by Carolyn Stearns There was a long hushed pause before a young woman began to speak; her story spilled out. She heard strange voices, muffled and distant, the eerie lights coming in the windows, the glow of eyes outside peeking in, the child in the bed trembles at the alien invasion. There were no aliens, […]
By Susanna Holstein The school visit was all that I wanted it to be: well planned, well received, a joyful, thoughtful sharing of stories and songs with over 500 children, parents and teachers. It was an affirmation of what I do. During the times when I have no storytelling work I turn my focus to
by Omope Carter Daboiku Click to Listen: daboiku About the Story The same weekend I was performing this story at the National Storytelling Conference, I was also moving into my new home, starting a brand new phase of my life. I was inspired to share this story that is very, very dear to me. About
by Mountain Man Bob Click to Listen MountainBob In 1996 I wanted and needed a tall tale story. My vivid imagination went to work and that’s how I came up with the idea to grow a big watermelon. This story has been a big hit wherever I tell it. But one of the best benefits
by Doug Elliott Click to listen elliott The Scat Rap was first created in 1988 at a “Music and the Environment” workshop at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Tennessee by a group of naturalists, including Andy Bennett, Mary Keebler, and, Rodd Pemble. I added several verses to it and rearranged it with help
by Mark Goldman To the logical, pragmatic, no-nonsense, Type-A personality that I am, the concept of appreciations in storytelling was initially lost on me. Appreciations felt like a “nicey-nicey-fluff-give-them-positive-first-but-doesn’t-help-teach-them-or-move-them-to-change” process. Why not just tell them what they need to change? I would silently think, “Enough of this touchy-feely stuff. Give them meat to chew on!”
Appreciations…for Anthony Details »
Told by Mary Hamilton Click to Listen hamilton-jumprope About the Story Many years ago, while sitting at the kitchen table of my storytelling friend and colleague Cynthia Changaris, I told her I felt it was way too easy for me to remember times when I had felt wronged, and I wondered what I would tell
By Laura Packer The recent resurgence in fairy-tale based media, such as movies (Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty), TV shows (Once Upon a Time, Grimm), literature (Kelly Link, Neil Gaiman, Bill Willingham, and others), and games (The Path) makes it clear that these stories have deep resonance in our culture. But what is it about
Why we need fairy tales Details »
told by Yvonne Healy Click to Listen healy Family was a blue envelope crinkly thin as onion skin. My mother sliced it with a butter knife careful to preserve the criss-crossed messages of love held inside. My uncle was the sweet, rank aroma of a brown box stuffed with shamrock plants grown moldy on the
By Katie Knutson In the New Voices column in Storytelling Magazine, I have been focusing on making connections between the storytellers we often see at NSN events and the younger adult tellers out there, who do not find their way to our festivals and conferences. On November 11, 2012, adults of all ages packed a
200 Years of the Brothers Grimm: Profiling a Successful Event Details »
