Storytelling

Numerous books and tapes suggest starting a journal. There are workshops offered and methods outlined for journaling. Realizing the power of keeping a journal, I started many. But, even though I believed in the power of journaling — just like students and other speakers I have talked with about journals — I would write in my journal regularly for several weeks, then once or twice a week, then once a month, until I put it aside for several years. That was until I discovered the program that changed my life. This twelve week program in contained in the book, The Artist's Way : A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron and Mark Bryan. I have recommended it to everyone I know, and those who have followed it, feel the same way I do. Let me tell you about it.

I have been preparing for the National Storytelling Conference in Denver, and I received an e-mail from a woman who has been telling all year at her local schools and events, and even giving workshops at other storytelling conferences. And, yet, she expressed anxiety about telling in front of other storytellers at our many swap sessions. Her concerns led me to write this article.

When two storytellers successfully perform a story together, the audience is in for a special treat. The different characters in the story are actually portrayed by different voices and personalities and the story is enriched by the variety. This Tandem Telling, however, carries its own set of challenges. When done well, it offers a rewarding experience for both tellers and listeners. Done poorly, it offers a frustrating experience for all. (I have witnessed both first hand.)

Are you a storyteller, a story lover, a story writer or just someone who loves being opened up to learning, loving and new ideas? If so, you should plan to attend this summer’s National Storytelling Network’s (NSN’s) Storytelling Conference to be held in Denver, Colorado from July 10-14, 2002. I, personally, will guarantee that this will be one of the most satisfying and life enhancing events you have ever attended. I have attended many conferences and conventions in my life, and the NSN conferences score the highest of all in my estimation. In this column I am going to share some of the planned highlights.

Anyone who has told stories often knows the importance of time and timing. Used with planning, time can be a storyteller’s best friend. Used without thought, however, time can ruin a performance and rob a teller of credibility, reputation, and the joy of experiencing eager listeners. In this column, I will highlight the ins and outs of time management for storytellers – and I am not referring to the Day Planner kind of time management!

Do you remember the game Trivial Pursuit? Imagine if there were a version made just for your family! How do you think you'd do? How good were you at the original game? I can remember making up all kinds of excuses for when I didn't know the answers. I would discount my lack of answers by saying something like "How am I supposed to know that stuff?" Well, if the questions were based purely on an individual's family history, what kind of excuse could be used? What a great way, also to gather memories worth preserving.

Recently when I was asked to give a storytelling program at a Saturday night session hosted by our local MetroParks system, the woman calling wondered if I had a theme in mind. What a good idea! It not only helps with their write-up and advertising of the event, but also helps the storyteller plan a cohesive performance. Because I will be telling mid-March, I told her I would focus on trickster tales (in preparation for April Fool’s day). I already tell some trickster tales – everyone and all ages enjoy them – and I know that there are many more that I haven’t yet discovered and worked on, but will in the next few weeks. This will be the added benefit for me, because I will add some new, fun stories to my repertoire. In this column, I discuss some ideas for themes.

When writing or telling a story orally, we must pay particular attention to our tenses. What do I mean by this? Several summers ago, I attended a one-week intensive storytelling session with Laura Simms – a renowned storyteller from New York City. There were fifteen of us working on a story of our choice with Laura coaching, critiquing and sharing her years of storytelling experience with us. One of the areas of storytelling style that she stressed was the use of the proper tense. This might seem obvious and/or a small, nitty-gritty topic, but following her directive has made quite a difference in my storytelling. In this column, I will share her suggestions.

You are excited about storytelling. You want to start telling stories, but don’t know where to tell them. You are already telling stories, but want to tell more often. You have stories to tell, but want to practice telling them in a non-threatening environment. You are a storyteller and want to meet other storytellers. You want storytelling to grow and to become accepted in your area. All of these, and many more, are reasons to form a storytelling group. But, how do you start one and what are some of the guidelines to follow to ensure a successful outcome? This column will point you in the right direction.

As we move into the New Year, I hear more people than I have ever heard before say “Happy New Year! Happy Holidays!” And yet there is that quiver of apprehension in the voices. Yes, daily we are reminded of the war, the poor economy, unemployment, and the threats of terrorism. And daily, on a brighter note, I am reminded of the power of storytelling. Storytelling has the power to heal, to build bridges of cultural understanding, to stir the imagination, to enrich our lives and work, inspire learning and enhance reading skills. Fortunately, I am not alone in my beliefs.

For years, professional speakers and salespeople have known the power of using personal stories in their presentations. As storytellers, we tell a variety of stories. Stories that have been around for years, stories we have created, and personal stories. Personal stories are becoming more popular today and are being included in storytellers’ repertoires more frequently as time passes. Even if you are not planning to tell stories professionally, you will realize that there are many benefits that accompany the telling of a personal story. When someone knows our story, they can’t help but like us — and vice versa.

Years ago when I was in school, there was one subject that I disliked and dreaded — history. I have discovered in recent years that I love history and the reason I hated it in school was the method of teaching, not the subject. Learning dates, names, and facts was boring and difficult. But now that I am hearing, learning and creating historical stories, the subject has come to life — it is exciting, interesting and captivating. One of the most popular and asked for workshop that I give has the title of this column, so I will share some of the same techniques I share in my workshop.