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The
WRONG Way to Tell Stories
by Dianne Hackworth
 Students
usually learn best by good example, but occasionally the lesson sticks
better when they are shown the incorrect way to do something. Through
this method, the student will see how distracting certain mannerisms are
when presenting before a group. This is what I share with teachers and
also use when doing storytelling residencies.
Begin by
telling the students you are going to tell a story the wrong way. The
story content itself is OK, but the things you will be doing while telling
are distracting to the audience. Have them listen and watch and at the end,
they may tell you the numerous things you did that were distracting. (Students
love to have a chance to tell adults what they do wrong!) Seeing their teacher
demonstrate in this humorous fashion helps students identify and remember
nervous mannerisms.
Wrong
Mannerisms to Include in Your Presentation:
- Begin
telling before you have reached the front of the room.
- Lean on
the board or desk behind you.
- Play with
any items nearby - chalk, books, paper.
- Never
look at the audience - just the floor, ceiling, walls, windows, etc.
- Put hands
in pockets and rock back and forth.
- Swing
arms back and forth and side to side.
- Wring
hands.
- Smooth
hair.
- Put hands
in front of your mouth.
- Twist
shirt in your hands and pick at your clothes.
- Sway from
side to side.
- Pace back
and forth.
- Talk too
softly and/or too loudly.
- Talk too
fast and/or too slowly.
- Get tickled
and not be able to continue.
- Begin
walking back to your seat while finishing the last words of your story.
- Use a
“pleasant voice” for a story that is not pleasant.
- Go up
in vocal inflection at the end of each sentence as if you are asking
a question.
- Talk in
a monotone.
- Don’t
pause for laughter. Just keep on telling so that no-one hears what you
are saying.
- As a matter
of fact, don’t pause for anything - a huge outside disturbance
or distraction, a fire drill, a chance for audience members to catch
up, or to catch a breath.
Note:
17. and 18. were added thanks to storyteller Mary Hamilton (http://www.maryhamilton.info).
19., 20., and 21. were added thanks to storyteller Chris King.
This is
a good chance for those teachers who have been hesitant to tell a story.
The students will be concentrating on your mannerisms, not your storytelling
abilities. In fact, if you mess up, just incorporate that into your “wrong
way” presentation.
Dianne Hackworth, a storyteller from North Carolina, tours throughout
the Southeast telling stories for all ages. Dianne brings to life Appalachian
and Celtic folktales; stories of fantastic beings, dragons and jugglers;
musical tales of cats, monsters, and toads; humorous stories, scary stories,
and touching tales. To find out more about this delightful teller, visit
her website at http://www.drurypub.com/hackworth
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Contact Chris King
at:
chris@creativekeys.net
or at: 36250 Lakeshore Blvd.
#303
Eastlake, Ohio 44095
Phone: (440) 918-1313
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Is it your
dream to
become a
storyteller?
If so, this
Dream
Jobs book is for you!
It includes interviews of
three working storytellers,
the steps to take, along with a plethora of useful
tips.
If you'd like more information about "How to Get Started
as a Professional Storyteller" and how to order your
copy, just click on the above book cover or
HERE.
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The
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