NORTHWORD
  • Home
  • Storytelling Workshop
  • 100 THINGS
    • Submit a thing
  • What makes a good story
    • Every picture tells a story
    • Landscape as a storyteller
    • How an object tells a story
    • Spoken Word
  • YOUR STORIES
    • Ardclach Bell Tower
    • The Ghost of Ardvreck Castle
    • Big Grey Man of Ben Macdui
    • The Black Shadow
    • The Brodie Pontifical
    • The Brora Coalfield
    • The Burghead Bull
    • Caithness Dialect
    • Carbisdale Castle Clock
    • The Burning of the Clavie
    • Coinneach: the Brahan Seer
    • Culbin
    • Ghostly Shinty at Dalarossie
    • The Dounreay Dalek
    • The Dwarfie Stane
    • Phantom Train of Dunphail
    • Greenmire
    • Highland Ghost Stories
    • The Highland Pony
    • Hogmanay Bonfire at Pulteneytown
    • The Hydrogen Story
    • Laidhay remembered
    • LS Lowry and Caithness
    • Lochindorb
    • Mary Ann's Cottage
    • The Orkney Energy Community
    • Orkney Sea Monsters
    • Sandwood Bay Legends
    • A simple, happy life
    • The Skaill House Ghosts
    • Skekling
    • Smuggling and Illicit Distilling
    • Teddy Banjo, Teuksy and Wick Wivies
    • The genius of Thomas Telford
    • Traveller Beware
    • White Wife of Watlee
    • Christmas in Wick
    • The Wulver of Shetland

what makes
a ​good story

Stories come in all different shapes and sizes.  They come in different forms whether written, oral or pictorial; they are inspired by imagination, landscapes, legends, history, people, places, events, objects or things.  Stories are wonderful things with the power to engage, inspire, and to move.  Here are case-studies of different forms of stories, drawn told in different ways and deriving their inspiration from very different sources.  Remember, all good stories require a good storyteller too!
Much, however, depends on the manner in which a story is told ; and thus far I may vouch for the writer. I have seriously resolved not to be tedious, unless I cannot help it; and so, if I do not prove amusing, it will be only because I am unfortunate enough to be dull. I shall have the merit of doing my best—and what writer ever did more?
Hugh Miller Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland.

Picture

Every picture tells a story

Every picture tells a story and often an image or photograph can be used very effective to elicit stories, memoirs, reminiscences in a technique called photo elicitation.  This photo was used in gathering stories about the life of the lady in the black coat.

Picture

Landscape as a storyteller

The landscape often shapes our perceptions, and grounds our reality. Many stories are derived from the environment around us, whether built or natural.  This tale about Ben Macdui tells of legends and unexplained phenomena but also shows how landscape shapes our understanding.

Picture

How an object tells a story

Stories come from experiences but they also come from things and objects; an extraordinary tale can often lie behind a commonplace thing.  Explore how an object can be used to tell a story by reading about what lies behind this little wooden bowl.

Picture

The spoken word

The oral tradition of storytelling is as important as the written form, and some might argue that it is more important.  The oral tradition of storytelling is particularly important in northern Scotland.  Explore this ghostly tale from Elgin to hear how much impact the spoken word can have.

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  • Home
  • Storytelling Workshop
  • 100 THINGS
    • Submit a thing
  • What makes a good story
    • Every picture tells a story
    • Landscape as a storyteller
    • How an object tells a story
    • Spoken Word
  • YOUR STORIES
    • Ardclach Bell Tower
    • The Ghost of Ardvreck Castle
    • Big Grey Man of Ben Macdui
    • The Black Shadow
    • The Brodie Pontifical
    • The Brora Coalfield
    • The Burghead Bull
    • Caithness Dialect
    • Carbisdale Castle Clock
    • The Burning of the Clavie
    • Coinneach: the Brahan Seer
    • Culbin
    • Ghostly Shinty at Dalarossie
    • The Dounreay Dalek
    • The Dwarfie Stane
    • Phantom Train of Dunphail
    • Greenmire
    • Highland Ghost Stories
    • The Highland Pony
    • Hogmanay Bonfire at Pulteneytown
    • The Hydrogen Story
    • Laidhay remembered
    • LS Lowry and Caithness
    • Lochindorb
    • Mary Ann's Cottage
    • The Orkney Energy Community
    • Orkney Sea Monsters
    • Sandwood Bay Legends
    • A simple, happy life
    • The Skaill House Ghosts
    • Skekling
    • Smuggling and Illicit Distilling
    • Teddy Banjo, Teuksy and Wick Wivies
    • The genius of Thomas Telford
    • Traveller Beware
    • White Wife of Watlee
    • Christmas in Wick
    • The Wulver of Shetland