Instrumental / Storytelling
Storytelling is an extremely effective public speaking tool. It creates relevance for the audience, providing additional detail and mental visuals that bring to life otherwise dull, remote, or complex topics. Stories give speakers the opportunity to tell personal stories that relate to the audiences' experiences, thought processes, or values. Moreover, including stories in both interpersonal communication and public speaking helps your audience remember your statements or speech for later recall. Before you begin your journey into storytelling let us take a moment to look at the 5 crucial components when formulating your Storytelling speech.
1. Audience – It is more than likely you will know who your audience is before delivering your speech. In the construction phase always keep them in mind and do your research beforehand. By speaking their language, you are keeping them engaged and more likely to retain what you are saying.
2. Hook – A hook peaks your audience’s attention and keeps them interested in your story. There are multiple ways to do so. Ultimately what the hook is meant to do is reel them in with an overarching question.
3. Personal - Stories lets the audience identify with you. Bringing personality and authenticity will further help build a repour with them.
4. Brevity - Long speeches are forgettable with today’s audience. This is why simplicity is in high demand. Storytelling helps convey essential information without overloading them with unnecessary facts and figures.
5. Structure – All stories should have a beginning, middle, and end. This comprehensible structure is what makes stories easier to remember.
Begin with a Plan
Stories can be fun to tell and fascinating to hear if they're told properly. When you begin crafting your story make sure that you select a story that is right for you and your audience. Although you can recite material written by others you don’t always have to rely on it. Good story-tellers can create and tell their own stories by channeling the first-hand experience. Just remember that whichever route you choose to convey a story it should always be entertaining.
The Simple Construction
Now that you've got a plan and story you want to tell in mind let’s build it! Use these steps and write down all your answers in one sentence.
1. What is the point of your story? Think of the message you would like to convey.
2. Where does your story take place?
3. Who are the people involved in your story? Limit the number of characters to two or three.
4. When did the story take place? i.e. Past, Present, Future, After Dinner, Saturday Afternoon
5. What is the challenge or conflict? i.e. Between people, values, past vs future, self
6. What happens in your story? List the events, making sure the action reaches a peak or climax.
And lastly, review your notes and decide at what point the story begins and at what point the story ends. Keeping in mind that your beginning should be able to hook your audience from the very start and your ending should be reflective of it.
The Finishing Touches
After you have outlined your story, you're ready to add some color using the two most common elements that give any story life. Vivid descriptions and Expressive Dialogue.
Descriptions enable your listeners to paint pictures in their minds while expressive dialogue adds life to your characters and ties the story together. In your story, strive for images so real that everyone can see them. You want your audience to see, hear, feel, smell, and taste the scenes you describe.
As you add these elements make sure to:
1. Describe the time, setting, and characters early on
2. Make it relatable and personalized
3. Keep it short and don't drag it out with unnecessary details
4. Keep body movements natural
5. Make use of a vocal variety
Example:
“A cold winter’s evening in a dark ally next to a pile of garbage is where I found my good friend Dom”
“Dom” I angrily shouted, “This is the 3rd time this week I’ve found you here drunk and covered in vomit.” He responds with a grunt. *urg*
Time to Deliver
Congratulations! You are now ready to tell your story. As you tell it, act as if it's the first time you've ever told it. Show your interest in it through your facial expressions, body, and voice. Make direct eye contact with your audience. But avoid the use of distracting movements. As stated previously any gestures should be natural. Use vocal variety to reflect the different characters as they speak. As a storyteller, you are interpreting the ideas and emotions of the author. Whether that author is you or material gathered from others. You are not portraying any one specific character. You are simply the moderator in which the story is passed.
Take your newfound knowledge and put it to the test. Practice your storytelling skills here. Or if you’d to learn more be on the lookout for Your Voice NY workshops.
Whether you are a beginner or a pro it’s always a great idea to have quick and simple material to reference. If you are interested in learning more and finding your inner storyteller continue reading from here.
