Do you want to write the next million-dollar story? Listen to Kurt Vonnegut. All you need to do is follow one of the classic “Shapes of Stories.” To all my fellow storytellers, aspiring novelists, and budding screenwriters, you don’t have the recreate the perfect plot, start with one of these, then add a little creativity …Read More
Category: Storytelling
Geraldine Buckley, storytelling in its modern form
“The shortest distance between two hearts is a story.” ~ Geraldine Buckley Red hair, British accent, Geraldine Buckley stands out! And so do her stories. Among them, she tells original personal stories with a contrasting British propriety. Many are from her unique life experiences, which include “time” as chaplain at the largest men’s prison in …Read More
The Elephant II – HUGE success in Ft Myers, FL
“The Elephant” appeared again in Ft. Myers, FL, to a sold out crowd! (135 seats!) Tonight (January 31, 2018), the second annual event at Alliance for the Arts opened to our storytelling fans with a showcase performance of ten amazing tellers with a range of stories from personal to folk tales that captivated, titillated, and …Read More
The Gift of the Magi
“One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all.” This is the famous first line to The Gift of the Magi, published by O. Henry in 1905. Imagine that you only had $1.87 to spend for Christmas. Even in 1905, Della struggles to buy a gift for her husband, Jim. However, despite the challenges, love survives …Read More
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
One last chance to recite this poem for the year before Santa Claus goes to rest. He’s out there and very busy. You can track him on the Official NORAD website. Yes, the North American Aerospace Defense Command actually tracks Santa. (There’s a whole other story of how the U.S. military got involved in Santa …Read More
Santa Claus – ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
I performed this poem at Brambles English Tea Room for Tea&Tales this holiday season on Sat Dec 9th and Thu Dec 14, 2017. Enjoy the video and read the poem below or pick up one of the many illustrated books as a gift this holiday season. “Happy Christmas to All!” The video includes an extended …Read More
Jamie DeWolf – The Exit Interview, Save a Life
Snap Judgment is a weekly storytelling radio show, but with a twist. “Stories with a Beat.” Spoken-Word Poetry meets edgy Storytelling, set to the beat of Music. LIVE Snap Judgement theater events showcase performances of featured tellers with a live band. The synergy between the music, poetry, and storytelling creates a powerful experience. Check out …Read More
“The Box” by Dr. Joel Storyteller
To my Storytelling Fans! I discovered this memory in a storytelling workshop several years ago with Kim Weitkamp. She is masterful in teaching how to find your story ideas, and I love sharing her technique of memory mapping in workshops. In 2013, my audience was Toastmasters so the memory became a speech for a contest. …Read More
Six-Word Stories
“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” ~ Ernest Hemingway Can you create a story in 6 words? Ernest Hemingway met the challenge with his famous six-word story. Stories can take many forms. Most are more than 6 words. Movies, television, commercials, oral storytelling performance, novels, short stories … What makes a story? The elements of …Read More
Donald Davis: Tell me a story
“Tell me a story about when you were young.” If you’ve ever asked this question (or been asked), then you know the confused look that can follow. The question is way too general. Unless you have a catalog of stories already in your head, the mind goes blank. No memories are triggered. The secret is …Read More