Every storyteller and writer reaches a point where the old stories no longer feel as urgent and new stories are just out of reach, when the urge to discover new material stirs but inspiration seems distant. New Year, New Stories is a three-session workshop designed to help you rekindle that creative spark and find new tales to tell. Through playful exercises, deep reflection, and collaborative exploration, participants will uncover stories waiting within their memories, imaginations, and the world around them. This is a three-session class on Thursday evenings at 7pm CT. Our class dates are January 8, 15, and 22, all three sessions.
You will:
- Discover multiple sources for new story ideas (memory, observation, folklore, prompts, place, etc.).
- Learn techniques to turn fragments and images into narrative structures.
- Explore how personal experience and imagination intertwine in story creation.
- Practice developing and testing story ideas through short tellings.
- Gain confidence in their own creative voice and story instincts.
- Leave with 3–5 story recipes and at least one rough draft ready for performance.
Each session blends practical tools with guided creativity, helping participants move from raw ideas to story outlines ready for the stage. There will be two optional work sessions offered for those who need company to get things done. and optional coaching with Laura. By the end, storytellers will not only have several new #storyseeds to cultivate, but also a repeatable process for finding inspiration anytime. Whether you tell folktales, personal stories, historical works, or original fiction, this class will help you listen deeply for the stories that only you can tell.
Laura Packer is a storyteller and writer with over 30 years of experience coming up with tales to tell and helping others do the same. She is the creator of #storyseeds story prompt game and other creative tools.