Storytelling has been a part of our lives since our existence. Ever since childhood, parents would use stories as their ultimate weapon, whether that be trying to feed their kids, put them to bed, or even educate them about big life lessons otherwise too complicated for their delicate brains.
As we grow older, our parents may stop, but stories remain a part of our lives. There is a story everywhere and in everything around us: the roads we travel through, the people we meet, or even the food we eat. These days storytelling is used for more than just entertainment. For instance, business storytelling is a rapidly growing marketing tool.
The art of storytelling has existed for as long as one can possibly remember, and it is one such art form that will never die away. Over the centuries, it has evolved and grown, giving us excellent writers and works such as Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, Ronald Dahl to, Nicholas Sparks, and Jk Rowling in the more recent times.
Writers use many forms and styles of storytelling to create these masterpieces, and narrative storytelling is one such form.
What is narrative storytelling?
The definition of narrative storytelling, according to nfiedu.com, is as follows: “the narrative is a storytelling technique wherein characters describe the events of a story, experience, or details from their point of view. Narrative stories can be either fictitious or non-fictitious and include vivid descriptions of the conflict.”
Narrative storytelling is synonymously used with storytelling and is the art of narrating a sequence of events and incidents that come together to form the primary building block of a story. It is often narrated by a character or a group of characters, giving us insights into every little detail about the world the writer has created. It can be in written form or even in the form of audio.
Narrative storytelling often consists of three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the end. The beginning is where we get an insight into the characters, the world, and what is going on in the characters’ life. It can be something really happening or something really mundane.
Here’s an example, the opening paragraph of the mega-successful series The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim’s warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad dreams and climbed in with our mother. Of course, she did. This is the day of the reaping.
This simple beginning, narrated by the female protagonist Katniss Everdeen, gives an insight into her life while introducing another character named Prim. The second part of narrative storytelling is the middle, where the story evolves and the conflict is revealed.
The characters are thrown in life and death situations, making decisions that could destroy everything, and in the case of The Hunger Games, Katniss surviving the deadly games with Peeta Mellark. The final part, or the end, is where the conflict is dealt with successfully, and a favorable outcome is reached, which can be slightly different in serialized novels.
Sticking with The Hunger Games example, the end of book one is marked by Katniss and Peeta winning the games and coming back home. If done correctly, narrative storytelling can transfer and immerse the audience into the world that the writer aimed to create, leading to the successful execution of the plot.
But what exactly makes for a successful storyteller?
Skills needed for successful storytelling:
Telling a story, now how hard could it be? Answer: very. Storytelling is no cup of tea. While everyone can write a story, only some know how to tell it. But it’s not impossible. With the proper knowledge and skills, one can easily do it. Here are some quick skills you can pick up to become a good storyteller:
Proper articulation skills:
When writing a story, words do it for you. But when you are narrating one, it is more than that. As a narrator, you will be the one taking the audience through the story without any help from written words.
And hence, to be a good storyteller, it is crucial to know how to articulate while doing the narration properly. The audience must understand what you are saying, meaning that as a storyteller, your pronunciation, tone, and voice should be absolutely clear and spot on.
The use of emotions:
Stories are all about emotions. A good story is one that has the ability to bring out feelings even from the least sensitive person. As a narrator, you must know how to inject feelings into your narration that would make the audience feel them too.
Without emotions, a story is just a bunch of words on paper. Similarly, failing to add emotions to your narration would be like reciting something from a piece of paper; as a narrator, you definitely don’t want that.
Maintaining a steady voice:
As a narrative storyteller, your voice is one of your most essential tools. While narrating a story, it is vital to have a steady voice and hold onto the tone and style you have opted for until it requires to be changed. If you have a shaky voice or an uncertain speaking style, it will ruin the entire experience for the audience.
Pausing:
Another essential skill to become a good storyteller is to know where to wait. In books, a pause is indicated by using commas and full stops. When reading out a story or a script, it is integral to understand that commas indicate pausing and that you must halt a mini second before continuing.
The same stands for full-stop. Every time a sentence ends, wait a moment before starting again. This allows the story to flow, and failing to do this can make your narration sound monotonous and even annoying.
Type of narrator’s voice:
Narrative storytelling uses three types of narrator’s voice: first person, second person, and third person.
The first-person narrator’s voice is conveyed from the protagonist’s point of view and includes pronouns such as ‘I’ and ‘We.’ This is the most commonly used narrative voice.
The second person refers to the use of ‘You’ or ‘Your,’ hinting that the story is revolving around you, i.e., the readers. And last but not least, the third person involves the use of ‘He,’ ‘She,’ or ‘They.’
In the third person narrator voice, the story unfolds through the eyes of a third person separate from the protagonist or the antagonist and is the next most commonly used form of narrative voice.
Narrative storytelling is an art that has evolved and grown over the centuries. It is an immersive experience capable of transporting the audience to the fantastic world a storyteller spins just with words or voice. Done correctly, narrative storytelling is a trick that never fails.
