Module 6
Practice & Exercises
Hands-on exercises to develop your practical story directing skills through deliberate practice. Apply everything you've learned in real-world scenarios.
Practice Makes Perfect
Reading about directing skills is one thing—developing them through practice is what transforms you into a skilled family story director. These exercises are designed to build specific abilities through deliberate practice.
Tip: Work through these exercises with a friend or family member before your real interview sessions. The more you practice, the more natural these skills will become.
Including Questions in Answers
Guide storytellers toward self-contained responses
Why This Skill Matters
When editing a family story video, answers that include part of the question can stand alone as complete thoughts. This creates a smoother viewing experience, allows for more editing flexibility, and creates self-contained stories that make sense even years later without context.
Good Answer (Self-Contained)
Q: "What was your favourite family tradition growing up?"
"My favourite family tradition growing up was our Sunday dinner. Every week, without fail, my grandmother would cook a huge meal and the entire extended family would gather around her big oak table..."
Doesn't Stand Alone
Q: "What was your favourite family tradition growing up?"
"Probably the Sunday dinners. We would all get together and it was really nice..."
Problem: Without hearing the question, viewers won't understand what "it" refers to.
Techniques to Encourage Self-Contained Answers
When introducing the interview, demonstrate by answering a question yourself with a complete, self-contained response.
If you receive a short answer, gently prompt: "Could you tell me about [repeat question as a statement]?"
Example: If they say "Sunday dinners," try: "Could you tell me about those Sunday dinners and what made them special?"
Before recording, explain simply: "Try to answer in complete thoughts, as if someone who didn't hear my question is listening."
Frame questions so the natural response echoes your wording: "What made those Sunday dinners so special to you?"
This naturally leads to answers like "What made those Sunday dinners special was..."
Practice Exercise: The "Complete Answer" Game
Practice this exercise with a friend or family member before your real interview:
- 1. Take turns asking each other simple questions about memories or experiences
- 2. The responder tries to include context from the question in their answer
- 3. The questioner gives feedback on how self-contained the answer was
- 4. If needed, demonstrate how to rephrase the same answer to include context
- 5. Practice for 10-15 minutes, focusing on making it feel natural
Developing an Editor's Ear
Learn to evaluate responses for editability in real-time
Why This Skill Matters
When you can mentally "edit" responses as you hear them, you'll know immediately whether an answer will work in the final story. This prevents awkward re-takes, helps you identify when to ask follow-up questions, and creates a smoother experience for your storyteller.
What to Evaluate
An editor's ear is the ability to hear responses and instantly evaluate:
- Does this answer stand on its own without the question?
- Does it have a clear beginning, middle, and end?
- Are there natural edit points if we need to trim it?
- Is there enough context for the story to make sense?
- Does it resolve or does it trail off without conclusion?
When to Let It Flow
- • When the story is flowing naturally with good energy
- • When the storyteller is sharing something emotional or meaningful
- • When minor technical issues can be fixed in editing
- • When interrupting would break rapport or momentum
When to Guide
- • When a critical story lacks essential context
- • When responses consistently trail off without conclusion
- • When pronouns make it unclear who's being discussed
- • When a powerful story is undermined by weak delivery
Real-World Practice
To develop your editor's ear outside of interviews:
Study how professional interviewers get complete answers and when they choose to guide vs. let guests continue.
Notice how hosts get guests to provide context and how they handle incomplete answers.
Record a practice interview, then try to edit it. Note which answers were easy to work with and which weren't.
Active Listening Practice
The foundation of great directing is truly hearing your storyteller
Why This Skill Matters
Active listening is the foundation of great directing. When storytellers feel truly heard, they share more authentically and deeply. It builds trust, improves the quality of stories, and helps you identify the most valuable threads to pursue.
Physical Engagement
- • Maintain comfortable eye contact (not staring)
- • Lean slightly forward to show interest
- • Nod occasionally to acknowledge points
- • Keep an open, relaxed posture
- • Minimise distracting movements
Verbal Encouragement
- • Use brief affirmations ("I see", "mm-hmm")
- • Ask clarifying questions when appropriate
- • Reflect emotions you're observing
- • Use the storyteller's own key words
- • Vary your tone to show engagement
Mental Focus
- • Focus fully on their words, not your next question
- • Notice emotional shifts in their expression
- • Listen for unfinished thoughts to explore
- • Identify key themes emerging in stories
- • Look for meaningful details to ask about
Emotional Presence
- • Show authentic reactions to their stories
- • Allow silence after emotional moments
- • Match your energy to their story's tone
- • Demonstrate empathy without overtaking
- • Be comfortable with emotional moments
The 80/20 Rule
Aim for the storyteller speaking 80% of the time and you speaking 20%. Your role is to guide and encourage, not to dominate the conversation. When in doubt, listen more.
Practice Exercise: The Three-Minute Story
This simple exercise builds active listening skills in just a few minutes a day:
- 1. Ask a friend or family member to tell you a story about any topic for exactly three minutes
- 2. Your only job is to listen actively—no interrupting, just non-verbal encouragement
- 3. When they finish, summarise the key points and emotions of their story
- 4. Ask them how well you captured their story and what you might have missed
- 5. Switch roles and let them listen to you for three minutes
- 6. Discuss what you both noticed about listening and being listened to
Do this exercise 2-3 times a week with different people to strengthen your listening skills.
Follow-Up Question Drill
The magic happens in the follow-up questions
Why This Skill Matters
Your prepared questions get the conversation started, but your follow-ups uncover the rich details, emotions, and insights that make stories truly memorable. Great follow-ups go beyond surface-level answers to capture the stories behind the stories.
Follow-Up Question Types
Detail Questions
Draw out specifics that bring stories to life
- "What did the house look like?"
- "Who else was there with you?"
- "What season was this?"
- "What sounds do you remember?"
Emotion Questions
Explore feelings and personal impact
- "How did that make you feel?"
- "What was going through your mind?"
- "What was the hardest part?"
- "How did that change you?"
Process Questions
Understand sequences and developments
- "What happened next?"
- "How did you respond?"
- "What led up to that moment?"
- "How did things change after?"
Meaning Questions
Uncover significance and lessons
- "Why was that important to you?"
- "What did you learn from that?"
- "How did that shape you?"
- "Why do you remember this so clearly?"
Listen for "Doorways"
In natural conversation, people often briefly mention something that could lead to a rich story—these are "doorways." Learn to spot them and open them with follow-up questions.
Example statement: "After college, I spent a year travelling before settling into my career. That experience really changed my perspective."
Doorway: "a year travelling"
Follow-up: "Where did you go during that year of travel? Was there a particular place or experience that stands out?"
The Art of Follow-Up Timing
When to ask follow-ups is just as important as what to ask:
- → Wait for natural pauses—don't interrupt a flowing story
- → Follow emotional cues—when their expression changes, there's often more to explore
- → Listen for doorways—brief mentions of something that could lead to a deeper story
- → Allow silence first—a moment of quiet often prompts continued sharing without a direct question
Non-Verbal Communication
Your body language creates the atmosphere for storytelling
Why This Skill Matters
As much as 70-90% of communication is non-verbal. Your body language, facial expressions, and eye contact can either encourage deep sharing or shut it down. Mastering non-verbal communication helps create a safe, comfortable space for storytelling.
Engaged Listening Posture
Do
- • Sit slightly forward to show interest
- • Keep shoulders relaxed and open
- • Maintain an open posture
- • Position yourself at the same eye level
Don't
- • Slouch or lean back too far
- • Cross arms tightly across chest
- • Fidget excessively
- • Position yourself higher or lower
Eye Contact
Do
- • Maintain comfortable, steady eye contact
- • Occasionally glance away naturally
- • Look at different parts of their face
- • Adjust to their comfort level
Don't
- • Stare intensely without breaks
- • Avoid eye contact consistently
- • Look primarily at your notes or camera
- • Let your eyes wander around the room
Non-Verbal Directing Techniques
These subtle cues help guide the interview without verbal interruption:
- → The Encouraging Nod: More vigorous nodding signals interest, encouraging elaboration
- → The Head Tilt: Tilting your head slightly communicates curiosity and can prompt more detail
- → The Subtle Lean: Leaning in slightly during important moments signals special interest
- → The Reflective Pause: Maintaining attentive silence with steady eye contact often elicits continued sharing
Practice: Video Feedback Exercise
- 1. Record yourself having a 5-minute conversation with a friend or family member
- 2. Watch the recording with the sound off, focusing only on your non-verbal signals
- 3. Note moments where your body language effectively shows engagement
- 4. Identify moments where your non-verbal cues might send unintended messages
- 5. Practice adjusting specific aspects (eye contact, posture, gestures) one at a time
- 6. Record another conversation and compare the difference
Key Takeaway
These skills improve with deliberate practice. The goal isn't perfection—it's developing an intuitive sense for how to guide conversations while maintaining a natural, comfortable flow. Practice regularly, and these techniques will become second nature. Remember: the best interviews come from authentic curiosity and genuine connection with your storyteller.
Congratulations!
You've completed the Training Room! You now have the knowledge and practice exercises to capture meaningful family stories. Remember: the most important thing is to start—your first recording doesn't have to be perfect.
Take Your Skills Further
Ready to dive deeper into storytelling techniques? Explore these Dive Deep Dialogues apps: