Have you ever wondered what the difference between a winning story and others is? It does not matter whether you are about to participate in a storytelling contest or you just need a way of impressing your audience, but knowing how judges score stories can help you revolutionize your performance. But how about taking the lid off the scoring process and seeing what really makes stories sparkle?
Official Scoring Rubric Decoded
The most storytelling competitions apply a standardized rubric that is divided into four main areas. This is the way judges ponder over your performance:
Originality (30%)
Judges would appreciate novel responses to old topics, surprises, and original human voice. They are saying: did I not hear this one before?” However, more importantly, is the question, does this storyteller offer anything new?
The number one is given to the stories that astonish the judges but feel authentic at the same time. Just imagine it as copying a ready recipe of another person concerning cooking and creating your own dish using familiar ingredients.
Delivery (40%)
This is the heaviest argument since even an original message doesn t work without a skillful delivery.
They are not seeking perfection in the play; they want natural expression that fits in the story.
Good delivery implies that you have a voice to go with your content. A confession is supposed to be confessed in a low voice. A joy has to shine on your face. Judges feel the difference between actually being there in a piece of material and merely reading out words off a piece of paper.
Cultural Authenticity (15%)
This requirement will make stories tolerant and capable of representational interaction with respect to the cultures that they obtain. No matter whether you are telling the story of your grandmother who came to the United States or reading about the traditions of your heritage, judges strive to find neither disrespectful nor poorly researched depictions.
By authenticity, it does not necessarily imply that you can only give a story about things that you have experienced but it is really a matter of being cautious, doing your research, and above all respecting all the cultural aspect. Storytellers are not appreciated by judges, saying that they are not related to the content.
Audience Connection (15%)
Storytellers establish a sincere connection with their listeners to achieve the magic. Judges pay attention to how audiences respond: Are the audiences on forward edge? Providing laughs at the appropriate time?
This relationship is usually inspired by sensitivity and intimacy. The stories that give an audience the reaction that they have experienced the same thing or never considered that viewpoint in that way are highest in this category.
Insider Tips From Lead Judges
Begin with a bang and finish with a bang. Your opening builds the expectations but it is your conclusion that determines how your audiences remember your story. Landing is important and judges usually make it or break it adjustments based on their attachment to the landing.
Love tactical halts. Important moments suffice in silence which enables reflection by the audience. The effect of telling your story too quickly is that you appear nervous.
Relate to people and not the masses. Look into the eyes of selected members of an audience. Judges see the difference between reading to the audience as a single body and reaching out to real people when storytellers speak
How to Get Constructive Feedback
Best storytellers are involved in active self-improvement. The following is the way to optimize learning:
Seek feedback as opposed to feelings. Instead of asking judges how they did, ask questions concerning pacing and clarity or emotional impact.
You can become a member of any storytelling group or workshop where you are free to train with favorable audiences. Experience through frequent performance makes you confident and makes you see a pattern in your style.
Conclusion
Knowledge about judging criteria is not the end. The true learning comes when you plug in these ideas into your life stories.
Use our scoring self-assessment quiz to assess where you are presently as a storyteller and what to work on. Get your individual evaluation according to the same rubric applied by professional judges and find your way to success in telling stories.