Tips for Telling

Taking “Baby Steps” in Your Storytelling Commitment

One of two things is probably true of you. You are an active storyteller, or you wish you were. If you are in that second group, it is time to take a step in that direction – not a big one, just some “baby steps.”

The best way to continue your storytelling developing process is to volunteer to tell stories. You may object by saying, “I’m not good enough yet.” or “There are no storytelling opportunities around where I live.” or “There are storytelling opportunities, but I’m sure they want someone more professional.”

Let’s deal with each of these comments.

“I’m not good enough yet.”

Well, that is just the point – your skill level is just sitting there, not going anywhere. Remember this principle, “Anything worth doing is worth doing … poorly, until you learn to do it well.” If you are not willing to do it poorly, you won’t do it at all. Storytelling is like any other skill: the more you do it, the easier it gets and the better you become. But unlike many other skills, storytelling develops quickly.

“There are no storytelling opportunities around where I live.”

There are plenty of opportunities for those who will volunteer - that is doing it for free. We live in a society where these things are true:

Young people are growing up without hearing a live storyteller. Schools are open to having someone come in and “just tell stories.”

I was mentoring a storyteller, and one day I said to him, “You need to learn to tell stories to children.” He asked how he could get experience in that area.

I said, “Go to your local school, walk in, and tell them what you are trying to do – to get more experience at telling stories to children. Ask them if you could tell stories to one of their classes.”

He asked, “Will they agree to that?”

I said, “Oh yes. As a matter of fact, they will probably book you for all of their classes.”

He walked into his local school that had grades K-6. Before he left, they had booked him for all the classes in the school. Try it and you will be amazed!

Older people are over exposed to media entertainment. You will find that churches, retirement homes, social clubs, business gatherings, etc. are very open to having someone come in and tell stories. Actually, so many will try to book you that you will have to start charging fees in order to reduce the number of people who want you to come.

“OK, so there are storytelling opportunities, but I’m sure they want someone more professional.”

If organizations want someone more professional, they will find that they will have to pay fees to get them. When you volunteer, you will find that word will spread – and you will be able to book many storytelling opportunities.

So, what are you going to do? Are you going to sit back and wish you could tell stories like … ? Or, are you going to start this exciting new adventure? You will be amazed how quickly your skills will develop as you take these “baby steps.”