Do you ever sit at your desk and fret, worry and struggle with the “words” and "language" of your story? Do you wonder if there are “better” words or images that you could use to convey what you want?
FRET NO MORE!
Mark Goldman has designed a new workshop to help you find compelling language that fits you and fits your story!
You will be taken step-by-step through different exercises that will help you find creative imagery that jumps from “your” mind to the mind of the “listener”. Language and imagery that makes your story more memorable and lasting for the audience.
Storytelling Language: In Search of Your Words
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, March 28, 2015
Time: 10:00am - 12:30pm
Location: Private Residence near Cactus & 32nd Street - Phoenix
Fee: $27
*Save $5 - Get Mark's Book - (A $17 value) Storytelling Tips: Crating, Crafting and Telling Stories
Time to Save the Date in Kansas CIty The Gathering of the Tribe
July 30 through August 2, 2015 are the dates for Kansas City, MO. Exploring the PATHWAYS where storytelling can take us!
Seaglass Storytelling This Saturday - January 31st
10:00 am - 12:30 pm (registration required)
Seaglass Storytelling is a new workshop from long-time Valley teller/coach Sean Buvala.
A workshop on using the unique light of a folktale to improve our personal stories.
The workshop explores the "Three Refractions" and the shadow sides of personal tales. There will be time to work on one's own tale in a small group. Like rare sea glass, the best personal stories are intentionally constructed stories that have the long-term impact of the world tale.
Celtic and Native American Legends: Saturday - January 31st - 7:00 pm
Celtic and Native American Legends: Shared Symmetries from Medieval Arizona to the High Court of Tara
The Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (ACMRS) in tandem with the Irish Cultural Center of Phoenix, is offering a fascinating evening of Celtic myths and legends, and their similarities with the Hopi and Navajo traditions of the American Southwest. Ancient Irish, Hopi, and Navajo oral (and later written) literature will illustrate parallel perspectives in life, love, music, war, and above all, the realm of the sacred; the evening will also explore legends regarding hypothetical Irish voyages to the Americas prior to the Age of Exploration.
Presented by Sharonah Fredrick, Assistant Director, ACMRS Public Programs Series
Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Stories for Grownups - African Tales Join us next Tuesday, February 3rd, for an evening of African stories that will serve as an appetizer for the main course (Return to the African Village) that is coming up on February 20.
Our tellers will include: Marilyn Torres-Sierra, Travis May, Laura Rutherford, Helen Evans, Clem Condon, Jarvis Hurts, Liz Warren, and Marilyn Torres.
Free and open to the public in the Community Room of the South Mountain Community College Library
More info here
Odyssey Storytelling in Tucson Thursday, February 5th
This curated Storytelling event in Tucson is in its 13th year! Six people are invited to tell ten minute, personal stories on a theme in front of an audience. The stories are not read or memorized, they are told from the life experiences and creativity of the teller
Theme: Lonely
In a world focused on social media and human interaction, Odyssey Storytelling spends February investigating the idea of being Lonely. Hear stories about the greatness that is being lonely, the time when you wanted to be lonely but everything prevented it, or maybe the time in your life where you just couldn't shake off the loneliness. Have you ever been lonely?
Storytellers: Author and artist, Nancy Bain; artist and healer, Lisanicole Sarkisian; broadcast journalist, Tony Paniagua; preschool teacher, Andrew Jaffee; future grandma, Cherie Johnston; and Bella Vivante.
Save the Date - BEFORE You Get Caught in Between! Sunday - February 8th - 7:00 pm
Community Christian Church, known to some as The Storytelling Church presents: “Heaven and Hell"
Do you know where you are headed? Do you know where you are? Have you ever thought you were in one place ... only to realize later, you were in the other place?
Join Pastor Doug Bland and a host of community tellers for an always insightful and fun evening.
Join azcentral.com, The Arizona Republic and Alliance Bank of Arizona for a night of stories dedicated to celebrating Valentine’s Day. As we mark February’s festival of love, we’ll share stories shotgun weddings, romantic misunderstandings, hopeless crushes and, of course, true love.
Featured tellers: IT pro Ryan Sadler, Brophy College Prep teacher Lane McShane, playwright and comedian Ashley Naftule, KJZZ journalist Carrie Jung, Storyline co-producer Dan Hull, storyteller Sandy Oglesby, Kathy Cano-Murillo and couple storytelling team John and Andrea Genette and more!
First Draft Book Bar at the Newton - 300 W. Central in Phoenix
Details: Registration begins at 6 p.m., stories begin promptly at 7 p.m. 602-444-8770.
Can't See the Tree for the Branches You know that old adage: You can't see the forest for the trees?
Well here is a similar one I made up for storytelling: You can't see the tree for the branches. Think of the tree trunk as your MAIN THEME - What's the story about? Is it finding love; losing love; family is good, work sucks; I lost my way then found it...etc.
Stick to your TRUNK. Be careful of "branching out" too much, or too far or wide. Those branches might be connected, but are they necessary to the main story? Do they take one too far away from the trunk? Often, it's difficult for listeners to follow you out, away from the main story, and then find their way back ... even if you try to tell them, "Remember where I started? I think I'll go back there now."
Make sure each piece is connected to the main trunk, not just connected to a leaf that is connected to a twig that is connected to a branch ... that is connected to the trunk. Whew! Less is more.
We don't need to know EVERYTHING that happens in the story. Unless you are telling an Epic tale, consider pruning your story down to something manageable. Not only for you, but for your audience.
Story By Story
Do you tell at a school? Now that the spring semester has started, you may want to think about going beyond just telling to the kids in schools. Perhaps there are some students that would like to do storytelling themselves. Perhaps they would love to have you teach them how! Here' a great resource:
Story by Story: Story program tips for teachers and youth group leaders - By Karen Chace
Karen's book is a wealth of information about working with kids in schools. Here's what Bill Harley has to say about her book:
“Karen Chace knows as much about working with young storytellers as anyone I've ever met. When I have a question or am looking for a resource, she’s the one I go to. Now, all of us are lucky enough to have Karen’s Story by Story, a nuts and bolts manual to help kids get up and tell stories. It’s a great resource every teacher and storyteller should have.”
------------------------------------THERE'S A LOT GOING ON EACH MONTH -------------------CHECK EACH WEBSITE OR CALENDAR TO CONFIRM DATES AND TIMES ---------------------------------CALL TO MAKE SURE THE EVENT IS STILL ON
FStorytellers - Female Story Tellers - Tucson
Usually sometime during the first week of the month - but check their website) at 7 pm - TUCSON http://www.fstorytellers.com/index.html
West Side Story Tellers - Storytellers Guild First Saturday of each month - GLENDALE *NO meetings in June, July & August http://westsidestorytellers.com/
East Valley Tellers of Tales -Storytellers Guild Second Saturday of each month - SCOTTSDALE http://www.evtot.com
- National Storytelling Network? You should be.
This Saturday - January 31st
Saturday - January 31st - 7:00 pm
Join us next Tuesday, February 3rd, for an evening of African stories that will serve as an appetizer for the main course (Return to the African Village) that is coming up on February 20.
Sunday - February 8th - 7:00 pm
Wednesday - February 11th
You know that old adage: You can't see the forest for the trees?
Story by Story: Story program tips for teachers and youth group leaders - By 
