the art of story in massachusetts~ published by massmouth, inc.~ a 501c3 nonprofit organized for the purpose of "promoting the timeless art of storytelling in the 21st century through social media, education and live performance"
As you know by now, I'm blogging the storytelling alphabet daily through May on my storytelling blog, with summaries posted weekly. You can see Part 1 here and Part 2 here. This week we covered k-p.
K is for Karma
What goes around comes around. When storytellers are good listeners, help other tellers and behave ethically, it helps them and their communities. There is abundance for all. You can read K is for Karma here.
L is for Listening
Storytelling starts with listening. Storytellers need to listen to the world around them for material. We need to listen to other tellers to learn more about telling and to support each other. We need to be listened to, in order to hone our craft. The world is a better place when we listen more. You can read L is for Listening here.
M is for Monsters
As storytellers, we are intimate with monsters. Not only the monsters that haunt any artist, but the monsters in our material. When we understand our monsters better we can build more sympathetic characters and a better relationship with the audience. You can read M is for Monsters here.
N is for Nonsense and News
Some tips and tricks on the value of nonsense in stories. And some thoughts about what to do when the news intrudes on our storytelling life and how to accept and incorporate outside events into our arts. You can read N is for News here.
O is for Opportunity
We never know when we'll have the opportunity to tell a needed story, hear the right tale or get a gig. We need to be open to opportunity and accept it in all its guises. You can read O is for Opportunity here.
P is for Practice
Storytelling is like any other art: We need to practice. It can be hard to remember this in the drunken moment of performance, but everything we do is part of our storytelling practice. Some tips and tricks for practicing stories. You can read P is for Practice here.
We're on the downhill side of the alphabet now. Stay tuned to find out hos I handle Q, and Z!
JANELLE CODIANNI FEATURED AT STORY SPACEON MAY 21ST
This past week a high-school class joined on a
field trip. Their energy was amazing. They've obviously been doing
their homework. A few of them told stories and blew us away. The
feature was Andy Christie, from New York. He is a grand winner of the
Moth. He told about a book he once received as a gift from his father.
He had been disappointed, but years later he learned that it had been a
valuable first-edition with rare illustrations. Another story had to
do with the progression of love affairs over the years.
Join us for an exciting evening on May 21st, when
Janelle Codianni is our featured teller. She will share her adventures
as a woman, a mother and a human being. The evening will begin with an Open Mic at 7.Tellers will have eight minutes to tell their story.
First-time tellers are guaranteed a spot and listeners are always
welcome. Janelle will begin her feature at 8:15.
The venue is near Central Square and the gallery
invites the creative muse. There is a $5 suggested donation. This
enables us to continue our weekly gatherings as we have for over 21
years.
Place: Out of the Blue Gallery
106 Prospect Street
Cambridge, MA
Date: Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Time: 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Upcoming features: Scott Schultz (May 28), Michael Mack (June 4)
It's a pleasure to return to the massmouth blog and share my alphabetical storytelling adventures with you. You can read the first installment (a-e) here.
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Laura Packer. I'm a storyteller, writer and consultant. I recently moved to Kansas City from Boston and am continuing my storytelling adventures in the Midwest. I am writing an A-Z of storytelling over on my storytelling blog. With massmouth's permission I'm going to post summaries and links to the longer posts every five letters or so. I hope you find this useful and entertaining.
F is for fun.
If you're not having fun when you're telling stories then you might want to take a good long look at what you're doing. Storytelling is a playful art, one that requires us to be agile, quick and responsive to our audiences. When we tell stories, even hard ones, with a sense of wonder and delight in the world, the story, the audience and ourselves, how can it not be fun? You can read more about fun storytelling here.
G is for gratitude.
We are so lucky to be storytellers. Each time we tell a story to an interested audience, we are lucky. Each time we hear a story that moves us, we are lucky. Moving through the world and through our storytelling lives with gratitude means we are not taking this incredible art form for granted. When we express our gratitude we are letting other storytellers and listeners know we can't do this alone. We are more connected and more responsive. You can read more about storytelling and gratitude here.
I is for imagination.
Stories are composed of images. When we know the detail behind each image (be it a character, an event, a scene, a setting or some other facet of the story) we can make that image come alive for the audience. Imagination, like any other skill, has to be practiced, so by pushing ourselves to imagine more and better, we become better storytellers. You can read more about storytelling and imagination, including a list of exercises, here.
It's a pleasure to come back and write the occasional guest post for massmouth. Thank you for this opportunity.
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Laura Packer. I'm a storyteller, writer and consultant. I just moved to Kansas City from Boston and am continuing my storytelling adventures in the Midwest. I am writing an A-Z of storytelling over on my storytelling blog. With massmouth's permission I'm going to post summaries and links to the longer posts every five letters or so. I hope you find this useful and entertaining.
A is for about.
What is your story about? I'm not talking about the obvious summary (a little girl goes for a walk to her grandmother's house, disobeys her mother, talks to a wolf and gets into trouble) but the deeper meaning. The meaning of the same story can change from teller to teller, listener to listener and even telling to telling. Take some time to get to know what the story is really about for you. Knowing this will help you tell it more effectively and will let you enjoy it more. Really, you don't want to be telling a funny story about your childhood neighbors and suddenly discover it's about how sad you were when you moved from your old neighborhood. You can read more about storytelling about here.
B is for beginnings.
The beginning of your story is not when you start speaking. It's when you walk onto the stage and look at your audience. It's in your body, your movement, your eyes and then your voice. The beginning of your story is the doorway you open to invite your audience into a new world. Do so with confidence and they will be eager to go along with you. You can read more about storytelling beginnings here.
C is for character.
Your characters are your storytellers. You need to know them inside and out, far beyond the reaches of your current narrative. When you deeply understand your characters - heroes and villains - you can portray them, give them voice, with greater authenticity. When you love them - heroes and villains - your audience will, too. It doesn't matter if they are real or fictional, you need to know and love them as their voice in the world. You can read more about characters here.
D is for death.
Death is part of life and so, it might be part of a story you tell. As the teller, you have an obligation to guarantee the audience's safety if you're taking them someplace dark. They need to know they can trust you if you're going to ask them to think about death. Storytelling is a great way to work out our own feelings about death, since we can do so through metaphor and other safe methods. As the teller, you can help your listeners go to the land of the dead and come back safely. You can read more about telling stories about death here.
E is for ethics and endings.
Two issues in one post. Because storytelling is such a powerful art, one that can move audiences to great emotion and action, we have a variety of ethic obligations to our audiences, our stories, our work, our colleagues and our events. Remember to ask yourself, am I honoring the story? the audience? myself? my colleagues? Do I build the art up by telling this?
The ending of the story will linger with your audience long after you've left the room. A good ending can make a mediocre story soar while a poor one can drown the best told tale. Some hints and tips for crafting effective endings.
You can read more about ethics and endings here.
Coming up? Fun, healing, images, justice and k... what to do for k...
High School Storytelling Program Features the Humor and Resilience of Teens
This
past Saturday, twenty-seven high school students told true life stories
before a rapt audience of friends, teachers, casual observers and
family at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. At the
culminating storytelling event of StoriesLive®'s third consecutive
season, winners of this Regional Slam were awarded over $5,500 in cash
prizes. Panels of volunteer judges selected winners from each of three
divisions, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors.
“These
twenty-seven students are representatives of the thousands of stories
we heard this year. Students tell with honesty and engage the elements
of literature in their most organic form - live storytelling," said
massmouth, inc.’s Executive Director and Program Director of
StoriesLive®, Norah Dooley.
John O'Bryant and Latin Academy (exam schools in Boston), Everett High, Lynn
Classical High,Newburyport High, Chelsea High, Revere High, South
Community High School in Worcester, Humanities & Development
Leadership High School in Lawrence and Watertown High all participated
in the program. In each school, following a storytelling concert, a
week-long series of in-class lessons help students craft their real-life
experiences into stories. These refined stories are then shared in a
school-wide slam.
"The students listen to one another with respect and a touching
intensity. It is deeply rewarding work for us,” said Dooley.
The
best storytellers from each school are chosen to represent their
stories and their schools at the Regional Slam. One mother who came with
her young family to support her son, stayed the whole day. "Staying? Of
course we're staying." Her son was a senior and his division was
finished by 11:30 am but when asked she said, "You have more stories,
right? We are here until the stories end."
It was a challenge for the judges to pick just a few winners from many strong stories.
Sophomores: 1st Place, $250 -- Annemarie DeMarco-Alfama (Revere High School)
Runners Up, $ 125 each -- Kenny Le (John O’Bryant, School of Math and Science, Boston) &
Moises Caraballo (Revere High School)
Annemarie's
story, on the theme "First Time"was about her first dance recital and
first successful competition. In an interesting parallel to her personal
history, her sensory details and presence as a performer moved the
judges unanimously award her first prize at her first storytelling
competition.
Juniors:
1st Place, $1,000 -- Latisha Joujute (Everett High School)
Runners-Up, $500 each -- Stephen Carlin (Everett High School) &
Henry Chavez (Latin Academy,Boston) Audience Choice, $500 -- Kristen
Ruffin (Latin Academy, Boston) Junior, Latisha Joujote showed a
masterful control of comic elements in her story on the theme, "Where I
Am From" These elements were thrown in strong contrast by the sobering
tragic event that unfolded and her phoenix-like conclusion.
Seniors: 1st Place, $1,000 -- Nico Luisi (Revere High School)
Runners Up, $500 each -- Moises Ramirez (Lynn Classical High School) &
Vance Crayton (Lynn Classical High School)
Audience Choice, $500 -- Theodore Biv (Lynn Classical)
Two massmouth choice winners ($100 each), will be announced soon. Revere
High School senior, Nico Luisi's story, was based on the theme "Up the
Family Tree". His story create a warm picture of family unity that
shattered and ultimately strengthened his personal resolve.
The only intramural high school story slam in the U.S., StoriesLive® has
set a precedent and created a fully realized model of how the timeless
art of storytelling works in high school English classes. Since the
successful launch in 2011, the StoriesLive® curriculum and massmouth’s
storytellers have introduced over five thousand high school students
from the Commonwealth to the art of storytelling.
Major support from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities and local cultural councils as funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council aided robust fundraising including a generous gift from Three Apples Storytelling Festival,
private donors, the newly formed massmouth,inc.Board of Directors and
in-kind donations from massmouth,inc. artists give this program its far
reach.
- For more info, visit: http://massmouth.ning.com/
- ‘Like’ us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/massmouth.org
- Follow us on Twitter @massmouth
We are delighted that Judith Black will be our featured teller on May 7th. Though
she's local (from the North Shore), Judith has a national and
international following. She is a master teller and teacher. Sometimes
humorous, sometimes touching, she is always outspoken and mesmerizing.
She may share something new that she's working on or recap an award
winning performance. Either way, the evening will be unforgettable. It
will begin with an Open Mic at 7. Tellers will have eight minutes to
"take us where they will." First-time tellers are guaranteed a spot and
listeners are always welcome. Judith will begin her feature at 8:15.
The venue is near
Central Square, and the gallery is a perfect setting for creativity.
There is a $5 suggested donation. This helps our weekly gathering to
thrive, as they have for over 21 years.
StoriesLive®: High School Storytelling Program Features the Humor and Resilience of Teens
This past Saturday, twenty-seven high school students told true life stories before a rapt audience of friends, teachers, casual observers and family at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. At the culminating storytelling event of StoriesLive®'s third consecutive season, winners of this Regional Slam were awarded over $5,500 in cash prizes. Panels of volunteer judges selected winners from each of three divisions, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors.
“These twenty-seven students are representatives of the thousands of stories we heard this year. Students tell with honesty and engage the elements of literature in their most organic form - live storytelling," said massmouth, inc.’s Executive Director and Program Director of StoriesLive®, Norah Dooley.
John O'Bryant and Latin Academy (exam schools in Boston), Everett High, Lynn Classical High, Newburyport High, Chelsea High, Revere High, South Community High School in Worcester, Humanities & Development Leadership High School in Lawrence and Watertown High all participated in the program. In each school, following a storytelling concert, a week-long series of in-class lessons help students craft their real-life experiences into stories. These refined stories are then shared in a school-wide slam.
"The students listen to one another with respect and a touching intensity. It is deeply rewarding work for us,” said Dooley.
The best storytellers from each school are chosen to represent their stories and their schools at the Regional Slam. One mother who came with her young family to support her son, stayed the whole day. "Staying? Of course we're staying." Her son was a senior and his division was finished by 11:30 am but when asked she said, "You have more stories, right? We are here until the stories end."
Needless to say, it was a challenge for the judges to pick just a few winners from many strong stories.
Sophomores: 1st Place, $250 -- Annemarie DeMarco-Alfama (Revere High School)
Runners Up, $ 125 each -- Kenny Le (John O’Bryant, School of Math and Science, Boston) &
Moises Caraballo (Revere High School)
Annemarie's story, on the theme "First Time"was about her first dance recital and first successful competition. In an interesting parallel to her personal history, her sensory details and presence as a performer moved the judges unanimously award her first prize at her first storytelling competition.
Juniors: 1st Place, $1,000 -- Latisha Joujute (Everett High School)
Runners-Up, $500 each -- Stephen Carlin (Everett High School) & Henry Chavez (Latin Academy,Boston) Audience Choice, $500 -- Kristen Ruffin (Latin Academy, Boston) Junior, Latisha Joujote showed a masterful control of comic elements in her story on the theme, "Where I Am From" These elements were thrown in strong contrast by the sobering tragic event that unfolded and her phoenix-like conclusion.
Seniors: 1st Place, $1,000 -- Nico Luisi (Revere High School)
Runners Up, $500 each -- Moises Ramirez (Lynn Classical High School) &
Vance Crayton (Lynn Classical High School)
Audience Choice, $500 -- Theodore Biv (Lynn Classical)
Two massmouth choice winners ($100 each), will be announced soon. Revere High School senior, Nico Luisi's story, was based on the theme "Up the Family Tree". His story create a warm picture of family unity that shattered and ultimately strengthened his personal resolve.
The only intramural high school story slam in the U.S., StoriesLive® has set a precedent and created a fully realized model of how the timeless art of storytelling works in high school English classes. Since the successful launch in 2011, the StoriesLive® curriculum and massmouth’s storytellers have introduced over five thousand high school students from the Commonwealth to the art of storytelling.
Major support from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities and local cultural councils as funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council aided robust fundraising including a generous gift from Three Apples Storytelling Festival, private donors, the newly formed massmouth,inc.Board of Directors and in-kind donations from massmouth,inc. artists give this program its far reach.
- For more info, visit: http://massmouth.ning.com/
- ‘Like’ us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/massmouth.org
- Follow us on Twitter @massmouth
