Short Story Format

Here are a few examples of story telling for a variety of contexts in real life.

For each of these storytelling formats, there are two tasks.

1. Imagine you are delivering the story. Use storytelling principles to deliver the story, pause (gauge responses … imagine possibilities), and ask yourself and Holy Spirit, “What next? What choice?”

2. Imagine the story is being shared with you. Use story listening principles ‘story’ outlined above. Pause to note your response/reactions. Ask yourself and Holy Spirit, “What next? What choice?”

Story: short format SC03>>

Because this is a workshop space, the task is to critique these stories and determine how you would make these stories your own so you can share them with your capacities, skills and style! Use the comment space for each post to share your ideas, responses, or ways to improve the story. If you don’t like the story as it is presented, rewrite it and share it giving your reasons to our learning community. Please add your own examples in the comment section of each post.

If you are short of time to analyse and comment on each short story, just clicking on the following links will indicate how short stories can be used in everyday life. Remember, a well crafted story in any given situation is more powerful than ‘just the facts’ or ‘just an outburst of emotion’ or ‘just the result’.

It takes time and practice to deliver a reasonably crafted short story in everyday life. Start!

• Short Story … Blessing >>
• Short Story … a love note >>
• Short Story … a Dad joke >>
• Short Story … Encouragement >>
• Short Story … Addressing unacceptable behaviour >>
• Short Story … Everyday events >>
• Short Story … Testimony >>

As time permits, choose one then comment on it, ask a question about it, or argue a point of view.

A storytelling exercise

Tell stories whenever you are asked, “How are you?”

You know the general pattern. The shop assistant says, “HelloHowAreYouToday?” and you reply, “GoodHowAreYou?” and they say, “Good.” This is little ritual happens even though any one of you may not be ‘good’ in the sense of physical wellbeing. It’s may not be the time or place to discuss ‘good? in the sense that we are all created ‘good’ and it’s our behaviours that may not be acceptable at times. And the queue waiting behind you may not appreciate a drawn out pop psychology session related to the mental well being of either one of you.

Here’s a quick alternative to help you practise your story telling.

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Story exercise SC04>>

Example 1

• Hello, how are you? (bland expression)
• Disappointed! (slight frown)
• Why? (surprised) … supervisor’s ears prick up
• Because when I was here yesterday you didn’t ask me if I had remembered to buy coffee. I’d run out at home. (slight smile, twinkle in the eye)
• Laughter … especially from supervisor who quips, “Oh, so now we have to read customers minds now do we?
• It would have been helpful!? (General smiles all round)

Example 2

• Hello, how are you? (bland expression)
• Worried! (slight frown, twinkle in the eye)
• Oh, why’s that? (slightly concerned)
• Because I’ve been coming here everyday this week for supplies and, at this rate, my money will run out. (slight smile, twinkle in the eye still)
• (Laughter) Good for us!!
• Well, that’s a good point … happy to help! (General smiles all round)

Example 3

• Hello, how are you? (bland expression)
• Devastated! (clown face of despair)
• Oh dear, what’s happened? (slightly concerned)
• I’m reading these books about a hero who is learning and growing skills and getting into all sorts of adventures and situations and it’s exciting and a fantastic story! (slight smile, twinkle in the eye still)
• (Puzzled) So, how is that a problem? (smiling but suspicious)
• Well, the author hasn’t written the third book in the trilogy … and people who read the first two when they first came out have been waiting 8 years! We may never get to find out what happens! (General smiles all round)

Postscript

• The pattern works best when you start with the feeling. (or thought bubble, or sensation). It generally evokes a response. Sometimes just a look that says, “You’re weird, I don’t want to engage with that!” So be warned!
• This pattern can be used when a friend’s name pops up on your phone, have a bit of fun! (Unless you need to tell them how you are really feeling. But that can be a story too!)
• The task is to spot as many of the parts of the storytelling process in the exchange regardless of the order they occur. [facts] … [thoughts/ feelings/ sensations] … [meaning/ consequences/ so what?] … [story listener responses/ reactions] … [storylistener choice: “So what? What’s next?]
• [Story listener choice] is not necessarily indicated in the examples above. What would you do?

Bible listener … Bible story teller

3 tasks

When it comes to being a Bible storyteller, the task begins with the need to gather a team of people prepared to engage the tasks of being the best Bible story listener they can be. There are three tasks that can be symbolised in 3 images …

• A detective,
• A ministry clown, and
• An Olympic wrestler.

It is uncommon that all three tasks can be performed by one person, so a team of two or three people would be better.

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Story: Bible listening SC05>>

The Detective’s Task: Story listening

Who do you think of when it comes to famous detectives? Sherlock Holmes? … or, more recently, Enola Holmes? >> … are you old enough to remember Columbo? … and then there’s Veronica Mars. Who’s your favourite?
The images evoke all sorts of things, like old fashioned pipes, clothes, and quirky characters. These quirks don’t relate to the task of Bible listening, but these are worth mentioning because hopefully this metaphor will help us remember the aspects of story listening that are important. Firstly, ignore any scriptwriters’ additions of luck and predetermined outcomes. The metaphor fails at this point.

A detective’s qualities and abilities related to being a Bible story listening detective include: … being insightful, intuitive, and persistent … piecing together the background to a Bible story from multiple sources (what actually happened) … determine what would the characters be culturally thinking, feeling, sensing? … what was motivating these characters to think, feel, or sense things these ways? … work to keep the story uncontaminated from personal biases/prejudices … ask, “Why is this story in the Bible?” … wonder, “What did this all mean for the original story listeners who these stories were first told and written down for.” Further wonder, “If this is what it meant then, what would the original hearers think/ feel/ sense? … and how would they respond/ react?”… be a Jnr Partner in the Holy Spirit detective agency … wonder how this story helps us to be Jesus/The Church today?

The Olympic Wrestler’s task: Story preparation

The image that comes to mind is a powerful person, committed to the task of doing their very best in attaining a gold medal. It will mean using their qualities of strength, control, endurance, skills, and commitment related to Bible story preparation. This will mean taking responsibility for preparing the story elements for an audience in a current context. To wrestle the preparation of a story to the ground, it will require the balance between protecting the original story integrity while working out to communicate the story with integrity to today’s audiences. It will mean finding the hooks that will hold the interest of today’s audience, making it relevant. It will mean developing a list of ‘I wonder … ” questions to choose one or two for a more engaging story. It will mean plenty of training and experience in this task to keep the truth of the story from not being diluted with storytelling approaches that would actually distract hearers from the Bible story’s message.

The Ministry Clown’s Task: Storytelling

Keeping away from the more recent sinister images of ‘clown’, the more traditional images of clowns have a lot to offer here. Memories of ‘clown’ include memories of laughter, engaging skits, fun antics, friendly to audiences, and relatable messages. Adding in the idea of ‘ministry’ here, a clown minister will ALWAYS act in very appropriate ways, not put anyone down, and be sensitive to the context they find themselves in. The task of the clown minister is to draw people into the world of stories with grace and humility. They will find appropriately EXCESSIVE ways to express emotions (feelings), verbs (tactile/facts), reflective (thoughts), senses (awareness/vibe/sensations) into the role of storyteller.

Clown ministry is a lot larger topic for another space in Midst. It is important to stress here this section DOES NOT propose we should always dress up as a clown to tell a story. That is only one of the dozens of ways to approach storytelling.
Rather, this section highlights two simple clown ministry principles applicable to drama, public readings, puppets, and other ministry arts.

These are:

• Be appropriately excessive in expressing thoughts/ emotions/ actions/ sensations.
  As a Bible reader in a pulpit, DO NOT put on a red nose! However, after doing the work of detective and wrestler, it is possible to bring appropriate levels of vocal, facial and body expression to the public reading of a Bible story.
• Focus storytelling on God
  Another way to say this is to avoid the idea of storytelling as a performance to evoke applause. While storytelling can be viewed as ‘performance art’, it can also be viewed as ‘ministry art’ … this has more to do with leading a celebration of worship: E.g. song leader, preacher, drummer. The storyteller’s attitude is to be focussed on leading hearers of the story to focus on the Truth of God’s Big Story rather than on themselves as the storyteller.
  Note: We can’t stop applause, especially if it is spontaneous. However, there are ways to start and finish storytellings that help the focus to remain on the story’s meaning or learning point. Concluding a story by saying, “Let’s pause and quietly sit with this story for a moment or two.” is one of these ways. Use appropriately.

Learning to be a Bible Story listener

Mark 9:33-37 … Who Is the Greatest?

Pray

Read
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

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Story: Who is the greatest? SC06>>

Listen

• your responses/reactions
• Holy Spirit nudges
• list any responses you have heard offered by others (e.g.learning point/theme words: • Jesus sorts out his disciples’ ambitions with a child • Humility can replace huge egos • Fame is not the boss

Story listener choice … What now? Your choice!

• ask for another story … where was that other story about Jesus and children in Mark’s Gospel?
• Smile at your own stories of being a child; Smile (awks!!) at your own stories about who was better at this or that.
• “So what?” for your personally as a follower of Jesus.
• Do the further work required to share this story with others.

Find the mini stories … suggested as:

• Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”
• But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.
• He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”
• Then he took a little child and put it among them [in their midst];
• and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

Deconstruct each mini story

This takes some time and some choice regarding how you use:

• detective work to uncover context, why this story is in the Bible, what did it mean to the original story listeners
• biblical imagination & Holy Spirit discernment to place yourself in the story to ‘fill in’ what is implied

Practising to be a Bible story listener.

Here is an exercise on Padlet for you to contribute in the preparation stage for storytelling.

https://padlet.com/phillipday/5skbifa44wq5ngtt

Follow the link then read the instructions in the left hand column of the Padlet. Reading this carefully will make it easier for you to add your contribution to the discussion.

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Story: Mark9 Exercise SC07>>

Padlet: Mark9:33-37 >>

Connecting to your storytelling context

Key here is to consider where and to whom you will be sharing a Bible story.

Included here are two insights that add to the discussion. They support the importance of connection and to be fully present in the moment of listening to others.

Story: Importance of Connecting SC08>>

Scripture Union (in Victoria, Australia at least) have a 5C approach that is helpful here. It’s another reminder that connecting with those we are serving is part of the storytelling process.

Intro to the 5C approach >>

Another helpful reminder here for you, as a story listener, is to be fully present in the moment … listening and responding to those who are sharing there stories with you.

Bill Murray’s perspective on being ‘present’ >>

So, where and to whom will you be sharing God’s Big Story, your story, and your team’s story? What prayers will you be saying in order to be fully present in each moment? What will you need to consider in the words you use and the style of storytelling you choose in being a Bible storyteller?

Options

Different ways to share God’s Big Story

Having done all the work of Bible listening, there are various factors to consider that will influence your choice of the style you use tell the story. From simply expressively reading the text from the Bible through to using visuals or even presenting it as a clown skit.

Story: Who is the greatest? SC09>>

These include:

• the skill level to effectively operate in a particular mode
• the demographic of the listeners who are gathered
• the ability of the listeners to participate in and be engaged by story
• the desired outcomes

The following list will provide only a small idea of the scope of existing options for telling Bible stories. They include:

Reading the text of the Bible passage from the Bible

• Reading the text of the Bible passage from the Bible (analogue or digital?)
• Read with facial, voice and whole body expression;
• Read the text while an image is being displayed >>
• Read the text while drama images is being acted/displayed.
• Act and speak out the story using full on drama;
• Act and speak out the story using using puppets;
• Tell the story using images prepared before hand >>
• Midrash
• Henna

Use of drama.

• Reading the text of the Bible passage with drama being presented alongside.

What are some of the other ways you tried, seen, or heard about?

Your comments

Because this is a learning community space, the task now is to critique the ideas &/or stories presented here.

• Use the comment space below to share your ideas, responses, questions, alternative points of view, or suggested improvements and reasoning.
• Share how you would use any of this appropriately in your context, with your skills, and in your style!
• Add below any of your own related experiences or similar examples of stories or ideas you have seen, heard, or tried.