How to Get Connected with Storytelling and Storytellers

I have always been a storyteller! When, at the age of six, I told my parents that I planned to be a storyteller when “I grew up” they told me a different story. It wasn’t until 1988 when I was creating and telling my stories at my weekly Toastmasters International club meetings and at work that I discovered that there are professional storytellers making a living at what they love doing. I had shared one of my stories at lunchtime when one of my listeners clued me in. I have been a professional storyteller ever since, and have never looked back. There are also storytelling groups, guilds, organizations, festivals, concerts, e-mail lists, and people who tell stories just for fun. How can you get connected? Let me count the ways.

Become a member of NSN. The National Storytelling Network(NSN) at http://www.storynet.org is a membership organization whose mission is: Bringing together and nurturing individuals and organizations that use the power of storytelling in all its forms. Benefits of being a member include:

• A subscription to the excellent bi-monthly issue of Storytelling Magazine which delivers news, stories, and articles of special interest to the storytelling community.
• Advanced information and pre-registration discount opportunities for the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, held annually the first week in October.
• Member discounts for the National Storytelling Conference — the annual summer event featuring keynote speakers, workshops, and forums.
• The NSN Member Roster — a valuable tool for members who wish to network with other members.
• The National Storytelling Directory which includes hundreds of detailed listings organized by teller and state. Members are encouraged to submit information (at no charge) about events, organizations, educational opportunities, and periodicals, and to purchase a professional listing to promote their work.
• NSN’s website Storynet offers members unique opportunities to network with one another and promote their storytelling programs. Recent additions include Cyber Café, a venue of members to meet and discuss story topics, and the online version of the National Storytelling Directory.
• Special Interest Groups (SIGs) offer the opportunity to network with other members to focus on specific storytelling interests.
• Storytelling Resources. The National Storytelling Press publishes a variety of storytelling books and tapes. Listen to performances taped live at the National Storytelling Festival and learn about using storytelling in the curriculum. All Press items are available to NSN members at special discounted rates.

Join a group in your area or state. Once you start checking out the links on this site, you will find groups of storytellers everywhere. By becoming involved with one or more groups/guilds/clubs you will have a chance to listen to other storytellers, tell to other storytellers, be included in local storytelling events, get feedback, encouragement, recommendations, and make friends with an incredible group of fun-loving people. It will open a whole new vista for you.