How to Be a Storyteller

There are people who are born with the gift of entertaining others. They have a natural grace that makes them very attractive. Some, no matter how simple they say and where they say it, do it in such a way that it makes even the most serious of the group laugh.

Others have the ability to tell anecdotes and not miss any details of the story. In addition, the plot line is easy to follow and they use any type of literary devices, such as hyperboles, metaphors and even onomatopoeia, to make the story more vivid.

However, although they have these extraordinary abilities, most of them do not exploit their potential. You don’t get the most out of them. Perhaps due to the fact of believing that it is just a hobby, a hopeless case and that you cannot make a living from it.

However, the truth is that it is possible to establish yourself as a great storyteller. While it is true that it is a long road, you have to start somewhere to achieve it. Do you have the ability to tell stories? Why don’t you take them to writing? In this way, unlike oral tradition, it will remain with the passage of time and will not be lost.

But how can you become a great storyteller? What do you need for it? Do you require some extraordinary gift or can you train as a professional storyteller? If you are reading this article it is because you have the desire to do so, or at least you feel a little curious about it.

You will be happy to know that here you can find all the answers to the questions posed above, as well as others you may have on the subject. Therefore, do not stop reading this article. You will see that it is within your reach to achieve it, you would only have to learn the necessary technique. In relation to this, let’s see right now what it is.

Instructions to be a storyteller

It is known by the term storyteller, the person who is dedicated to telling, narrating and writing stories as a literary genre. However, as is natural, it is not just about counting for counting. In fact, if this were the case, anyone could do it successfully and be worthy of prizes, such as the Nobel Prize for Literature.

To be a good storyteller, it is necessary to know where to direct the story, what is the lesson that you want to leave and what you want others to continue remembering, when they finish reading the story.

To achieve this goal, it is important that you follow a series of steps during the process of creating the story itself. But what are they?

Creation of the characters

The characters in the story play a fundamental role, since people will be able to identify with them and even be able to relate them to those around them. Hence the importance of dedicating enough time to its construction. Which implies, not only imagining his physical appearance, but also his personality and his way of seeing the world.

In general, the story usually revolves around the life of the protagonists, who are the great heroes, in whom the readers will see themselves reflected. The protagonist of the story can be the narrator himself, but it could also be a third person, an animal and even a fantastic character, such as a fairy, a unicorn, a centaur or some other similar being.

In fact, it can also be about someone who actually exists or existed, like some historical character, for example, and an anecdote from his personal life is used to motivate the reader. Since, being a true story, it can create the feeling that, if that person was able to overcome those adversities, they also have that ability.

Now, no matter who you are, you must have problems to solve, which will be the ones that will guide the reader to the final lesson. However, great care must be taken that it is not so abstract that it makes the story totally incomprehensible.

These problems of the protagonist could present themselves in the form of secondary characters, hallucinations, monsters, everyday situations, etc. And it is the one that causes the knot of the story, since it generates a series of actions by the victim.

Build an interesting story

When taking this step, it is important to have the ability to create images in the minds of readers. As we have already mentioned, it is not a matter of counting for the sake of counting. Rather, it should be possible to create a story in each person’s head.

By doing so, it will give rise to a sequence of events, which will have continuity and will ensure that the attention of the plot is not lost. In other words, the reader will be hooked on the story and won’t be able to stop reading until they reach the end.

To spark the reader’s imagination, you should give specific details of the setting the character is in and the feelings they are experiencing throughout the story’s denouement.

Sure, it’s not enough to simply say the character is happy. Also, describe what his facial movements are or create certain metaphors to talk about what he is experiencing inside him. This way you can embellish the language you use and give it a more attractive nuance.

Of course, the opposite is also true. Do not go overboard with the details you provide. This could be counterproductive, as it would generate mental fatigue in the reader and lose sight of the message you want to convey.

Now that you have the necessary tools to know what your stories should contain, it is worth asking yourself, what else do you need to know or do to become a storyteller?

What do you need to be a storyteller?

Although it is true that the story and the characters of the story have great weight, it is not the only thing that you should give enough attention to. You should also take into account both your way of writing and the grammar you use.

This includes not only good spelling, but also the way you build the sentences that make up each paragraph of the story. If the syntax is not correct, you are likely to convey the wrong ideas and the original story will be completely distorted.

On the other hand, a misspelling would take all the attention away from the plot of the story, since the reader would focus on the form of what you have written and not on its content or substance. In order to take care of this important aspect, you can use different tools.

For example, if you have doubts about how to spell a word, use a good dictionary to make sure. Ideally, however, you should have a copyeditor who will make notes of what your faults are, so that you have the opportunity to improve.

Since he will play an important role, it is not recommended that you choose just any person. Ideally, it should be a true professional in the field, since they are the ones who are most qualified for these tasks.

Another thing that can help you, in this sense, is reading. Yes, every writer must be a good reader, as Horacio Quiroga mentions in his decalogue of the perfect storyteller. He drinks from someone else’s waters, believes in a supreme teacher, who serves as a compass so as not to lose his way.

By reading you will not only be able to broaden your creative field, but you will also know the correct way to write certain words, clarify doubts and awaken your imagination to create your own metaphors.

In relation to this last point, every storyteller must have an arsenal of literary resources to use left and right. Therefore, if you don’t know what they are, spend enough time educating yourself on this particular, because by doing this, you will enrich the text you produce.

But, what other things should you take into account when writing a story? Pay close attention to these final recommendations.

Tips for being a storyteller

Everything that is written reveals a lot about the writer himself. Therefore, keep in mind some of the qualities and skills that every good storyteller should have:

• You must have a vivid imagination, as productive as a child’s.
• It is extremely important that you write correctly. This includes not only taking care of the writing of the text, but also being able to make a scene come to life in the reader’s mind.
• Be very patient and cultivate stamina. Which means that you must have the ability to continue working on the same project, for hours, days, months and even years without giving up, without throwing in the towel.
• You must be a perfectionist. Don’t settle. This can become a double-edged sword. For one thing, you’ll never be satisfied with what you’ve written until you’ve rewritten it over and over again. On the other hand, it will lead you to do a good job. One that will be worth reading more than once.
• Writing also requires discipline. Since you will be your own boss, this will require you to have good writing habits.
• On the other hand, a good sense of humor will come in handy. Although not all adult readers enjoy it, in the case of children, this is essential to keep them engaged in reading. Also, a sense of humor will make you laugh at your failures, instead of feeling frustrated and bitter.
• Finally, every writer must be humble. If you notice that the smoke begins to rise to your head, it is best that you look for an anchor to help you keep your feet on the ground.

While it is true that all these tips can help you be a good storyteller, the best school for it is writing. Therefore, start doing it as soon as possible and do not let your hand rest. Thus, with practice, you will become an expert.