Storytelling 101

Story Arcs

Crafting a compelling story arc is essential for captivating an audience. Sarah Janess from The Moth emphasizes starting with a scene or action to draw listeners in, sometimes using flashbacks to enhance the narrative. She advises that while stories should have a central question and stakes, they don't need to be overly complex; a chronological approach often works best 1.

The end of a story can be the hardest thing to craft. So hopefully in your story, you've built a central question. There are stakes to your story, there's tension. And in the best case scenario, the audience is wondering, how is this going to work out?

--- Sarah Janess

Meg Bowles adds that the last lines should be memorized to ensure a strong finish, leaving a lasting impact on the audience 2.

   

Story Delivery

Delivering a story effectively involves more than just words; it's about being present and engaging with the audience. Meg Bowles suggests that storytellers should avoid memorizing their stories word for word, as this can lead to a stiff delivery. Instead, familiarity with the story allows for a more natural and intimate presentation 3.

If you do go blank on stage, just think what happened next. Because you lived your story, the audience didn't live it.

--- Sarah Janess

Sarah Janess encourages storytellers to speak as if they are conversing with a friend, which helps maintain a connection with the audience and keeps the story alive 3.

   

Story Prompts

Using prompts can unlock untold stories by helping storytellers find meaningful moments to share. Meg Bowles advises looking back at small, significant moments in life, as these can lead to larger narratives 4. Sarah Janess

If your life were a movie, what's one scene you'll never forget?

--- Sarah Janess

These prompts help storytellers focus on the essence of their stories, making it easier to decide which details are important and how to structure the narrative effectively 4.