How to Learn Storytelling and Become a Better Storyteller in a Month
From Weird Stories to Real Storytelling
My interest in storytelling started with a very strange little story called Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Sylvester was a Donkey, and a red Magic Pebble turned him into a rock. And that’s where the trouble begins. 😄
Tiffani, a seven-year-old, wrote it in an ominous tone during third grade. That was also the year I decided I wanted to learn storytelling.
Looking back, those weird stories were not exactly literary masterpieces. A Donkey’s turning into rocks is certainly an unusual plot twist! But writing stories like that helped me understand something important: you become a better storyteller by actually telling stories, not by waiting until you somehow feel ready.
Fast forward 27 years, and I had completed a Creative Writing degree and built a thriving copywriting business. Yet I was still learning how to tell stories. That experience taught me that storytelling evolves as your skills, ideas, and experiences grow.
The key is to keep pushing yourself to grow and refine your craft. Start with small stories, experiment with different ideas, and pay attention to what makes people want to keep reading. You don’t need a perfect story on day one—you just need to keep learning. ✍️
Table of Contents
3 Simple Ways to Learn Storytelling and Become a Better Storyteller
Option #1: Start with Storytelling Books
- 1: Start by reading a good book and notice how your inner thoughts change with the voice of the character. For me, rereading Harry Potter can make me a little more sassy for a week. 😄
- 2: I also like Frieda McFadden because her writing feels punchy and detailed. When you reread something, you begin to notice how the author builds scenes, chooses words, and keeps you moving through the storytelling.
- 3: Storytelling 101 is simple: read widely if you want to write better. Your brain absorbs the cadence of different writers, and you can naturally start writing like the author you’re reading.
- 4: Reading a variety of authors can eventually create your own blend of unique storytelling—basically a little Franken-version made from your favorite authors. 🧟♂️
- 5: I learned that college can teach useful skills, but the business of storytelling is another thing entirely. Likewise, reading books and books for fun can help, but they won’t automatically make you fully grasp the idea of how to tell stories.
Option #2: Learn from Online Storytellers
Storytelling evolves with the times. It started with hieroglyphics and campfire stories, then moved into books and films. Today, a huge part of storytelling content lives online.
If you want to learn storytelling to write fiction books, spend some time studying online storytellers too. Watch how they understand their people and what audiences are drawn to.
Our attention spans are shorter, but our quench for drama and details is still insatiable. We crave stories that hook us from the start and keep us engaged. 😄
Look at a TikTok, an Instagram post, or the plot of a new novel. When something works, save it in a folder. I personally keep one for Storytelling on TikTok because apparently my brain needs homework too. 😂
Option #3: The Annoying but Necessary Option
- 1: Practice Makes Perfect—Like my mom used to say, you get better at storytelling by actually practicing. 🙄
- 2: Write More Stories—Whether it’s fiction writing, content writing, or copywriting, keep writing and experimenting.
- 3: Study and Read—Practicing works even better when combined with studying and reading good stories.
- 4: Learn From Your Weak Spots—If it’s hard to know which details to include, how to start with storytelling, or how to make your story sound pretty, practice those areas specifically.
- 5: Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable—Maybe your life doesn’t feel exciting enough, you dislike being vulnerable, or hate talking to a camera. Use story frameworks and examples to make storytelling easier over time. 😅
Learn How to Tell Stories with Tell Your Story Subscription
Storytelling has many small facets to practice, from creating a strong hook and introduction to using relatable and authentic storytelling techniques. Good storytelling also involves learning how to paint a picture with words through techniques such as similes, personification, and bathos.
- 1: Practice writing with hyper-specific details that help stories flow naturally. Adjust adjectives, adverbs, and filler words such as like, really, and a lot when they are unnecessary.
- 2: Pay attention to details and pacing, as both can affect how a story develops and keeps the reader interested. Small changes can also improve the overall storytelling structure.
- 3: The Tell Your Story Subscription provides 3 prompts every month for deepening skills beyond simple hooks. The prompts can provide regular practice for anyone working toward becoming a better storyteller.
- 4: The subscription is designed to be affordable, making regular storytelling practice more accessible to struggling artists and other writers.
