This study sought to gain a better understanding of the process narrators embark upon when deciding what version of a story to tell to a particular audience; a process, hereafter, referred to as narrative adaptation. Inductive, open coding of 25 semi-structured interviews resulted in six rules of telling: (1) If an emotionally close relationship exists with the listener(s), then a more detailed story is told; (2) If it is believed that the listener(s) will not wrongfully judge the storyteller, then a more detailed story is told; (3) If the listener(s) display interest in the story, then a more detailed story is told; (4) If the physical setting is not appropriate, then the story is condensed; (5) If the conversational context is not appropriate, then the story is condensed; and (6) If a meaningful purpose will be fulfilled by telling the story, then a more detailed story is told. Implications of studying the process of narrative adaptation are discussed.