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Which leads to an important question—what makes summer campfire stories so unique? And how do storytelling masters craft the stories that are told and re-told? The following eight tips are sure-fire ways to keep your listeners on the edge of their seats. Storytelling Tip #1: Choose a Story That You Like (with a Lesson)
In North America, a campfire story is a form of oral storytelling performed around an open fire at night, typically in the wilderness, largely connected with the telling of stories having supernatural motifs or elements of urban legend.
- Sound Train. Players agree on an initial sound — for example, ‘p’ or ‘sh’ — and take turns saying a new word that begins with the chosen sound. The game continues until a player is unable to think of a new word to add.
- I Went to Market. The first player begins by saying, “I went to market and bought a ___,” adding an item she would buy. For example, “I went to market and bought a bag of potatoes.”
- Once Upon a Time. Create a story together — the player chosen to begin shares the first few lines of a make-believe story. Storytelling proceeds around the campfire, with each player adding a few more lines to continue the story.
- Telephone. Players sit around the campfire and the game begins when the first person whispers a message to the next person in line. The whispered message is passed in order from person-to-person, and the last person announces to the group the message he heard.
Jan 27, 2022 · As with any story, you can keep your audience ’ s imaginations firing with strong details and verbs. McMahan didn’t just say “cat” but “tabby cat” and the dog didn’t “bark” but “snarled and snapped.”. Weil says this is key. If you’re nervous, don’t simply say that. Instead, mention your sweaty hands and racing heart.
- Identify Characters. Options for unforgettable characters surround you in the great outdoors. What critter or natural formation struck you the most during your adventure-packed day?
- What’s the Point? A strong story needs a sharp point to skewer the rest of the story’s elements together. Try using the natural attributes of your character combined with a life lesson you’d like to impart to your audience.
- Setting Setup. Use details from your campground environment to set the backdrop for your story. Consider the time of year and where you are physically: snowy mountain forest, hot dry desert or misty rugged coast.
- Start the Story. Choose an introductory sentence that either distances your audience or brings them right into the action of the story for your campfire story starter.
3. Use our search tool to find something new to read, or submit your own article! Submit an Article. Search Learn. Campfire's blog is a hub of educational resources about storytelling, covering everything from story structure to grammar to publishing.
May 15, 2022 · Make Storytelling a Communal Activity. The best campfire story is one that children can learn to tell themselves. After all, isn’t passing the torch the entire point of parenthood?
