tales of Suchita

We are all storytellers. Whether it is the stories we tell our friends – of incidents where we were the protagonist or how we were appreciated for something at work – or the stories we tell ourselves – maybe I shouldn’t eat this extra roti because I need space for dessert – we love telling stories.

But you have to agree, even within your friend or family circle, there are a few who are just better at this whole storytelling thing. When they begin a sentence with, pata hai uss din mere saath kya hua, you know that you’re going to get entertained at the very least.

What makes them such effective storytellers?

Effective language

A lesson I learnt from my biology teacher in class 10 when she had given us one period to make notes for the upcoming exams. She looked at one person’s notes and they had written, “XYZ was not present.” And she told us, “Instead of not present, you could have written absent. It is one word and it’s easier to remember.”

Language and how you use it to construct your story can make or break it.

Start in the middle

This is something I have learnt after reading a lot of YA books. Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. Does that mean you need to tell the whole thing? I know we often grouse that in romance novels, they always stop once the couple comes together; that we don’t get to see the mundanity of them being in a relationship. But do you really need to see that?

It’s about the atmosphere

Have you noticed the care and detail with which our favourite storytellers create the atmosphere around their story? You may think they’re being their exuberant self but it’s not just that. It is about helping you experience what they experienced.

Like for example, the detailing that goes into making movies. I love watching behind-the-scenes of cinematic movies like Dune and LOTR. The details the set design and costume department go into is insane! Maybe only 1% of it translates onto the screen but it’s important.

Maintain eye contact

The thing about watching a performance on stage – whether it’s a play or a stand-up act – is the invitation that has been extended to you to be a part of the performance. A story needs to provide that same invitation. It’s like an acknowledgement of the audience – I see you and I promise you’ll love what I have to say – without making them the end goal of your story.

Less is more

I attended a workshop on poetry recently and we were asked what makes a poem different from prose and the answer was: poems say a lot in few words. If you can say something in a para, don’t make it a chapter. If you can say something in a word, don’t make it a sentence.

Find the rhythm of your story

Music, life, stories, all have their ups, downs, pauses, hopes and despairs. An Endgame will not work without Infinity War, which will not work without the 20 other movies that came before it.

Spend some time with the story, the plot and the characters. Without time spent, there will be not enough ROI for the audience. Let your story breathe and flow. You’ll find it’ll reach its natural conclusion if you just allow it to unfold in front of you, without forcing anything.

Be brave

When a friend tells a story, our pay off as listeners is usually sympathy or laughter. So many times, when they’re telling a story, its about something stupid that they have done but they’re not afraid of laying that at your feet and have you do with it what you will. The same goes for when you’re writing fiction.

Choose your mouthpiece

Without a plot, your story will be ineffective. Without a cast of characters, your story will be unengaging. And without marrying the two, your story will be a mess.

Balance between spontaneity and planning

Before I sit to write a new chapter, I have at least 3-4 threads running in my head (planning) but when I do the actual writing, I sometimes come up with a fifth thread or use one which I was sure I would discard (spontaneity).

What do YOU like?

My friends and I have known each other for 20 years. I have been listening to mom’s stories for 30 years. After a point, you run out of stories but you still love narrating your favourite stories. Like how my parents got married is perhaps my favouritest story. And every time I hear it, I hear it with the same amount of glee.

Writing for me has always been a selfish activity. It is about me, what I like and I want to show you the world through my eyes.

We’re all storytellers. We just sometimes need to get out of our way, remember to have some fun, and go where it takes us. Quite like life – or nature for that matter.

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This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop.

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