Listening to others does not mean you should sound like them; find your own voice by telling stories as authentically as possible.

If you tell stories you love, you will never tell them with indifference - take it to the bank.

I began telling stories as a volunteer in my daughters' school. But I grew up hearing stories from Cuban and Southern storytellers, and I learned a great deal by just being quiet and listening.

Listen to great storytellers; slowly, you will learn about voice, timing, tension, structure, climax - all the things you need to tell stories that will capture the imagination of your audience.

Read, read, read. Read good books. You will strengthen your understanding of story. Your vocabulary will be the richer for it.

You're more likely to finish a book you enjoy, than one that feels like literary drudgery.