When you hear, "tell me a story," does your mind suddenly go blank? \rDon't panic. The good news is, you're already a natural storyteller! \rSurprised? You shouldn't be. It's built right into our genetic code. Human \rbeings are a storytelling species. Of all the creatures on Earth, we're the \ronly ones that share past memories and future dreams as a way to get \rto know others, build friendships, plan an endeavor, inspire a group.

In fact, we're usually telling ourselves some kind of story all the time - \rabout our job, a relationship, the kids, neighbors down the street, our \rnext vacation. You name it, and we're probably making up a story about \rit!

So, with all that creativity just naturally flowing, the secret is how to \rchannel it into crafting a story that's interesting and fun for others to hear.

How, in other words, do you go from being a "natural" storyteller to being \ra good one? Here are 10 tips that will get you started in the right \rdirection.

1. Know your audience. Do you want to tell stories to your kids? Your \rgrandchildren? Your child's third-grade class? Co-workers? Family \rfriends? The charming participation stories that enchant children may \rseem patronizing or insulting to a group of adults.

2. Choose a story you genuinely like. It could be a traditional folk tale or \rfairy story. A historical tale. A personal story. The most important thing is \rthat you really like it. It doesn't matter how exciting a story might be or \rhow well you tell it; if you really don't care about it, your audience will be \rbored too. Guaranteed.

3. Keep it short. A good story doesn't have to be long and elaborate. \rEspecially when you're just starting out, it's much easier to practice and \rpolish a piece that's only 4-5 minutes long.

4. Find out what the story is really about. Why do you want to tell this \rparticular story? What does it mean to you? The exact same story may \rmean something different to every teller. That's fine. When you discover \rwhat the "heart" of the story is for you, you'll automatically find the \rpassion and life in it.

5. Tear it down to the bare bones. Particularly if you're starting with a \rwritten text, read the story over a couple of times to get the basic outline, \rand then lay the book aside. See what you remember when you simply \rtell it. These points will become the foundation for rebuilding the story \rusing your own creativity.

6. Know where you're going. Make sure you have a beginning, middle \rand end for your story. A good storyteller never makes the audience \rnervous that they (and you) are lost.

7. Practice out loud. Get in the habit of talking to yourself. You can never \rbecome a good storyteller by telling the story in your head, no matter \rhow many times you practice. Tell the story in your car while commuting \rto work. Tell it in the shower. Tell it to your dog (pets tend to make quite \rgood listeners, by the way). Tell your story over and over until you're as \rcomfortable in it as you are in your favorite jeans.

8. Find your own voice. Listen to other storytellers to hear different styles \rof telling: flamboyant...quiet...dramatic...quirky...laid \rback...funny...serious. The list could go on and on. Notice which tellers \rappeal to you and which ones don't. There are no right or wrong ways to \rtell a story; there's only what's right for you.

9. Don't memorize. Storytelling isn't a theatrical performance. It's a \rshared experience. No matter how many times you tell a particular story \r- as long as you haven't committed it word-for-word to memory - you \rnever know when something brand new and absolutely delightful will \rshow up.

10. Roll with the punches. Did you suddenly remember a critical piece of \rthe story you totally forgot to mention earlier? No problem. Bring it up \rwhen you think of it and let your audience be part of the discovery \rprocess. ("And what I didn't tell you before, was...")

Most importantly, trust the stories that choose you to be told through. \rFollow their lead. When you do, both you and your listeners will embark \ron a magical journey you'll not soon forget.

? Nancy Binzen 2004

Nancy Binzen is a certified storyteller with 30 years of experience as a \rcorporate communicator. To hear great storytelling from around the \rworld by award-winning artists, visit her website at http://www.wisdomtracks.com.