Growing up, the Fandom Princess was able to enjoy a bedtime story every night before bed. They would be told to her by the King the majority of the time, and sometimes the Queen would join in. Together, the royal family would create stories together, even using their hands to mimic animal shapes on the castle walls. The King even had this magic bell that, whenever he rung it, the fairies that dwelled in their personal garden would send fairy dust into the Princess’ room, allowing the King and Queen to manipulate them in order to enhance their stories.

As she got older, the Princess learned to tell stories that she too created to anyone who would listen. Her favorite were stories about adventure and love. She described storytelling to her dear friends as so:

I think storytelling is the idea, or act, of transporting someone from the mundane routine of reality, and allowing the recipient to live in an entirely different universe. If it’s for a two minutes, fifteen, or an hour, the time that one spends listening or indulging in stories I think are important because they stimulate the creative mindset and allow a form of escapism. Also, I’m an English major, so if all of this sounds very matter-of-factually, FORGIVE ME! It’s just habit, especially when I’m asked to talk about things of the creative sort.

But let me try to break that habit, for the sake of creativity, shall we say? This is kind of what I think of when I think of all the fun and happy things that storytelling brings into my life (and how it can affect others I guess).

Sounds, smells, sights, all of that is super important when trying to tell a story; you’ve got to be descriptive and engaging.

Toying with different ideas, like talking inanimate objects or tickling roses and trickster dandelions (flowers from Alice and Wonderland, much?)

Own your story. Make it yours completely.

Reflect on the past, the present, and more interestingly, the future.

Young ones are going to be your best audience, trust me. They are easily entranced by adventure, drama, love, and all the great makings of a story. So sit them down and tell your story to them.

Take the time to close your eyes and escape into your own story. You’ll appreciate it and understand it better.

Each time you think of a story, write it down. Random bursts of creativity are rare; take it from a creative writing concentration major. WRITE IT DOWN.

Let your imagination run wild. Seriously. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s the truth. In your stories, don’t have any restraints (well, have some, but otherwise, have fun with it).

Lots of details. I want to smell the cupcakes that were baking in the oven, or hear the song that the birds are singing. Appeal to your audience’s senses.

Include a love story. Always.

Never copy someone else’s story. When storytelling, you have the chance to be completely and utterly original, so exercise your mind some.

Get lost in your own story. You’re allowed to.

So, there’s my kind of artsy-deep feelings about storytelling. On digital storytelling, I think that you can have the same reaction to a more verbal or written form of storytelling. I mean, nothing really changes. At the end of it all, you’re still telling a story and engaging a group of people in hopes that they too get engaged with the words that you place on a screen.

But I suppose it goes deeper than words. I guess digital storytelling involves using media to add to the story and the idea. Like, if you wanted to portray a specific song, you could embed a sound clip so that your audience knew exactly what sound you were thinking of and trying to describe!

All in all, I think its super effective and can only do great things for one’s creativity! I plan on telling my children (you know, my future children, way, WAY in the future) stories all the time, in hopes that one day they have the same love for it as I do.