Storytelling Tips from John McGivern
©2006 Gail Grenier Sweet
John, who is known for his comedy and acting, emphasized these things for storytellers:
* Own your story. Claim your street names, names of people in your life, etc. Use exact details.
* Pinpoint a moment that stays in your mind, something that has jolted your heart, for story ideas.
* Focus on your ending to shape your story. Set up the ending through repetition of an idea. Then your punch line packs more wallop.
* Come full circle; “bookend” the story.
* Leave a beat. Pauses are more powerful than anything else. (For writing rather than oral storytelling, I interpret that as using a tiny paragraph between two longer ones.) Cherish the pauses. But be VERY careful in using them.
* Don’t summarize. Name each moment.
* Don’t tell the reader how to feel. Let the reader conclude.
* If you want to emphasize something, say it twice or more. If you have a theme, keep repeating it.
* Use alliteration for humor (“hitch-hiking housewives”) and use funny sounds to add to humor (“p” and “k” are funny sounds — “naked” is funnier than “nude”).
* If you have part of the story that is more personal, change your tone and temper. Give it a different color to show different mood.
* In the midst of all of anything, show the heart and humanity of all involved. We all share the same stories.
* With extra funny stuff, “serve it” to the reader - serve it slowly, delectably.
* Don’t put yourself down in a story.
* Avoid cliches such as “at any rate.” Don’t use jargon like “virtual tour.”
* No one can tell your story better than you can.
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