Everyone has a story to tell. In fact, we all are storytellers. From childhood itself, we see people around us expressing their ideas. Whether it be the narrations of some tour, marriage, experience at the workplace, talks related to family matters or any experience. These are the stories of their life.
Storytelling can be a lucrative profession. On average top storyteller makes an annual income of $95,000 and for the average storyteller, it is $53,089.
Some people feel that storytelling is complex work that requires advanced skills. But if you have a strong command of language and have the ability to deliver your thoughts efficiently with a creative touch, you can take storytelling as a career and turn your passion into a profession. Always remember, people may share some thoughts and opinions but the way they deliver them is what makes it exceptional.
Storytelling is a skill that demands patience and consistent hard work.
The story may include fairytales, folktales, mythology, legends, fables history, personal narrative, political commentary, evolving cultural norms etc.
What does it take to be a good story teller?
- Know your audience – This is the basic step toward building your base. This will help you decide the plot of the story you should frame so that they can relate themselves to your story. The complexity of language you need to use and the length of the story.
- Connect with the audience – Try connecting emotionally, intellectually and aesthetically. Ask yourself – Why anyone should be interested in your story? Is the plot-relevant? Does it touch your audience? Make things clear.
- Try setting up the scene – Don’t straight away start with the story. First of all, create and set a scene through the description. Your audience should be able to feel the story and characters. Engage them with the narrations.
- Make your plot clear – Stick to your plot. Adopt a structure. Try understanding the story. If it is not clear to you, it won’t be clear to your audience too. Don’t make it complex unnecessarily. Keep it simple and focused.
- Choose your characters carefully. Characters of the story form a bridge between the storyteller and the audience. The audience should relate to the characters.
- Choose your medium – It includes how you will narrate your story. There are a number of ways to tell your story.
- Digital stories
- Audio stories
- Video stories
- Written stories
- Your story should convey a message. The ending should be meaningful. The audience may not like the stories whose endings leave them in suspense.
- Innovate your ideas – Work on yourself. Develop your ideas. Read books of different genres.
- Leadership qualities – Storytellers are the social reformers. They have the ability to plant ideas in the mind of their audience. Storytelling involves interaction during the workshops and the stage performance. For this one need to possess leadership qualities.
- And the last one and the most important- write stories and share them.

Online courses
Courses | Platforms | Number of hours |
Leadership Communication for Maximum Impact: Storytelling | Coursera | 6 hours approx |
The complete Storytelling course for speaking and presenting | Udemy | 30 hours |
Presentation skills: Speechwriting and storytelling | Coursera | 33 hours |
Storytelling Fundamentals for an all- 1-hour super course | Udemy |
1-2 hours
|
Storytelling in the workplace | edX | 3 weeks |
Collages in India
- Kathalaya, Karnataka
- The Truth: An institute of Innovation and Storytelling, Haryana
- Truth School, New Delhi
- The great Indian Storytellers, New Delhi
- The Himalayan Writing Retreat, Delhi
- Data Communication School, Mumbai
- Indian Institute of Psychodrama, Chennai

Top World Universities
- Harvard University
- University of Saskatchewan, Canada
- Bond University, Australia
- University of Westminster, London
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- University of North Texas
- University of Missouri
- University of Mississippi
Top jobs after storytelling courses
- Storytelling tutor
- Chief storyteller
- Creative Writing
- Marketing Director
Platforms to share your stories
- SoundCloud
- Youtube
- Travel App and Website
- Be Here Stories App
- Clio App and Website
- PocketSights Mobile App
- TipTour Mobile Tour App
- Internet Archive
- Commaful
- Wattpad
- Figment (RIP)
- Medium
- FictionPress
- WritersCafe
- Booksie
- The Young Writers Society

– Aakansha Jumle