling a compelling story in conversation. It requires that you can read and interpret body language in a room. This can also mean that your story could change as you tell it. Do not go too long. You’ll soon see your friends drifting away. You’ll make people unhappy if you cut it too short too.

How do we master timing? Let’s take a look at timing through the lens of comedy. According to Greg Dean, comedy timing is important, but no one can discuss it in any useful manner. Dean then developed two principles for timing comedy. “Dean began to analyze audience laughter and found out that a good, solid giggle usually consists of an initial burst followed by a pause for breath and then a rise towards a peak. The second principle is called “tagging your jokes,” adding a quick verbal redirection following the punch line.” Dean emphasizes the importance of the relationship with his audience. This is true for all storytelling that you do in conversation. It is easier to notice the little details that can make a story better if you tell it more times.

Practice makes perfect when it comes to storytelling. You will improve your storytelling skills the more you tell it. In some time you will be able to tell great stories in conversation.