Writing fiction is a form of storytelling. But it isn\u2019t the only form. While not everyone writes, everyone has had storytelling experience. We all share experiences verbally with others. Some of us repeat scenarios we\u2019ve heard, try to recap something we\u2019ve read or rehash an event that happened recently or in the past. And we each have our unique ways of doing this.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve all met people who are entertaining\u2014we could sit and listen to them all day. And there are others that we avoid at social gatherings because their stories are boring.<\/p>\n
What makes the difference? Do you like to tell stories and get a reaction from friends and family? What sort of reaction do you get? Are you entertaining or boring? Do others enjoy listening to you as much as you enjoy talking?<\/p>\n
Ouch! These are hard questions to consider, aren\u2019t they? No one wants to admit they\u2019re boring. I think that we all fall under both categories at one time or another. But certainly there are people who more typically fit into one or the other.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s explore what makes an entertaining storyteller and some of the habits that might label someone boring.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re more apt to respond to a story we can visualize\u2014so a clear description is important. But too much description makes a story drag and listeners become bored. We generally enjoy stories that move along at a good pace. Intrigue captivates most people. You want your audience to ask or to appear to wonder, \u201cwhat happened next?\u201d A good storyteller has a crisp and clear punch line.<\/p>\n
What are some of the habits of poor storytellers\u2014those that you avoid? Here are some of my pet peeves. They tell a story that\u2019s not interesting to begin with. They clutter their story with unrelated and unneeded details, such as what street they lived on when they were 12 and what color each kitten in the litter was. The storyteller argues with him\/herself as to whether this event occurred at 8 a.m. or maybe 8:10\u2014no, closer to 8:05\u2026Once the storyteller has his \u201cvictim\u2019s\u201d attention, he may take you on a very long trip in order to make his original point, which he may actually forget in the end.<\/p>\n
Boring storytellers often spend time working things out in their own minds as they talk. In fact, they go inward. In some cases, you can walk away and the speaker won\u2019t even notice because he is reliving the story within himself rather than being cognizant of the story he is telling. These are definitely two different story types\u2014the one you relive and the one you share with others.<\/p>\n
Some people definitely have a knack for storytelling. And one of their techniques is to be aware of their audience. They present outwardly. They are cognizant of their audience, how receptive they are, and they know how long to drag out or how quick to end their stories.<\/p>\n
The next time you tell a story, pay attention not to how it feels to be \u201con stage,\u201d but how your story is affecting the other person. Often it is the feedback that creates a good story\u2014that is as long as the storyteller is willing to acknowledge and accept it.<\/p>\n
The other part to storytelling is listening. I have one pet peeve when it comes to listeners. It\u2019s the one who shouts out the punch line, or who jumps into the middle of your story to comment or criticize.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve done a lot of public speaking and I\u2019ve even experienced a heckler or two. Some people are just born hecklers. They don\u2019t have the confidence to tell their own story\u2014they don\u2019t feel they can be heard any other way, I suppose\u2014so they take some of the limelight from those who can attract a crowd. Or, perhaps, the person who shouts out is trying to tell the storyteller his story is boring and he\u2019s ready to stop listening.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m Patricia Fry and I\u2019m the author of several books for authors, including Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More<\/i>. It\u2019s at Amazon.com in print, Kindle and audio and at most other online and downtown bookstores.<\/p>\n
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Writing fiction is a form of storytelling. But it isn\u2019t the only form. While not everyone writes, everyone has had storytelling experience. We all share experiences verbally with others. Some of us repeat scenarios we\u2019ve heard, try to recap something we\u2019ve read or rehash an event that happened recently or in the past. And we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t