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?”

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 of the pop-up box stories and comment on it, ask a question about it, or argue a point of view.

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.