I’ve noticed that whenever I try to tell a story, it comes out kind of awkward or just not very engaging. Either I ramble too much, rush through it, or lose people halfway through. I can usually tell it’s not landing, which just makes me more self-conscious while I’m still talking.
What I don’t understand is how some people can take a really simple or even boring story and make it genuinely funny or interesting. Norm Macdonald is a good example of this. If you look at the actual stories he tells, they’re often pretty ordinary, but somehow the way he delivers them makes them incredibly entertaining.
So I’m curious what actually makes someone good at storytelling in everyday conversations. Is it mostly about timing, confidence, or how the story is structured? Are there things you can actively practice to get better at it? And how do you stop overthinking while you’re in the middle of telling a story?
I’d really appreciate any advice or insight, because right now it feels like I can’t quite find the balance between talking too much and not saying enough.