What is Storytelling?
Storytelling is the art of keeping an audience interested by slowly revealing the plot, characters, and setting of a story through spoken and nonverbal cues that gets them thinking creatively. The framework of a story is made up of a strange mix of basic plot elements and unrestrained originality. This is an important part of the art of telling stories. It is more than just a technique. Every story has its own set of requirements. So, it is up to the writer to pay attention to what the story needs and bring that movement to life with a structure that combines ideas, rhythm, audience engagement, and intrinsic value.
As writers, we need to go back to the basics of how to tell a story. We have to ask ourselves, “How much is necessary?” Can one scene have too much going on? Do we need ten pages to explain something that four pages could do just as well? Is the writing centred on the main objective?
Skeleton in the Context of Storytelling
The human body comprises not only tissues but also cells, muscles, and organs. It is also made up of the skull, spine, sternum, scapula, ribs, pelvis, and other relevant parts. These are the strongest parts of the human body and allow us to do things like run, jump, push, and hold things. And they make up the framework of the skeleton. Without the skeleton, the flesh would be weak and unsupported. It is just like a house built on sand without a foundation. The strongest foundation for storytelling is the presence of a complete skeleton. Don’t we want the same for our write-ups?
Read – The Essence of Literary Journal Publishing by Frank Njugi, Kenya
The same scenario applies to the skeleton of storytelling. It is the ability to tell a story that includes the head, body, and legs so that the story has a meaningful foundation, content, and ending. Every great story out there entails these, and they not only give value to stories but also add creativity, self-expression, and a vivid understanding of the story.
Making an outline or putting together the basic structure of a story first will help a writer add more details later. Your ability to understand the internal aspects of storytelling will make you a great storyteller. The basic structure of a story doesn’t stop writers from being creative and developing fresh concepts. Instead, this makes stories coherent. The fundamental principle is to start with the skeleton and then add flesh to produce a whole sentence. By leaving out words and phrases that are not necessary, the skeleton can help storytellers learn how sentences depend on each other. This adds stability to the story and keeps the middle of unplotted and early drafts from sagging, which makes a story appear lost and dull, particularly in the body.
A writer must make sure that the main character is someone the audience can relate to or empathize with. Good character formation is key. Contrary to what most people think, the audience doesn’t have to like or empathize with the main character. But through your writing, you can let your audience easily connect with your characters and fall in love with your storyline without stress.
The writer must make sure that the reader can understand or picture the setting(s).
When discussing literary works, the term “setting” refers to both the location and the time in which the narrative’s events take place. When we read a story or see a movie, we usually focus our attention on the main characters as well as the story’s overall progression. Still, there is a third important part of storytelling that we must take into account: the setting. The time and location in which the events of a story takes place are referred to as the narrative’s setting.
A writer must make sure that the plot is clear enough for the reader to understand or picture.
The plot is what holds a story together. It is how a storyteller puts together and arranges a series of events. It has all the important parts of the story: the introduction, the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the ending. So, writers have to craft their stories in a way that captures their readers’ attention and retains their interest.
Read – Effectiveness of Linguistics to a Writer -By Elizabeth Nafula, Kenya
Key Features of a Well-Told Story
Make a Lasting Connection
Why do you think some stories sell while others barely do? Audiences will spend time, money, and energy on stories that touch their hearts and stir their emotions. Evidence of this is found in the reviews left on platforms. Reviews and constructive criticism are ways to communicate with a storyteller that will help them create better stories in the future.
Give value
Whether a comedy, a sci-fi, or a family drama, they all give value in one way or another. Comedy helps the audience relax and release stress, so if you put on a comedy show where people leave feeling more drained, then it is worthless. Make sure that your storytelling gives the kind of value that can distinguish you from other storytellers and also keep the audience coming back to you.
Engage the Audience
Storytelling can take the form of a narrative, dialogue, or a combination of the two, as well as other styles. But no matter what kind of creativity is used, it should be able to keep people interested. A good storyteller can “read” his or her audience. The storyteller is aware of the most important aspect to emphasize and when to do so. He or she knows how important tension and timing are in performance, can tell stories with body language, and knows when to pay attention and act.
Read – Research for Creative Writing by Sandra Nadege (Rwanda)
When writing a first draft, there is no right or wrong way to do it. The best choice for you is the one that works best for you. But after you finish the first draft, read it carefully from beginning to end, paying attention to the head, body, and feet. If all you still see is a skeleton, add more flesh to complete it. But do not eliminate a bone to replace it with flesh. Nothing about the way you tell a story needs to be changed. Still, if your story feels “weird” and you don’t know why it’s probably because it’s not well structured or because parts of it come out too late or not at all. Scenes can be added, taken away, or switched around. Build the skeleton of your story one bone at a time. Don’t forget to be creative and give yourself a voice.
In summary, a story can go from 0% to 100% if it has good character development, a well-described setting, and an interesting plot, which falls under the head, body, and legs of the skeleton of storytelling.
Elizabeth Dwamena-Asare is an author, creative writer, and playwright. Her volunteer work on climate change served as inspiration for her first children’s book, “Who Cares?” She graced a reading session with e-Ananse and had interviews with Leti Arts Games and ATL FM on her writing career. In 2022, she won the Central Entertainment and Business Awards in the author/writer category and the Africa Matters Media contest with her piece, “We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For”. Her literary works include fiction as well as articles addressing environmental and literacy issues. Her short story, “The New Normal,” was shortlisted in the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) anthology of short stories, and “Maid of the House” was published in Writers Space Africa’s 2022 magazine edition. Other publications by Elizabeth are available in the Daily SearchLight Newspaper, the Daily Graphic Online, Opera News, and the Malawian National Newspaper.
Great
Thank you, Abigail.