Every storyteller
has a favorite approach to the process of learning and remembering a story to
tell. Some storytellers use a combination of steps that work well for them. The
one thing every storyteller I know seems to agree about is that learning and
remembering a story does not mean memorizing it.
A good storyteller
understands that a story is always a creation in progress. In an ideal world, a
story is re-created by the audience and the storyteller every time it is told. This
is why a story is usually different with each telling, and why memorizing does
not properly serve the story, the audience or the storyteller.
Following are five
basic steps you need to consider when approaching a tale you want to tell. (In
this article, I am focusing on how to learn and tell a folktale. While
most of these steps apply to learning and telling other kinds of stories, there
are a few minor differences when it comes to creating an original or a family
story. This will be a topic for another time.)
Read and re-read a
folktale you want to tell to make certain it is a good one for you - one you
like, and one you believe your audience will enjoy.
Look for other
examples of the story for different renditions. You may discover a variety of
cultures where a similar story has been adapted to reflect a different time and
place, yet the “bones” are really the same.
(2) RECALL THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN THE STORY
As you think about
the folktale, picture the different scenes in your minds-eye. Do the sequences
seem logical and easy to follow?
Think the story
through as if you were telling it. Will you tell it in first, second or third
person?
Decide where and when you want to place the story.
Consider the
characters in the tale, and take time to become acquainted with each one just as
you do when first meeting someone new.
Try out a few memory
techniques that appeal most to your learning style.
o
Write an
outline of the story
o
Create a
story map or draw the story sequence in comic book form
o
Think
about the story and talk it through to yourself
o
Make a
rough audio of the tale as you recall it
o
Tell
someone you trust about the story
o
Ask yourself
and trusted listener(s) if there are questions that need to be addressed the
next time the story is told
o
Make a
rough draft of how you want to tell the story
(3) RE-TELL THE STORY IN A WAY THAT PLEASES YOU
Without using notes,
a story map or outline of the story, tell the story to a peer group and obtain appreciations
and suggestions about your telling so you can consider their remarks. Do this step
as many times as needed.
(4) REHEARSE WHAT YOU REMEMBER
Review what you know
about the story in private, with a small group of trusted friends, or make an
audio or video of the story for your ears and eyes only. Review and consider what is working and what
is not working in the story as you rehearse. Be sure to stay open to changes as
they become known to you.
(5) REPEAT AND SHARE THE STORY
Pay attention to how
an audience reacts and participates as you tell the tale. These cues will help
you refine the story until it becomes more “set” in your mind, and it
can be considered a solid addition to your growing repertoire.
