Category: What Storytelling Is and Does

  • Heart-lifting for Disheartening Times – Storytelling begets GRATITUDE

    Heart-lifting for Disheartening Times – Storytelling begets GRATITUDE

    It’s all so overwhelming and it seems everyone is tired, discouraged, maybe angry or cynical or depressed, maybe confused or disheartened…just weary. Each day during this April A-Z Blogging Challenge I’ll offer a short musing on an aspect or two of the many ways the ancient-yet-very-contemporary experience of storytelling – both listening…

  • Heart-Lifting for Disheartening Times – Storytelling for ESCAPE, and EMPATHY

    Heart-Lifting for Disheartening Times – Storytelling for ESCAPE, and EMPATHY

    It’s all so overwhelming and it seems everyone is tired, discouraged, maybe angry or cynical or depressed, maybe confused or disheartened…just weary. Each day during this April A-Z Blogging Challenge I’ll offer a short musing on an aspect or two of the many ways the ancient-yet-very-contemporary experience of storytelling – both listening…

  • Heart-Lifting for Disheartening Times: Storytelling Creates CONNECTION

    Heart-Lifting for Disheartening Times: Storytelling Creates CONNECTION

    It’s all so overwhelming and it seems everyone is tired, discouraged, maybe angry or cynical or depressed, maybe confused or disheartened…just weary. Each day during this April A-Z Blogging Challenge I’ll offer a short musing on an aspect or two of the many ways the ancient-yet-very-contemporary experience of storytelling – both listening…

  • Why Tell Ghost Stories?

    Why Tell Ghost Stories?

    When I was a child, my favorite holiday was Halloween. Not because of the candy – though I certainly enjoyed the Tootsie Rolls and Snickers and yes, candy corn. No, it was the atmosphere of it all – the tree branches against the moon, the rustling leaves underfoot and overhead,…

  • Descriptions / Definitions

    Descriptions / Definitions

    “Story slam.” “Traditional storytelling.” What do these even mean?! [Theme for this month: “Story Slams & Traditional Storytelling – Bridging the Distance”]

  • Competition

    Competition

    “A storytelling contest?! No way!” And I shook my head in distaste, even a bit of disbelief. After all, storytelling is all about community, and connection, and communication, and strengthening bonds, and cooperation, and…not competing!

  • A-Z April Daily Blogging Challenge 2015 – Diving in Again!

    A-Z April Daily Blogging Challenge 2015 – Diving in Again!

    Theme: Story Slams & Traditional Storytelling – Bridging the Distance I’m still quite new to story slams, and they are still new to me – I’ve been to four. (See previous blog posts about my introduction to this increasingly-popular kind of storytelling event: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.) I…

  • Story Slams Making Waves (Part 3) – Diving In Head First

    Story Slams Making Waves (Part 3) – Diving In Head First

    It was my first-ever story slam! Not sure if “wow” or “hm” is my primary response…Wow. Hm. That was the gist of my Facebook post that night after I got home; and I started planning a 3-part blog series reflecting on story slams. Then… OHMIGOSH OHMIGOSH!!! I just got home…

  • Story Slams Making Waves – What’s the Story, Anyway?! (Part 1)

    Story Slams Making Waves – What’s the Story, Anyway?! (Part 1)

    “Like moths to a flame: People flock to hear personal sagas” – Denver Post, October 17, 2014. It was exciting to see a nice, big feature article in the Denver newspaper about storytelling! I read it eagerly… But…but…but…I confess to you: Eagerness gave way to puzzlement, puzzlement gave way to…

  • “All the Words I Cannot Write”…Oral Stories / Written Stories

    “All the Words I Cannot Write”…Oral Stories / Written Stories

    All the Light We Cannot See  Have you ever heard, or read, a story that filled you so very, very, very full…of thoughts, emotions, responses, images…? A story you hear told aloud…a written novel you hold in your hands…both are so similar to, and so different from, each other. Both…