North Seattle Storytelling

Here we are in the beginning of the Coronavirus Age. It's changing everything we do and how we do it. One of the effects it has on this meetup is that we are going online. Our next meeting will still be on the 2nd Thursday, April 9 at 7PM. But you won't have to leave your home and instead log onto Zoom. I will email the link for the meeting and post it on Facebook.

We really don't know what's going to happen from here on. Which creates a lot of uncertainty. So I'm putting the Passion theme on hold and instead this month tell us about how you've dealt with uncertainty in the past. How does that past time help or hinder you in coping with this current time? Remember this is a personal story, 5-8 minutes long.

If you're going to tell a story, please let me know ahead of time since you won't be able to fill out the slip of paper that I usually have.

You are welcome to join and just listen and enjoy the stories. You don't to have to tell one. However guests are often inspired and there's usually time for you to spontaneously tell us your story.

Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/northseattlestorytellers

I look forward to getting back to the Couth Buzzard and helping Theo and staff return to some semblance of normal.

I look forward to hearing your stories.
Henry

Storytelling Guidelines:

1. Story must be true and have happened to you. Also, the story should mean something to you. We’re looking for stories that tell us something about yourself. Not every story has a moral but there should be something in there that tells us why the story is important to you and maybe how its shaped your life or your beliefs about something. It doesn’t have to be serious. Funny stories can be just as meaningful as sad ones.
2. Keep it under 8 minutes.
3. No notes onstage. Trust me, it’s always better to tell the story naturally. Practice in your living room, the car, the bathroom, wherever. Tell it to friends and family, or that guy on the bus. Whatever it takes to remember it.
4. Know your last line first. The last line should be something that wraps everything up and gives the story meaning.
5. Sharing is more important than performing. Don’t worry about turning your story into a performance. Tell the story as if you were in the living room with friends. Great stories come from a place of humility and vulnerability.
6. Keep your story clean. We are in a public place so no stories about sex or genitals, and no cursing or sexual innuendo.
7. No speeches, political viewpoints or social commentary-masquerading-as-a-story. Beliefs separate people and stories bring us together. Even if I and everyone else in the room agree with your worldview, this isn’t the place for telling us about it.
8. Stay on the stage. Please don’t leave the stage area and walk through the audience.
9. Don’t plug your own show, website, blog while you’re onstage. If people like your story they’ll talk to you afterward and that’s when you can give them that information.
10. Practice, practice, practice and then get there early to put your name in the hat for readers and relax and enjoy yourself.

For more tips, view https://themoth.org/share-your-story/storytelling-tips-tricks