Storytelling:Think&Do 1.3 -- Endings

Storytelling: Think&Do

by Norah Dooley
Theory and Practice for Storytelling as a 21st Century Skill

Storytelling:Think&Do 1. 3  Endings!

Storytelling is a performance art in its own right. In massmouth’s workshop you will experience how storytelling differs from theater, stand up comedy and twisting balloon animals. We will be mining your memories to craft a story with believable characters, a solid point of view and a clear beginning, middle and end.

Turns out storytelling is actually more like making balloon animals than I originally thought. When we inflate a balloon we create a shape with our hot air. The thin membrane of the balloon keeps the air in place, but only if we tie the end. When we neglect to tie off the end? The air escapes and the shape of the balloon is lost.

The worst kind of ending is where we just do not stop but repeat, woolgather and add in details that do not add value to the listener's experience.  When we finally come to a stuttering halt, no one is as happy as the audience.

Exercise: Think&Do 1.3  Endings ! 

Practice your ending, making silent eye contact, then acknowledge audience.  Then walk off...
However you usually end the story, try a few new endings by adding or substituting one of these:
1.    An action that clearly ends your story
2.    Some of the main character’s thoughts...
3.    How you felt; a wish or a hope
4.    A statement on what has changed or is different;
5.    A memory that is strongest from the story;
6.    A decision you made.
7.    End with your generalization or revised version of it.
8.    AVOID “the moral of the story is” … or repeating the theme.