Storytelling

Why storytelling is wonderful after 50

By the time you reach fifty, you have a lifetime of stories to share, and that is exactly what storytelling asks of you. There is no equipment to buy, nothing heavy to carry, and no special gift you had to be born with. You simply sit and speak, and the years you have lived become your richest material. Storytelling connects the generations, giving grandchildren a real sense of where they come from. It is warm and social, drawing people close, and it keeps your memory and quick thinking sharp. Best of all, storytelling circles are welcoming places where every voice matters and beginners are cheered on.

Your first month, week by week

Common mistakes to avoid

• Memorizing your story word for word. When you forget a single line you can freeze, and it often sounds stiff. Learn the shape and the ending instead, and tell it in your own words each time.
• Packing in too many details and side trips. Trust your listeners and keep only what moves the story forward, or you will lose them along the way.
• Rushing through, especially when you feel nervous. Slow down, breathe, and let a pause do its work so your words have room to land.
• Telling a story with no clear point or feeling behind it. Before you begin, know why this story matters to you, and steer everything toward that.
• Never practicing out loud. A story lives in the telling, so say it aloud several times before you share it, not just in your head.
• Starting too slowly with long background. Begin close to the moment that matters, and fill in only what your listener truly needs to know.

Words you'll hear

Oral tradition

The age-old practice of passing stories, history, and wisdom from one generation to the next by word of mouth rather than in writing.

Arc

The shape of a story as it moves from its beginning, through a rising middle, to a satisfying end. A clear arc keeps listeners with you.

The hook

The opening line or moment that grabs your listeners' attention and makes them want to know what happens next.

Pacing

The speed and rhythm of your telling. Slowing down and using well-placed pauses builds suspense and lets important moments land.

Story slam

A friendly, open storytelling competition, made popular by The Moth, where people tell true, personal stories in about five minutes with no notes.

Personal narrative

A true story drawn from your own life and told in your own voice, the heart of most modern storytelling.

Where to find your people

• Local storytelling guilds and circles, where tellers of all levels gather to share stories and encourage one another.
• The Moth and its StorySLAM events, held in many cities, where anyone can put their name in the hat to tell a five-minute true story.
• Groups at your senior center or community center, which often host storytelling afternoons, reminiscence groups, and open-mic gatherings.
• Your public library, which frequently runs free storytelling programs, oral history projects, and author or teller events.
• Online storytelling communities and forums, where you can watch tellers, share your own recordings, and find local events near you.