By George, I think She's Got It!

Ever had one of those experiences that is so moving, so inspiring, so exciting that you fear talking about it might somehow blow all the magic away? I just had one of those. But while I do sort of feel this tenuous grasp on the magic, I feel too inspired NOT to share it.

I just had the privilege of enjoying a two-day storytelling workshop led by professional storyteller, Donald Davis (Seriously, follow that link. He's WONDERFUL!). It was held in the home of generous teller, Susan Gordon, who mostly uses her telling in therapeutic settings. Right now she works as an addictions counselor. The first time I heard her tell back in the Fall of '06 (it was the story of Cuchulain - a traditional Scottish hero), I felt a tug at my soul. What she was doing pulled at me, called me. It was more than the story she chose to tell that day that spoke to me, it was how she was using that story to offer me solutions to my questions, my problems, my yearnings. And without realizing it, that experience offered me a glimpse of a possible future. Because that's what stories - really good stories - have always done for me. They have left an indelible mark on my heart and allowed me to carry them with me. They helped me find a bit more of myself. I have always wanted to do that much for someone else. I want to share stories of substance with other people, in order to make them laugh, help them feel joy, put them in touch with their own sadness in order to understand it better, basically to help them recognize themselves and to give them what I've been given, love.

I've been attending the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival in Orem, UT for about 5-7 years now and I have always loved it. I am utterly enamored by it, but the few times anyone suggested that I should be a storyteller, I dismissed it out of fear. I used to be involved in theater, but I haven't done much of anything substantial since 1998...so I let the fear take over and make my decisions for me. Bad idea. Then I started my Masters program at GMU in Folklore and that first semester, my professor invited Susan Gordon to tell for us. And you already read how that made me feel. Yet still I resisted. I heard her a few more times over the last 2 years until finally this last semester, while a small group of students joined Susan for dinner before an evening of storytelling, she mentioned this workshop. I said, "Oh, I wish that I'd known about it earlier! I would absolutely love to participate in something like that!" Susan was happy to hear of my interest and agreed to let me know if an opening presented itself. And my Christmas Wish was granted.

A group of about nine people gathered and told their stories, all works in progress. I was touched by how personal and intimate some of those stories were and felt so privileged to be given permission to see and meet the places and people that they loved. After each story, Donald would lead a discussion on it. What else did we want to know about the story, or the main character or the storyteller? Then without a word of judgment or criticism, he shared his years of storytelling experience in his deep, welcoming North Carolinian accent. It was absolutely inspiring! I was (am) a complete novice, so I hadn't formally prepared a story, but had two small, related stories I felt comfortable telling. Ugh. It was rough. Although I know the stories very well (for family members, I told about Dad's left-handed misadventures), I hadn't ever considered or practiced how I would present them. I also had no ending...so it just kind of fizzled out into nothing. But I was given such incredible, such clear and simple guidelines by Donald that I began to feel that maybe, just maybe I could actually do this. I went home that night, my mind abuzz with ideas, and began working on that same set of stories I'd told to the group. I practiced them out loud and added a better introduction and transition and tried out a few different endings. Then I recorded myself. As I listened to it, I realized that while it was still obviously rough, the difference was incredible! I had just told a real story! If only I'd had an audience for feedback.

I had let myself get all wrapped up in my fears and that had almost kept me from this truly exciting and inspiring future. While I'm still scared, for the first time in my life, I feel like this is something I could actually do. I have a passion for stories and (a longing for attention - egomaniac that I am) and a desire to share that passion w/ others. So if I can manage to remember the P's that Donald shared with me, take the time to plan out and practice the stories I want to tell and then tell them, I think I might be able to find my own voice. And in finding my voice, I think I might find what I've been looking for all along! So who wants to help me by being my audience? I need feedback and I need experience telling in front of people so I can conquer my fears.

Have you ever had an experience like this? Like you just found your place in the universe and the chaos might just make sense? Do tell!! I loves a good story, I do!

In case anyone is wondering what the P's are, here you go:
1. Picture = Every story has to paint a picture. Storytellers make movies appear in the listeners' minds.
2. Place = Show your listeners a place they've never been before. Use the picture to take them there.
3. People = Introduce your listeners to people they'd never have the chance to know (not like you know them).
4. Plot = A storyteller needs to establish the normal, everyday way people behave in this new place.
5. Problem = In order to move forward, there has to be a problem, a turning point, that causes pulls the people/place out of its everyday existence.
6. Progress Report = Essentially, there must be some sort of end evaluation. You could call it the moral, but not every story really needs to have a moral. Basically what did you (the teller) or the character learn?

For more fun and for those maybe interested in trying this out on their own, check this out. Then I would suggest that you go to your library and ask if they have any storytellers on cd (or tape, if you're old school) that you can check out. Get acquainted w/ their stuff. Then go and practice.