Good Storytelling

I was in my Suburban driving my daughter Sam and her friend Jackie home from someplace that I can no longer remember. The two of them were in middle school at that time. I was recounting an experience that I had had in the Chinese restaurant. In the telling of the story I used colorful language and imitated the maître ‘d’s Asian accent. And Jackie howled with laughter and said Mrs. Ciccone you are sooooo funny!!!

Sam did not agree. Instead, clearly annoyed, she turned to her friend and said Stop encouraging her!

And over the course of years-- on many occasions-- too numerous to count--- when I was in conversation and using animated hyperbole to captivate my audience one of my children would announce You are such a liar--that didn’t happen like that—you just like to make sh** up.

Yesterday I remarked to my daughter Briana that I found her friend Kathleen to be very engaging and probably quite capable of performing stand-up comedy.  Briana agreed. And she told me that Kathleen was indeed a great storyteller, as was her other friend (nicknamed) Skred. And Briana giggled as she remembered a time when Briana asked her friend Skred what she had done all day—and Skred calmly  told Briana that she had spent the entire day in her room widdling on a piece of wood preparing it as a stake to drive through one of their roommates hearts.

I too then giggled.

And I turned to Briana and said You know what Skred’s good storytelling will do for her right? She said No. I said When Skred has children they are not going to think she is funny and they will tell her that she just likes to make Sh** up. And upon Briana’s realization that I was really talking about myself she was quick to interject well not if she doesn’t have any kids.

Because good storytelling always incorporates exaggeration, physicality and made–up comparisons. It uses surprise and humor in inventive ways. And often it involves making fun of yourself as a means of holding a mirror for others to see their own foibles.

Good storytelling also means your children will hate you and find you an embarrassment---which I suppose they will do anyway---even if hyberbole is not your friend--so better to do it on your own terms---and let other’s laughter gauge the disapproval. The greater the laughter, the greater the child’s annoyance. It’s a 1:1 direct proportion