Storytelling Basics
- Tools of the storyteller
- Tales good for telling
- Shaping the story
- Final Polish and feedback
- Telling the tale
Tools
Voice, sound, and language
Make sure your voice is loud and clear. Try different breathing exercises to have the correct support. Stretch, yawn, shake, laugh, hum...to loosen up the muscles necessary for the best voice production.
Try to use vivid but clear language that paints word pictures for listeners. Remember that the listener may only hear the words once, so the words must be memorable.
Practice the art of the pause: to create suspense, to underline an image, to invite a laugh. Play with sounds from the story: of nature, of doors closing, of a monster’s growls, anything that lends itself to a sound effect.
Props, music,audience participation
Consider adding music — a melody, a sound, chant or beat — to certain stories, by your voice or with an instrument. Practice simple songs and chants that could enrich a tale.
Props both fancy and simple can help some stories. Consider an Asian prop, try a familiar puppet or toy, or use your imagination to create something new from boxes, yarn, paper, anything. Explore audience participation, using a song, chant, or gesture, especially for younger audiences.
Gestures, repetition, and...
Experiment with gestures, but remember that each story may need different gestures, while each teller has her own approach - some use their whole body, others simply raise a finger or an eyebrow. There is no right way, so try various actions to find the most suitable.
Use repetition if it fits - of a phrase, gesture, word, chant....
The inner tools of imagination, concentration, and visualization are crucial; these develop with time. A sense of humor and of timing is helpful, they will also grow with practice.
All tellers have different strengths and tools; find and develop your own. Always remember the vital tools of warmth and sensitivity.
Finding Tales
Traits of tellable tales
Look for stories that you like and that will appeal to your listeners. Work with its appeal: is it funny or scary? Does it remind you of another country? Do you like the characters? Also consider these traits:
- a limited number of clearly drawn characters
- a plot that moves steadily on
- pleasing language and possibilities for sound effects or music
- vivid images
- elements of suspense, humor, drama, surprise, or pathos.
Types of tales
Use family stories, or other true tales. If you like to create, make tales to tell. Dip into the endless material of folklore, from short endless tales and anecdotes to rich myths and epics. Here are just a few popular Asian characters and story types to explore:
TRICKSTERS: Birbal and Tenali Raman in India, Judge Rabbit and A-Chey of Cambodia, Sieng Mieng of Laos, Sri Thanonchai of Thailand, Monkey from China’s classic, Journey to the West, the fox and badger among many in Japan, Kanchil from Malaysia and Indonesia.
FOOLS: Foolish in-laws, children, officials, couples, gurus and priests, towns of fools — any one can be a fool, and every one likes a foolish tale.
TALL TALES: Unbelievable misers, super strong men and women, lazy men, strange animals or weather - these and more make up Asian tall tales.
HERO TALES: Phu-Dong Thien-Vuong or the Trung sisters from Vietnam are beloved heroes, as are the different bandits, scholars, and fighters in Chinese lore. In the Philippines, one hears of Jose Rizal and others who fought for freedom. The list is long and inspiring, across Asia.
SCARY STORIES: The range of strange Asian creatures is wide — from Japan’s oni, tengu, and yamanba to Sri Lanka’s raksha. Vengeful spirits, helpful ghosts, and everything in between can be found.
Shaping
Refine the form
Everyone remembers stories differently; use your strengths to help you. Visual learners can map out the tale, draw scenes, or see it as an inner video. Those who learn bestl by listening can tape it and play it repeatedly, or read it aloud. If you move to learn, act out the tale and mime the setting.
Consider all the storytelling tools
Soon you will know a version of the story that works for you. Now you can add the final polish to the story. You can find words that paint word pictures, add sounds or character voices. You can try a gesture to show a character or the setting, add meaningful repetition, shape a great beginning and an ending that works. Finally, you can consider the use of music, props, or audience participation in your story.
Polishing
Feedback
Now that the story feels about right, tell it to a good friend, or into the tape recorder. Use this list to (gently) critique your telling.
- Is the story plot clear and told without hesitation? Is it the right length?
- Does the opening hook listeners? Does the closing work?
- Is there descriptive language? Are there just enough details?
- Is there a place for a pause?
- Could character voices be used? Should more dialogue be added?
- Does the voice share feelings and have changes in volume, texture, pitch, inflection, etc.?
- Is speech clear? Are sound effects used well?
- Are gestures used? Do they add or distract?
- Is teller sensitive to listeners’ responses?
- Is repetition used — of gesture, phrase, word, sound?
- If music, props, or audience participation are used, do they help story or distract the listeners?
On stage
Check the setting: dim the lights if possible, have the audience close to you, try to reduce background noises. Create an atmosphere that is comfortable and inviting. If time allows, plan for a snack to share afterwards.
Relax as you prepare... Remember that getting up to talk in front of a group is a challenge. To calm nerves try deep breathing, laughter, a pep talk, a good stretch, or a quiet moment thinking about the story.
Respond to the audience
Know that the audience is on your side; they want to hear a story. They won't mind if you make a mistake ( they probably won’t even notice unless you get upset)! Just tell on. If you’re telling to very talkative little ones, find gentle ways to quiet them with a look or a gesture. Be sensitive to the audience, pause slightly when they laugh, look for friendly faces to return to, and watch for restless signals that the story is getting a bit too long. Relax and enjoy yourself, then start learning your next story....