storytelling

In my element

Last night when I was telling stories onstage, my husband captured this perfect ‘getting the precise details’ gesture of mine. I recognized how it feels from how it looks.

A blue-tinged photo of me telling a story onstage at a storytelling festival.
A blue-tinged photo of me telling a story onstage at a storytelling festival. The back of several people’s heads can be seen at the bottom of the photo. I’m a middle-aged woman with short brown hair wearing a blue tunic, I have my right hand outstretched with the palm downward and my left hand has one finger outstretched in the ‘let me tell you one thing’ gesture.

Storytelling week!

Last week, I was organizing events for other people’s fun.

I had fun, too, of course but when you have to remember all the details, it’s hard to really sink into what you’re doing.

This week, though, I’m telling stories at two different festivals and I’ll have to do is show up and tell.

I don’t have to figure anything out.

I don’t have to remember any details.

I don’t have to make sure we have supplies.

I just have to tell stories.

I’m really looking forward to it!

Today, I’m telling stories

A photo of a large white building that houses a museum. Trees, grass and flowers are in the foreground.
A photo of Torbay History House – a museum and activity centre for community heritage activities. The white two story building with a roofed, wrap-around porch is in the back of the photo with an expanse of green lawn, flowerbeds, and trees.

I was lucky to be invited to tell stories at Torbay History House today – two 45 minute sets of animal stories for kids.

Since I knew that my audience would be very young, I decided to intersperse my stories with some action songs and it has worked out marvellously – the kids and their grown-ups had a great time. And so did I!

Well, we did in the first set anyway, I’m just heading in for my second set now.

Pieces of a story

On Friday, I took a really fun workshop on creating stories.

The workshop leader, N, had a huge pile of small items in a box and after putting us in pairs he asked us to select a few items to craft a story from.

My story-partner J and I were really on the same metaphorical page and we had a great time crafting our story.

What kind of story could you make from these objects?

a brown tabletop with a green notebook and a pencil on it. On top of the notebook is a metal stick figure with its hands in the air. Next to the notebook is an amber coloured phial, a little ways to the right is a small bouquet of tiny flowers and a metal key, to the right of that is a large rock and to the right of that is a broken white brooch
Image description: a brown tabletop with a green notebook and a pencil on it. On top of the notebook is a metal stick figure with its hands in the air. Next to the notebook is an amber coloured phial, a little ways to the right is a small bouquet of tiny flowers and a metal key, to the right of that is a large rock and to the right of that is a broken white brooch.

Story Cards

I had a great time teaching short sessions with story cards (prompt images drawn on index cards) at a local school today.

The kids had a grand time with my story cards and an even grander time making their own.

I was delighted by how they responded when I asked them ‘What is creativity?’ I was expecting them to say ‘Drawing.’ But instead they said ‘Making stuff’ and ‘having cool ideas’

Making stuff and having cool ideas – it’s a good way to spend your time.

Image description: a selection of simple index card drawings spread out on a table with markers and colouring pencils nearby. The drawings include a gold star, a crown, a flower, a dog’s face, and a cup of tea.