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     Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Issue # 141

Got some news or information you would like to get out to the storytelling community?
Contact Mark Goldman -x602-390-3858x - Mark@Storytellermark.com

Newsletter Contents

News -
---I'm on Amazon
---NSN Discount Deadline Nears
---Storytelling Classes at SMCC
This Week -
---Odyssey Storytelling - Tucson
---EVTOT Guild Meeting
Coming Up -
---SMCC Faculty Concert
---Seaglass Storytelling Workshop
Tips -
---Less is More
Tidbits -
---Nancy Duarte on Storytelling 

Happy New Year - I'm on Amazon!

It's a very Happy New Year for me - my book is now on Amazon.com! I've been waiting for this since the book came out at the NSN Conference in July. Now, it's finally happened.

It's a great New Year's present, not only for me, but for readers too, because it is now available in paperback* and Kindle version! If you haven't purchased it yet, it's an easy ($9.99) download, and you can have it with you all the time on your tablet or phone!.

Still not sure? You can download a sample for FREE to get a taste!

*Only pre-orders right now, delivery date is March 2015. If you want the book now, contact me, I have copies for sale.
 
Check it out here


ONE WEEK LEFT! - 2015 Discount Deadline Nears

Next year's NSN Conference dates are set! July 30 through August 2, 2015 are the dates for the tribe to gather in our NEW home in Kansas City MO. Exploring the PATHWAYS where storytelling can take us!

FOR NSN MEMBERS ONLY (That means you need to JOIN NOW)
Back by popular demand is our PRE-early-bird offer to register for the full conference at the lowest possible price through January 12, 2015 (does not include lodging, meals, pre-conferences, master classes, final Sunday concert, additional special events TBA later).  Conference registration for non-NSN members will not open until 2015 and at a $100 higher rate. 

Perhaps most important is by registering now, you have the opportunity to stretch your payment over 6 months. Fax (423-753-9331), mail (PO Box 795, Jonesborough, TN 37659), scan and email the required form to karin@storynet.org:  Form is available at: http://www.storynet.org/conference/index.html (right side of the screen).

 


Storytelling Classes Start January 20th

The spring semester will be upon us in two weeks. Don't get left behind. Are there aspects of your storytelling you need to search out? Do you have a friend who keeps saying. "I should really take some of those classes you've been talking about"?

Now is the time! SMCC Classes start on January 20th.
Click here for a list of SMCC classes & schedules.

AND - there are other Maricopa Community Colleges that teach The Art of Storytelling. They are all over the valley, including THREE classes at Glendale Community College that I will be teaching. West side folks take note!
Check out the times for my classes here 
(It lists a different instructor, but I will be teaching all three classes).
 

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This Week

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EVTOT - Guild Meeting

Saturday - January 10th ~ 10am - Noon

Meet our NEW BOARD:
President - Elizabeth Matson; Vice President - Maya Davila; Secretary - Ruth Shaw; and Treasurer - Dixie Walljasper

Join us for our first meeting of the New Year to celebrate storytelling successes. 
East Valley Tellers of Tales is a Phoenix area guild of Storytellers and Storylisteners. A truly safe place to share your story! We are an affiliate of the National Storytelling Network. Come and find out what this means, and how it benefits you!

Hear stories - Share your story
 
Click here for details & info



Sea-Glass Storytelling Workshop

Saturday - June 6th
9:30 am - 1:00 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. 

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Coming Up

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Faculty Concert - Mark Your Calendars

Thursday, January 22nd - 7:00 pm
Join the South Mountain Storytelling Institute Instructors for the annual Faculty Concert.
 
Tellers include: Doug Bland; Kathy Shimpock; Kelly Davis; Marilyn Torres; Harriet Cole; Mark Goldman and George Lopercio; 
 
Featured teller for the evening is Megan Finnerty, reporter for the Arizona Republic and coordinator of the Arizona Live Storytelling Evenings.
 
See the calendar for more info
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Sometimes ... Less is More

Quite often, coaches (even me) and instructors are asking tellers to do more; add more detail, tell us the back story; tell us how your characters got where they are; demonstrate with gestures; use your body more ... more ... more ...

But, sometimes ... less is more.

Sometimes, it is better to take away all the accoutrements; strip things down to the basics. KISS: Keep it simple, stupid. The real question is: How do you know when to do this? How do you know when more is needed or the story calls for less?

Aye, there's the rub. It's not just knowing your story (and your audience), it's knowing what your story is about. Ask yourself, "What does this story call for? What mood or sense is best? What fits? What doesn't?

Two articles come to mind regarding this subject:
A blog post I wrote back in 2012 called: Always Serve the Story
And an article by Sean Buvala, written back in 2007 about using your Red Pen Storytelling Tool.

Sheesh! First you tell me to do more ... now you tell me to do less! How do I REALLY know which is best? The Proof is in the pudding - how does it taste - to the audience - and does it serve the story!

Note: There is no ultimate black and white. There is no "always-a-never or never-an-always". There are only "tips" and your own sensibilities. Happy crafting and storytelling!

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Nancy Duarte: How to Tell a Story
I am constantly looking at "storytelling" videos on the Web. Here's a short (3 minutes), simple one I came across with Nancy Duarte, speaker, presenter, and CEO of Duarte Design. She shares her experience on why stories are still important; the elements of a good story; and some tips for business leaders on how they can tell better stories. 

Note that one of her main points is about using story to connect with people. Case in point, one of my Glendale CC students on how storytelling helped her:

Storytelling and this class have affected my life in a positive way. This past week I used what I had learned in this course in one job interview that I had. They asked me to tell them about myself and instead of listing all of the things I have done, I decided to tell them a little story about myself. The best part is not only that I exercised storytelling outside of class (without being a class assignment) and that I was hired. I start next week!
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Ongoing
Events

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------------------------------------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


Loren Russell at Wild Horse Pass
Every Thursday-Friday-Saturday of each month - 6:00 PM - Through March 21st
http://www.calendarwiz.com/calendars/popup.php?op=view&id=83192680&crd=azstoryevents&


Homebase Poetry
First Sunday of each month - Phoenix
https://www.facebook.com/Homebasepoetryopenmic


Infuse Open Mic
Second Sunday of each month - Phoenix
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Infuse-Open-Mic/137811162925031


Yarnball Storytellers Mic
Every Wednesday at  8 pm - PHOENIX
https://www.facebook.com/lawngnomepublishing/events


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


Odyssey Storytelling
First Thursday of each month (usually but check calendar) - TUCSON
http://www.storyartsgroup.org/odyssey/Odyssey/Welcome.html


Storyline
Third Friday (usually) of each month - PHOENIX
http://thestoryline.org/


Tucson Tellers of Tales - Storytellers Guild
First Saturday of each month (except July and August) - Tucson
https://www.facebook.com/TucsonTellersofTales


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


 
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All Newsletter content ©Mark Goldman
Got some news or information you would like to get out to the storytelling community?

Contact Mark Goldman -x602-390-3858x - Mark@Storytellermark.com

 
     

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