Good story

Characteristics of a good story:
1. A single theme, clearly defined
2. A well developed plot
3. Style: vivid word pictures, pleasing sounds and rhythm
4. Characterization
5. Faithful to source
6. Dramatic appeal
7. Appropriateness to listeners
-Baker and Greene, Storytelling: Art and Technique, pp. 28
Be sure there is drama in the story as well. There should be a situation (a conflict or predicament) building to a climax and resolution in the tale. The conflict can be introduced immediately or foreshadowed to increase the suspense and intrigue. Try to have the audience worry along with your characters and care about what happens next.

"As the suspense of your story builds, be sure to have some comic relief periodically. Approach the climax through ever increasing tension interrupted with periods of relaxation." Hanford, Puppets and Puppeteering, p. 101.

The story has to seem real to you. "Become so thoroughly familiar with it, it is a part of you....Don't just tell it, live it!" Barrett, p. 35

Children respond to sight and sound more than logic and plot. Look over good children's books, or anthologies of stories. Notice how the stories paint word pictures and use the sound and rhythm and repetition of words. In developing and learning a story concentrate on its visual and audio aspects: either assemble it into a series of visual pictures like a filmstrip, or consciously absorb the rhythm and arrangement of the sounds of the words. Repetition and Exaggeration has always been basic elements of story telling.

Even when telling an old a familiar story from the Bible, you must use imagination and all the storyteller's skills to make it come alive. Use your imagination to make the story come alive as you prepare. Give them personalities...live the story with them...know and feel their emotions...breathe the breathe of life into them, until they become so real to you that you feel like they are people you know. If you are convinced - your listeners will be too.



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Developing an appropriate story: Imagination and resources:
Use imagination to create your stories. "Imagination is to paint a picture in the mind, to invent ideas by seeing, because to imagine a thing is to image it." Feed that imagination. "It is reasonable then that the more you see and hear and read and experience and remember, the more the materials you will have on hand with which to feed your imagination. The more you practice the easier it will become." Barrett, pp. 85,86
Bible truths can be made into stories in quite imaginative ways, ways that will cause them to ponder, to apply, to understand their Bible lessons from different perspectives.

Good inspiration for story ideas include the stories of George MacDonald, the Narnia tales of C. S. Lewis, John Bunyun's The Pilgrim's progress, and The Holy war. These men were masters at making Bible teachings come alive. The children's section of your local library is another place for ideas and inspiration in preparing stories.


Pre-teaching...
Sometimes your audience needs to be prepared for the story by giving to them "listening tasks" (listening for certain information, or elements of the story). Perhaps you want them to listen for and respond to a particular word or phrase. Sometimes unfamiliar elements: objects, places, customs, etc. need to be illustrated or explained ahead of the story before puzzled looks or misuderstanding results. Pre-teaching can use a variety of visuals and activities, and can help bring the point into sharper focus.


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