Telling Your Story Out Loud Is a Different Skill Than Writing It — Rebecka Vigus on How to Captivate an Audience With the Stories You Live

Writing a story and telling one are not the same thing. The page gives you time to revise, to find the right word, to build toward a moment. The room gives you none of that. Rebecka Vigus has spent years helping people learn the art of spoken storytelling, and what she has found is that the skills that make a story land in front of an audience are learnable, practiceable, and transformative for the storyteller as much as the listener. She joins Stacey Chillemi to talk about how to practice and memorize your stories so they feel natural rather than rehearsed, how to share complex or painful experiences in a way that connects rather than overwhelms, and what it takes to captivate a room with the kind of personal story that leaves people feeling like they learned something about themselves from your experience. What she shares about the emotional craft of storytelling, why the stories we most want to share are often the hardest ones to tell well, and how developing this skill changes not just how others see you but how you see yourself will give every aspiring storyteller a clear and practical place to start. Your story is worth telling. This episode helps you tell it in a way that actually lands. Website: LEARNINGS: Can you share a personal story that influenced your storytelling journey? I often tell the story of when I was 5.5 years old and my brother broke his leg while camping in a state park in northern Michigan. How did you start practicing storytelling, and what was the first story you told? I started by memorizing a story about a tiny teeny woman from my parents' book, which I later told my siblings and at a Girl Scout camp. What advice do you have for aspiring storytellers who struggle with sharing personal stories that may have had hardships? I suggest practicing the story until you are comfortable telling it, focusing on the message or lesson it conveys rather than the emotions it stirs up. What is the critical takeaway for listeners who want to start their storytelling journey? Read and practice a story until you know it well, then tell it to anyone who will listen. Find stories from your childhood or personal experiences and tell them as they are happening now. Where can people find more information about your storytelling services and upcoming events? For information on events, featured books, and courses, people can find me on Facebook at Rebecka Vigus or Rebecka Vigus, the Writer Whisper. I also offer a strategic coaching plan for storytelling. Sponsored By: Happy Wellness Expo - Over 100 National and Local Exhibitors Top Quality Products and Services For Your Health and Well-Being! Saturday, March 23rd, 2024 - 10 AM - 7 PM Website: https://happywellnessexpo.com Call: 973-420-2333 Become a supporter of this podcast: . Follow The Advisor with Stacey Chillemi for weekly episodes on mindset, wellness, spirituality, and business growth—without burnout. Newsletter & resources: https://substack.com/@staceychillemi Watch & connect: • • Be a guest/sponsor: [email protected] • or Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices