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Tall Tale Festival

How to Write a Tall Tale:
A Guide for College Students

Tall tales are a fun and engaging form of storytelling, filled with humor, exaggeration, and outlandish characters. They often involve incredible adventures and impossible feats that entertain and captivate an audience. Writing a tall tale is an excellent exercise in creativity, allowing you to stretch your imagination and create a story that defies reality. If you're a college student looking to write a tall tale, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

1. Understand What Makes a Tall Tale Unique

Before you start writing, it's important to understand the key elements that define a tall tale:

Exaggeration: At the core of a tall tale is exaggeration. Characters do things that are not just difficult but downright impossible, often to hilarious effect.

Humor: Tall tales are meant to be funny. They use wit, irony, and absurdity to entertain.

Larger-Than-Life Characters: The protagonists in tall tales are often extraordinary, with superhuman abilities or unique qualities that set them apart.

Folklore and Myth Elements: Tall tales often borrow elements from folklore or myth, creating a sense of familiarity while adding a twist of absurdity.

Conversational Style: Traditionally, tall tales were passed down orally, so they often have a relaxed, conversational tone.


2. Create a Memorable Main Character

A compelling tall tale needs a memorable main character who is larger than life. Here’s how to develop your protagonist:

Think Big: Your character should have an extraordinary trait or skill that’s exaggerated to the extreme. For example, think of a college student who is so good at multitasking that they can simultaneously attend three classes, write two papers, and still find time for a social life.

Give Them a Unique Skill or Quirk: This skill should be something that no ordinary person could do. Maybe your character can finish an entire semester’s worth of assignments in one night or has a photographic memory that lets them remember every detail of every textbook they’ve ever read.

Consider Their Background: Give your character a backstory that explains their abilities. Were they raised in a library? Did they develop their unique talents as a survival tactic during finals week?


3. Develop an Over-the-Top Plot

The plot of a tall tale revolves around the protagonist’s extraordinary adventures. Here’s how to create a plot that captures the essence of a tall tale:

Start with a Relatable Problem: Think of a problem that any college student might face, such as struggling with a tough professor, a group project gone wrong, or finding a way to pay for textbooks.

Exaggerate the Solution: The character’s solution to this problem should be completely over-the-top and hilarious. Maybe they use their superhuman charm to convince every professor to give them an A+ or they find a way to print money on the campus printers.

Include a Series of Outlandish Adventures: Don’t stop at just one event. Create a series of episodes that show off your character’s skills and make the reader laugh. Maybe your character also saves the college’s failing football team with a single pep talk or turns the campus cafeteria into a five-star restaurant overnight.


4. Infuse Your Story with Humor

Humor is a key element in tall tales. Here are some tips for adding humor to your story:

Use Hyperbole: Exaggeration is your best friend. For example, “He could run so fast that he could finish a 10k marathon before breakfast and still have time to cook a full meal for his entire dorm.”

Play with Language: Use puns, jokes, and clever dialogue to make the story more engaging and fun. Consider using witty banter between characters or funny inner monologues.

Surprise Your Audience: Incorporate unexpected plot twists that keep your audience guessing and laughing. For instance, reveal that the protagonist’s superpower comes from a magic coffee blend they discovered in the campus library.


5. Set the Scene with Vivid Descriptions

While tall tales are all about exaggeration, they also benefit from vivid, imaginative descriptions that bring the story to life:

Describe the Setting in Detail: Use sensory details to paint a picture of the setting. Describe the bustling campus quad, the chaotic dorm room, or the labyrinthine library stacks.

Use Exaggeration in Descriptions: When describing your character’s actions or surroundings, use over-the-top language to emphasize their extraordinary nature.


6. Keep the Tone Conversational

Since tall tales come from an oral storytelling tradition, they often have a conversational, informal tone. Here’s how to capture that in your writing:

Write as if You're Telling the Story to a Friend: Use casual language and speak directly to the reader. Use phrases like, “You won’t believe what happened next!” or “Here’s where things get really wild.”

Include Personal Asides and Commentary: Adding little asides or comments can make the story feel more personal and engaging.


7. End with a Bang

Your tall tale should end on a high note, with a conclusion that’s as exaggerated and memorable as the rest of the story:

Wrap Up with One Last Big Feat: Finish with a final, outrageous act that showcases your character’s talents. Maybe they graduate with the highest honors ever recorded at the university and are offered a job as the president on the spot.

Leave Room for More Adventures: Consider leaving your story open-ended, hinting at future adventures or challenges your character might face.


8. Revise and Refine Your Story

As with any good piece of writing, revising your tall tale is crucial. Here’s how to make your story the best it can be:

Read Your Story Aloud: Tall tales are meant to be heard as much as read. Reading aloud will help you catch any awkward phrasing and ensure the humor comes across.

Enhance the Humor and Exaggeration: Look for places to add more humor or exaggeration. Push your character’s abilities and adventures to the absolute limit.

Tighten Up the Writing: Make sure every word counts. Use concise, vivid language to keep the pace lively and the story engaging.


9. Share Your Tall Tale

Once your tall tale is polished, share it with others! Whether it’s in a creative writing class, a campus literary magazine, or just among friends, sharing your story is half the fun. Enjoy the reactions and laughter your tall tale is sure to evoke!