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Storytelling Cheat Sheet

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111 views1 page

Storytelling Cheat Sheet

Uploaded by

mohamed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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STORYTELLING GUIDE: RESOURCE 8

Storytelling Cheat Sheet

It can be difficult to put limitations on stories because they come from our lives—there
are endless possibilities of what you can talk about and how you can talk about it, which
can be overwhelming.
These tips are designed to jog your brain if you find that you are struggling with telling particular parts of a story, like how
to get it started or how to find the right ending.

Ideas for Beginning a Story Ideas for Ending a Story


• Tips: The beginning should be as specific and concrete as • Tips: Don’t use all of these example endings! Work with what
possible, avoiding talking about the story and instead diving into you have—try to avoid bringing in new details or developments,
the details of the story itself. unless it is an intentional twist or surprise for the audience.
• Examples: Keep your endings shorter than the middle of the story to avoid
o Specific time and place (“It was 1989 in Richmond, CA, sounding preachy or repetitive.
and I….”) • Examples:
o Memory of what someone told you (“My mother always o State a moral, lesson, or takeaway.
told me to….”) o Mention something that the story says about you.
o Surprising statement (“You may not know this about me, o State how the story inspired something for you.
but I…”) o Mention what the story reminds you to do or think.
o Referencing an object or something tangible (“Whenever o Say how the story is a symbol of something bigger that is
I see a bus, it reminds me…”) relevant to everyone.
o Describing actions that say something about you (“Every
morning, I….”)
Tips for Delivering Stories
o Introducing something significant (“My life took a
completely different path when…”) • Get into a comfortable position. If standing, shrink the room
o Asking the audience a related question (“Have you with your mind and focus on specific people. If seated, get into
ever…..?) a position that allows you to feel energized and in the moment
(sometimes the edge of your seat helps, unless that makes you
When You Reach the Middle of a Story…. more uncomfortable).
• Be conversational—talk to your audience, not at them.
• Dive into even more specific detail.
• Use gestures and face to enhance drama or paint the scene.
• Bring some action, dialogue, and inner thoughts into the scene.
Let us “see” your reactions.
• Use your senses—tell us what events felt like, smelled like,
• Establish a speaking style that is most true to you. It’s okay
looked like, sounded like.
if it isn’t super polished—be you.
• Keep things unresolved. Don’t give us the answer—let us get
• Slow your overall pace. Let us sink into the story.
into the messiness of the story.
• Have a clear endpoint for your thoughts. It’s okay to stop. When
• Highlight struggle, conflict, drama, or uncertainty. you stop, commit to the ending, land your voice, and hold your
• Transition to the ending section by stating what you were eye contact. Don’t trail or say, “…so yeah, that’s my story.”
thinking to yourself at the time (“In that moment, I thought
to myself…”)

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10261 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 | www.practice-space.org | [email protected]

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