Story Telling 101

What you are going to learn in this section

Most of us are familiar with telling stories. How often has someone asked you to recap an experience you had. Like that one crazy party you went to, or that time where at your kids first birthday party they decided to wear the cake as a hat. Whatever the occasion you probably had to visualize what went on in your head first. Then as you started remembering what happened you basically re-capped it as you were seeing it in your mind’s eye. 

Well, telling a good camp fire story is a lot like that. Of course, many of the stories you read on this website did not happen to you (I hope). So, by following the steps that I give you here, you will be telling the story like a professional. 

Let’s take an easy story as an example. 

“The Star Thrower” (or “starfish story”) is part of a 16-page essay of the same name by Loren Eiseley (1907–1977), published in 1969 in The Unexpected Universe. The Star Thrower is also the title of a 1978 anthology of Eiseley’s works (including the essay), which he completed shortly before his death.

(This is an adaptation of that story)

The Star Thrower

[One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. 

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?” 

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” 

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!” 

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. 

Then, smiling at the man, he said…..“I made a difference for that one.”] 

( Loren wrote this beautiful story with a great message. Alone it works as a great story, but let’s spruce it up a little bit for around the campfire. )

First:

Remember the Story:

We all have been around those people when telling a story, had to stop for an instant, think about it, and then they mix up the time line and have to go back to a different part of the story to try and fill in the blanks. Then skip back ahead to where they left off, then try finish the story. 

So please, once you pick a story or stories you want to tell around the camp fire, and use the tips that we are covering here. Make sure you take the time to prepare and read and re-read the story several times to get it committed to memory. 

*(Note:  I also want to add in…((Find The Tone of the Story.)) Is it a Scary Story, or a Story for Kids? You don’t want to tell a Scary Story like you would tell a Kids Story. Or Vise Versa.)

This story is a relative short one to remember, so let’s move on to the next step to making it camp fire worthy. 

(Back to the Story)

Second:

Make it Your Own:

We tend to remember things that happen directly to us and have more of a personal meaning behind it. So, make the story your own. Not to mention, by making the story personal or putting your own personal twist on it, the audience will be even more engrossed in what you are saying. Don’t worry about plagiarism. You are telling a story around a camp fire, you are not writing a book. 

   (For example): 

Let’s switch the (Man) to… well (You). Why not? The young boy can still be the young boy or switch it to young girl, depending on your audience. I find if I am telling this story around a group of girls, I will switch it to young girl. Don’t be afraid to make the youth a teenager or any age or culture you want. Again, it’s just a story. 

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Third:

Add Some Unique Details:

To REALLY Captivate your audience. Add in some Unique Details. Think about who you are telling the story to. Where has your audience been, what certain things has your audience experienced?

    (For Example):

Say your audience has been to Miami Beach Florida. Why not tell the story as if it took place there. Maybe even down the beach from a resort you stayed at. Also, why not give some detailed description of what the day was like. “After a big storm had rolled through…throwing beach umbrellas all over…”

Try and make them feel as if they were actually there. The Unique details that you add into the story are what brings them in and helps them to experience it in their imagination.

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Fourth:

Move Around:

Don’t just sit there and tell the story. Get Up, Move around, Make Grand Gestors with your arms and body.

By Moving around you are naturally keeping your audiences attention. By making gestors with your hands and arms or (Acting Out The Story) you are helping their imagination kick in.

*(Note: This is also a time to make sure you make eye contact with your audience. This also draws in your audience better.)

   (For Example):

In the story, the little child was actively throwing the starfish back into the sea. Why not run back and forth and act like you are picking up a Starfish and Throwing it back into the sea.

**(Remember…You are competing with kids of technology. They are used to Videos, Movies and Games. You have to be just as entertaining.) 

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Fifth:

Answer any Follow up Questions:

If you are telling this story to young kids, there will probably be some follow up questions. Not like in school when a teacher asks if there are any questions, but rather while having dinner or S’mores or maybe even right before bed.

Best Advise… Answer as if the story were True. Have some more background info that you might not have told during the story, or if you are good, make it up right there.

There is no harm in letting them think a harmless, moral story is not true. Use your own judgment though.

*(Note: If you have just told them a Scary Story and they are Visibly shaken and scared. THEN tell them it was a just a story.)

**(Note: This leads me back to Know Your Audience. Don’t tell Scary Stories to young kids. Just like you wouldn’t let them watch a PG-13 or R rated movie.)

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Sixth:

Keep The Story Alive:

What I mean by, Keep The Story Alive, is simply going along with answering any follow up questions.

If it is a fun story, with a good Moral, keep pretending that it was true.

If you have some teen kids who think a Scary Story was not true, keeping the story alive, (along with help from other adults), will help sell it better in their minds. Not to mention it can be fun for you also.

If you are REALLY good, you can Pre-Plan your Stories and build them up or drop some hints before you even get to telling the story. This way when you are telling the story, they have recent memories to draw from and it will make your story feel more real.

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Seventh:

Be Humble…..Yet Mysterious:

This keeps going with the Answering any Follow Up Questions and Keeping the Story Alive.

If you have just told your story and you knocked it out of the park, others will come up to you telling you how good of a job you did.

Simply Be Humble. Thank them politely and keep carrying on as you normally would. Be Ready though, sometimes that is to catch you off guard. That is the time where they will ask if the story was True or Not. Adults do this tactic especially well. This is when you break out the Mysterious Card. 

You can Vaguely answer them or mis-direct them with another question but don’t just come out and tell them Yes or No it was True or Not. Adults don’t like to admidt it, but they want to be entertained and believe in the stories just as much as kids. Why not give them a gift of a memory of having just heard a Great Campfire Story.

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Back To Campfire Stories

Thank You for taking the time to learn a little more about how to Tell and Present a Memorable Campfire Story.

Not all of us have the time or talent to tell Campfire Stories. That is why at the end of each Campfire Story you find on this site, has a Audio Version to accompany it. So everyone at your site can just sit back, relax, and enjoy time together listening to Campfire Stories.

Thank You Again!

Remember...

Camp Happy And With A Purpose!!