How To TEACH Storytelling to anyone
Lessons from Ghana - and Portland
Keep it Kind. Keep it Curious.
The Campfire Tales approach to story coaching.
How to help anyone, anywhere, tell their story.
The first rule in teaching storytelling is to listen.
Listen to what the person has to share without judgement.
Did they tell you a hard detail that made you wince? Understand that their reality is not yours. If they included that detail, it may be important to their authentic story.
Mirror a part of the story that resonated or was told well. Reflect the positives back to them at the end.
“That detail you added of looking under the bed, that brought me into your room.”
“The part where you said how you felt, I felt that too.”
Listen with deep curiosity.
Did they drop a thread of something that would make the story stronger? Ask them to expand on the key points that made you want to know more.
“My grandfather died and I was sad.”
Ask: What was your grandfather’s name? What do you miss about him? Can you tell me about a moment with him that made you laugh?
Honor your process as a listener. How you best listen and respond is just as important as how the storyteller grows in their craft.
Ask permission if you want to take notes. You might hear the story once and then go through it piece by piece a second time, or ask for a transcript to read along.
If this is an ongoing relationship, give them an assignment.
Is there something unresolved? Ask them to think about the resolution.
Is there a part you wanted to know more about? Ask for another story. Encourage details like the light in the room, the smell in the air, or what they remember seeing and feeling.
For example, if they mentioned a childhood kitchen in passing, ask them to write about what that kitchen looked, smelled, and sounded like.
Here's a simple shape to help someone see their own story.
Basic Story Format
Beginning
Where does the story start? Location, timeframe and simple details that bring the listener in. Was it raining? Was it cold? Were you in a hurry?
Middle
What happened? How did it feel? What details help the listener connect to the story?
Ending
What was the outcome? Was there a resolution?
The Goal
The goal is not to craft the perfect story, but to create a safe, nonjudgemental place for the exchange of storytelling.
Deep curiosity does not mean digging for trauma. If a storyteller chooses to share a difficult experience, listen without judgement, but do not push them toward painful experiences they have not chosen to share, especially when there may not be resources available to support them afterward.
The more you listen, the more questions you ask, the better the storyteller becomes and the richer the stories.
Storytelling can be therapeutic, but listening to someone’s story is not therapy, and the goal is not to fix emotional problems. The role of the listener is to give people space to share what is important to them and, if needed, encourage them to reach out to trained professionals for help. Stories of deep hardship or trauma shared among people with similar experiences can be meaningful. Sometimes, simply speaking an experience out loud and being heard is enough.
We teach storytelling so people can share their lives with the people around them. When we learn to share who we are, we help others see themselves too..
Ryan McAbery | Campfire Tales
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