Category: What Storytelling Is and Does

  • Heart-lifting for Disheartening Times – Storytelling begets GRATITUDE

    Heart-lifting for Disheartening Times – Storytelling begets GRATITUDE

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    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

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    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

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    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?

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    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

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

  • Competition

    Competition

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    “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!

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    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

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    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)

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    “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

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    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…