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Yarning, another type of story, differs from the basic in that almost from the beginning everyone listening knows there is no way this can be true.
Here, the campfire is less intimate, and the story seems more performed, and less conversational. In this type of story it is easy to become more animated, and the introduction of sound effects and so forth seem very proper. The best thing to do here is just go with it. "…and as the door on the giants door opened I heard an owl hoot three times. Whoo…Whoo…Whooot." Instead of just saying Whoo…, Hoot like an owl yourself. Make it as loud or as soft as YOU want, depending on how it fits into the story and the mood you are striving to set. Don't be afraid to be animated, or worry that you might appear silly. Have fun with it. During this type of story questions and comments may be put forth, but are less frequent than in the basic example. The audience here is being entertained. It is important to listen to these questions though, because perhaps you have jumped ahead and left out a fact or event important to the story and this gives you the opportunity to add it back in.

The last category relates to those stories like "The Cremation of Sam McGee". This is a poem like story that is recited, and is often done standing.
It really only works well if done from memory. Here the storyteller is really performing. There is a high level of animation, and moving around. In fact the best rendition of "The Cremation of Sam McGee" that I have seen was done before a crowd of 200, and the storyteller, dressed as a mountain man, was in constant motion. These can be the hardest to do, but often are best suited to larger audiences, and an area near the campfire which will safely allow this type of story.

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