My Storytelling Contest

My Storytelling Contest
Last week, I had a storytelling contest. It seemed to have been a long time since the last time I told a story in public before this. Furthermore, I seemed to have been over the age to speak something such like “once upon a time” or “happily ever after”. However, the contest taught me that a storytelling was not limited to these.

I should start with my preparation for the contest. Three weeks ago, we were told by our tutor, Ms Tan about writing an original narrative and presenting it to the whole class. “A story,” I murmured to myself, “I thought it was a thing for children.” On account of this, though I put much effort in my first draft (I spent almost all my Sunday afternoon in it), I really thought nothing of it. That was the beginning of my failure. Several days later, the punishment arrived. I had to rewrite, because Ms Tan wrote on my assignment paper, “This is really not a story.” Well, I had it coming. My problem was that I did not add any suspense or climax in my story. As a result, it seemed more like an experience.

The procedure of rewriting was painful. I thought over my head hour after hour, but still could not figure out a suitable suspense for my story or “experience”. I really need a rewriting, from head to toe. Finally, I changed my warm and moving experience (at least I thought so) into a thing somewhat like a horrible story. After I finished it, I leaned against the back of my chair, admitting that writing an original story was not an easy job, at least not as easy as I had thought. I began to admire Anderson and Grimm more than I had ever had before. How on earth could they come up with so many brilliant stories that even till today still grabbed the eyes of millions of children or even adults? The incredible imagination. What else could it be? I should admit that through my eighteen years’ life, I had already lost the enormous curiosity and creativity which belonged to me in my childhood. These were the gifts of God, and the sad thing in that once you gave up, they would hardly return. I felt very sorry for me and for myself.

One week after, the storytelling day came. I remembered that someone used to say that I should not have problem in speaking in public. Actually, I had. I really had butterflies in my stomach before I went in front of the class. Because of time limited, I did not get the chance to submit my rewrite story to the tutor. I was not sure whether it was acceptable, or even whether it was a story. Before I found the answers to these key questions, it was time for me to tell the story. I stood up and walked to the front step by step, trying to comb my messy thoughts. Then, I turned around, facing my audience and opening my mouth. Strangely, I got calmer and calmer. The words came out like flowing. It seemed that my rehearsal was not in vain. I finished my story with a clear ending and won a round of applause.

Though I did not win the first prize of the storytelling contest, I felt very happy. The experience taught me that treat every task as a task and do not look down upon it. If not, sooner or later, you will get your result. Another thing is facing your bad points and trying to change them or at least improve them. No one in the world is perfect. If you keep on trying, you will also get what you deserve. God is always just.