How to be a Good Storyteller

You knew a few things on authorship prior to your applying for a place in the English Department. One of these would be how to be a storyteller. And a good one. Your first learned about it during your childhood, when your mother read you children's stories before sleeping. You wanted to know more about the Cheshire Cat. You were scared of the White Witch. And you wished someone would set up a fox trap. You remembered these characters for years, even imagined yourself meeting them. This could be your next step on becoming a good storyteller.

Everyone (in the English Department) would aspire for authorship, but only a handful could make a living on it. You've been warned about the uncertainties, but you were born an artist. And artists would never be poor. (You told this to your parents, which made them worried about you.) You haven't decided on becoming a novelist. It would be one of your options, though. And you believed the department had all the resources to help you become a good storyteller. You won't start your tale with the familiar line, "Once upon a time". (Your tutor advised you not to use it as an opening line on your paper.) These were the following things you learned from your professors and coursemates:

You should bring a notebook during your travels. Your tutor once said that it was better to describe a place long after you visited it. This would prompt you to describe it based from your beliefs and past experiences. This could pique the curiosity of readers, as colors and features would make them unimpressed. Such a nice opening on your paper, but better include it in the body (of your paper). This could inspire readers to finish your piece.

A verb will be good enough. You were taught that a sentence must have a subject and predicate, but you often forgot that a sentence would convey a thought. If your written piece begins with one word, a verb in particular, then it's still considered a sentence. “Run” was your opening line. Your readers would be filled with many thoughts, even became curious about the rest of your paper.

Know your characters well enough. Keep in mind that a written piece is meant to make readers understand the place, situation, even the characters. You can present a flawed picture, and they won't be judgmental (unless it's one of their traits). You must be observant. You can also learn from reading Jane Austen's novels.