Story Gathering? Tips part 2

Are you a story gatherer? Here is the second part of an article to guide you in collecting stories. Learn about this subject through the eyes of a storyteller.

1. The ordinary can be extraordinary. What you do on a daily basis that you might consider common may not be. It might be a powerful story waiting to be revealed. Take a second look. Your experience with this person in the food shelter for example might hold stories. The everyday can be worth sharing.

(“Byzantine Metaphor For The Soul and Death” by Ken and Nyetta)

1. Don’t underestimate metaphor or symbols. A common practice may speak to the power of the story you are meaning to tell. For example, a ring story can have powerful meaning. One simply has to revisit the “why” of the story. Why you walk a certain path or conduct a ritual can have greater meaning to further direction.

1. Talk to at least two people without a script. Stories improve the more we tell them. I invite you to share your story or even your story ideas with at least two people. Simply ask for them to listen to your story without interruption. Afterwards, have a conversation about what they heard from your story. Retelling based on including what they heard from your story can often add to your telling.

(“Perspectives.” by Gaëtan Zarforoushan is licensed under CC BY 2.0)

1. Consider telling about the event or person but tell it from another perspective. I have found that new awareness often is added to your story when told from the viewpoint of another person connected to the story.

(“listen” by vicki miller is licensed under CC BY 2.0)

1. Your beginning should not reveal all, but instead invite us to hear more. Your closure should be a wrap up that invites us to revisit the story. The only elements of a story that I often say can be written down word for word is the beginning and the end. It opens and closes the work. It requires careful direction to do this and by possibly playing with precise language, one can provide the mindset to do this. However, if new words arise from this, use them. Playing with ideas creates powerful stories.

I wish you well in your story development. I hope this helps guide you as engage in the work and play of finding the story you want to tell.

Join us in your story exchange. Tell us how you are a story gatherer. We are listening.