We are storytellers who are interested in sharing stories, learning about storytelling, and enjoying peer feedback. We welcome tellers of traditional tales, historical stories, personal stories, stories with music, stories with puppets, rhymed stories, improv stories, crankies, and more. We invite you to sign in individually or to invite friends to join you for a storytelling party. Join us to tell a story, to discuss story techniques, etc. or just to listen to some great tales.

Our schedule as we begin this

Guild includes slots for five tellers, plus extra places for our “in the wings” tellers.
Each teller with a reserved spot will be assigned a 15-minute slot, which will typically look like this:
First teller (15 minutes) Story 10 min Optional Peer feedback and discussion 5 min
If the teller does not wish feedback, we will move on to the next teller.

One 20 minute slot will be available by request and however many five-ten minute slots we have time for.
It will be important for tellers who wish to reserve a slot to email one of the coordinators in advance to let us know to hold you a place. We will sign up the slots in the order in which we receive requests. If you wish to be on the waiting list, we will accept tellers to fill whatever time we have. For each meeting there will be a challenge subject to use for inspiration in selecting a tale you wish to tell. Stories not related to the challenge topic or works in progress will be welcomed as well. In the first two meetings, we will be trying out several different time frames.

The most popular slot and the agreed procedures will be decided by the group members. We expect the initial meetings to be for two hours via ZOOM video conference. If you wish to be part of one (or both) of the trial groups, please email Hope Lewis and/or Cris Riedel directly by December 1st, 2018. You can join us at the last minute, of course, but it would be helpful for us to have your name and email address.

Please Contact Us:
Hope Lewis: Hope3944@gmail.com
Cris Riedel: crisriedel05@gmail.com

Here are the dates and times of the initial VSG meetings:

Wednesday, December 5th, 7:00PM EST
Challenge topic: Surprise!

Saturday, December 8th, 2:00PM EST
Challenge topic: Enchantment

Looking forward to hearing from you!

The Call for the 5^th Annual New Voices is open for the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, April 26-28, in Woodruff. SC.

The New Voices event was created to give rising, professional-level storytellers the opportunity to be on the main stage and a chance to be selected as a Featured Teller for the following year’s Stone Soup Storytelling Festival. The festival committee will select 2020 Featured Tellers from 2019 New Voices. 

• Only professional-level storytellers who have never told as a featured teller at the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival may share stories in the New Voices events.
• Submit an audio and/or video sample of your storytelling.
• Perform a festival-quality story that is no more than 10 minutes long.
• Submit a completed application and samples of stories.
• Selected New Voices will come to the festival at their own expense, with no monetary compensation. You will, however, receive free admission to all festival activities. 

Northlands Storytelling Network is offering “New Voices” Conference Scholarships to anyone 18 years and older who is new to storytelling and is interested in improving their skills and/or using storytelling in their respective fields.

Recipients of the scholarships will be paired with others at the conference who will act as guides and resources during the conference. Up to four scholarships may be awarded. Members of the Northlands Scholarship Committee will judge applications and determine scholarship winners. Winners will be notified as soon as possible after the application deadline.

Who May Apply:

• Adults ages 18 year and older, interested in using storytelling in their respective fields, i.e., education, psychology, museum education, environmental education, healing arts, law, religion, business, theater, freelance storytelling, library services, etc. • Recipients may only receive the scholarship twice within a five-year period. Winners Receive: • Free conference registration. • 2 nights (Friday & Saturday) shared lodging with another scholarship recipient. • Friday lunch and dinner and Saturday lunch and dinner (complimentary breakfast at hotel)

• Membership to Northlands Storytelling Network for one year. Additional Requirements: • Must provide own transportation to/from conference.
• Meet with the New Voices coordinator and other scholarship recipients over breakfast Saturday morning. Application:

Please provide the following information:
• Name, Address, City, State, Zip
• Telephone Numbers (home and cell)
• Email Address
• Employer/Job Title
• Year of Birth
• Answer the following questions:
   1. How did you hear about the New Voices Scholarship?
   2. Why are you interested in attending the Northlands Storytelling Conference?
   3. Have you ever received a Northlands Scholarship? If so, in what year?
   4. Have you ever attended a regional or national storytelling conference?
       If so, in what year and the name of the conference?
   5. Describe your experience with storytelling and/or story listening.
   6. How can storytelling be used in your present or desired line of work?

Email your application to: northlands.storytelling@gmail.com List “Scholarship” in subject line

Application Must be Received by: January 31, 2019