Think of a story you told someone about being tailgated, cut off, or otherwise disrespected while you were driving. Answer the following questions about this event:

a. When you related the story, what emotions did you feel?

b. Did you make any facial expressions when telling your story? If so, what emotions did they portray, and how did they affect your story?

c. How did you start and end your story? What did you want to accomplish by telling the story?

d. How did the person you told the story to respond? Note any facial expressions, body language, nonverbal cues, or verbal responses of the person.

e. Would you describe your story as memorable? Would the person you told it to agree?

After completing this exercise, will you tell stories differently?

What will you now pay attention to or emphasize in your stories? Consider assessing some of the key aspects of storytelling, such as voice, body language, descriptions, and timing.