First of all you should know: a) You’re not the only one who tells stories. b) Your story is just a catalyst for your listener’s own story.      Your listeners are  interested in "organizing" their own story through you. c) Your story has to be a reflection of your listener, your audience d) Study your audiences’ story before you tell them yours. e) Your story has to be much better than that of your listener.     Your story must be uplifting, transcending, and transporting to new,     distant, and different realms. f) Telling a story is a need. A true storyteller craves telling,     yearns to tell, must tell, dies to tell. No one will ask you to tell a story,     it has to come from within you. g) If you have a story to tell, ask yourself:      "Why am I telling this particular story to this particular audience?”     If you don’t have a reason, the story just isn’t the right one. h) Ask yourself: “What does my story ‘give’ to my listeners?”      If you didn’t leave your audience with anything,     you have wasted their time and will not get a chance to tell another story. i) When you tell a story, choose your storytelling identity and stick to it.     You don’t have to tell the story as yourself,     but the character should be close to you.     Your story emerges from your own personal world. j) If you have an answer for each of the last nine steps,    ask yourself what you have gained by telling the story.    If the answer is nothing, you will not want to keep on telling stories…    And that’s a pity.                                         Still want to tell stories?                                                 Remember,                  three elements merge in the "storytelling encounter":                                    You - The audience - The story                                                                                                                         You  Your personal capability and your personality as a storyteller: 1) The origins of your story, the way of expression.        2) The "stage" from which you chose to tell your story.          3) Your personal charisma and the way you see your self.         All three are in your hands and you can develop them.   The audience "Know your audience":           1) Whom do you represent when you stand before them?  2) What does your audience represent to you?          3) Don’t forget: a story is a social dialogue.                 The Story The preparation and editing of your story must be done in advance. The storyteller is a theatrical artist who deals with drama. You must prepare the story as a dramatic performance that includes ten important elements: Theme, situation, statement, plot, characters, time, place, style (tragic,comic,romantic,etc ), dialogue, and language Did you think it was going to be easy? It is! But only for the first story! From each story to the next, you must become more prepared and skilled. Consider: Life is a story, you are a story, all those around you are stories. Everything is a story. Enjoy that fact! Now decide if you want simply to tell a story or to be a master storyteller. Good luck !