Storytelling tips help you communicate better with kids. The art of storytelling is a great skill to practice and master. The time we invest in preparing to tell good stories can impact children in memorable ways.
With that in mind, I wanted to share this list of storytelling tips. Emma Coats, a story artist at Pixar, tweeted these 22 storytelling rules years ago. Later she categorized them as guidelines.
These storytelling tips have been called “a masterclass in story, psychology, and human connection.” Take a look, and see how you can use them in children’s ministry classrooms.
22 Storytelling Tips From Pixar
- You admire a character for trying more than for their successes.
2. You have to keep in mind what’s interesting for the audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer or storyteller. They can be very different.
3. Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about until you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.
4. Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.
5. Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.
6. What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?
7. Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.
8. Finish your story, let go even if it’s not perfect. In an ideal world you have both, but move on. Do better next time.
9. When you’re stuck, make a list of what wouldn’t happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.
10. Pull apart the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it…
11. Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you’ll never share it with anyone.
12. Discount the first thing that comes to mind. And the second, third, fourth, and fifth. Get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself.
