Welcome to Storytelling Step 2. If you are here, you've already reviewed our storytelling formula and chosen a Who + What + Why Not. If not, return to Storytelling Step 1.
Describe your character (Who)
Your Who + What + Why Not are like an outline for the story you want to tell. Now it’s time to start adding describing words that will shape the story. You can develop the details yourself, or as you tell the story, ask your audience for input and adjust the story in real-time. Interactive storytelling is great way to get kids involved in storytelling.
See a video showing how to tell an interactive story with kids. Or, learn more about group storytelling.
How to describe your story character
Remember your "Who" from step 1? This is your main character. The way you describe him or her will shape the story. See how changing the describing words in this Who + What + Why Not changes the story direction.
A fairy + wants to go to the gnome village + but a dragon gets in the way.
Option 1: A charming, young fairy + wanted to go to the gnome village + but a baby dragon got in the way.
Option 2: A combat-boot-wearing- fairy + wanted to go the gnome village + but a ferocious dragon got in the way.
Your adjectives are super important, so choose some creative ones.
Choose some adjectives
What does your main character look like? What kind of personality does she have? Your character could be:
Enchanting / Horrid
Cruel / Compassionate
Spiky / Slimy
Sparkling / Dull
Monstrous / Puny
Frosty / Warm
Gorgeous / Repulsive
Cheerful / Grumpy
Shy / Bold
Lazy / Antsy
Wise / Zany
For more ideas on describing your character, see our awesome adjectives list or, use our fill-in-the-blank stories to see how changing describing words changes the story.
List of Awesome Adjectives
Fill in the blank stories
Story Example- see how it works
Let's see how the formula works with this sample story. If you are working with younger children, start with the Easy story example below. For older children or more experienced storytellers, try the Advanced story example.
Teachers- considering comparing the Easy and Advanced stories to show children how better adjectives and verbs can really improve the story.
Story Example- The Rockstar Lizard
Who + What + Why Not =
A Lizard + Wants to be a rockstar + But he can't sing.
- Easy Version
- Advanced Version
Once there was a little green lizard who really, really wanted to be a rockstar. He had the long flowing hair and the super cool dance moves, but he couldn’t even sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” without the other lizards covering their ears and begging him to stop. He needed to learn how to sing. So...
A tall, green lizard stood admiring his shimmering form in the mirror. Running his bulbous fingers through is wild, blue hair he popped himself into a dance pose he was sure would get an audience screaming. He was born to be a rockstar-- with one teensy problem. The only thing making people scream was his awful singing. When Lizard (he liked to pronounce it "Liz- arggh", kind of like a pirate), opened his mouth, the noise that came out had people begging him to stop. If he was going to be the rockstar he knew he was born to be, he needed to learn how to sing.
