Simple Story Structures
These simple story structuring devices will help you ensure your story is complete and engaging for listeners!
The Five Ps:
People
Place
Problem
Progress
Point
The Inverted World:
Describe the Normal World
Trouble Comes
The World Turns Upside Down
Help Comes or Something is Learned
A New Normal is Established
How Something Came to Be:
How it was before?
What changed? – could be over time or abruptly
How is it now?
What does it mean?
Tips to Bring Your Story to Life:
Incorporate dialogue
Use the senses – sight (color, size), sound, taste, touch (texture, temperature)
Concrete images to relate what happened
Let the emotion come through the story
*(Adapted from the work of Donald Davis, www.ddavisstoryteller.com, Telling Your Own Stories: For Family and Classroom Storytelling, Public Speaking, and Personal Journaling, August House, 1993)
People
Place
Problem
Progress
Point
The Inverted World:
Describe the Normal World
Trouble Comes
The World Turns Upside Down
Help Comes or Something is Learned
A New Normal is Established
How Something Came to Be:
How it was before?
What changed? – could be over time or abruptly
How is it now?
What does it mean?
Tips to Bring Your Story to Life:
Incorporate dialogue
Use the senses – sight (color, size), sound, taste, touch (texture, temperature)
Concrete images to relate what happened
Let the emotion come through the story
*(Adapted from the work of Donald Davis, www.ddavisstoryteller.com, Telling Your Own Stories: For Family and Classroom Storytelling, Public Speaking, and Personal Journaling, August House, 1993)