IDEAS FOR STORIES
It seems like every day I’m treated to a view of something that’s a great idea for a story. Some days I’m bombarded with them. Overhearing snippets of conversations, looking at photos, or being in the audience at an event. I can’t help but think There’s a story there. Especially if there’s high emotion, a personal connection, or a tidbit about someone’s career.
On road trips my sweetheart and I make up stories about the folks in other cars:
“He found his birth mother and they’re going to see her for the first time. That’s what the flowers are for.”
“She’s late for work-again, and afraid she’ll lose her job. That’s why she’s lane-switching like a mad woman.”
MY LATEST IDEA
I recently met a woman from New York who grew up in Great Neck on Long Island where my mother grew up. I grew up in Merrick LI NY, about a half-hour ride from Great Neck. What made this kind of a fun meeting besides sharing about Long Island in the ‘50s and ‘60s, was the fact that we both now live far away from New York. What made it even more extraordinary was that we met in a Zoom breakout room. And the last factor that slam-dunked it into the extraordinary category was there were 500 people on the Zoom call and there we were – together. Rich material for a story about serendipity, “coincidence,” connecting. Take your pick of topics.
Storytelling entered the public arena eons ago. Think Shakespeare, Aesop, historical novels, the Bible. “Let me tell you a story” has always gotten attention ever since many of us heard “Once upon a time.” Because a good story contained so much more than who, what, or when – but lots of why, how come, oh no, what’s next, even why not, and why not me?
WHY USE A STORY?
Using a story can make a point, educate, inspire, motivate people. Taking a story from a page in a book, (your own or someone else’s), can triple the interest. Statistics show people respond to ads that have a story. A kid’s graduation from ___high school- “the school that cares.” The Zoom phone call across the country “with ___ smart phone.” The chance meeting at an airport on “__ airline- especially the one with a recombobulation area.” (More on recombobulation)
Those 60-second stories in commercials connect with folks. They hit the area of the brain that sparks emotions, creates empathy, or connects to a situation/problem the listener has experienced. Stats are remembered about 10% of the time but stories boost the remembering to about 60 %. ( Elon Productions)
Why do kids still love Where the Wild Things Are? Why is contemporary memoir so popular? They show human needs in ways that click with the reader or listener.
TUCSON TELLERS OF TALES
My upcoming storytelling gig on Dec. 7 is with the Tucson Tellers of Tales
I’m pleased to be presenting SPEAK– in a very condensed form. Have your story click with the audience from the book page to the stage. Tips to use: speaking styles, posture/body language, the speaking environment – stage, living room, sofa, podium, lunch table. Bringing an attitude that shifts with the mood of the story. And kindness– to connect with those emotions that promote empathy, inspiration, motivation, gratitude. Hint: If you want to be funny- only poke fun at yourself.
The open mic theme is “Holiday Family Memories.” Stories that fit that theme can run the gamut – sweet, nostalgic, weird, very dramatic, funny, sad, lonesome, incredible. My contribution is “Saving Christmas” a relationship story, lightly humorous, now that it’s in the past.
Come join us!
Ethel Lee-Miller blogs regularly about people, the power of words, and her writing life. She retired after 30 years of teaching, and semi-retired from coaching, and professional editing. Founder of the Eastside Tucson Writing Room based in Tucson AZ, she’s posted 100s of blogs, and is the author of Thinking of Miller Place, and Seedlings, Stories of Relationships. These days she writes to inspire, to connect with folks, teaching about the power of words, gather writers together, and for the pure enjoyment of it. Ethel enjoys teaching, speaking, and storytelling at Odyssey Storytelling, Artists Standing Strong Together, Tucson Tellers of Tales Center for Spiritual Living Tucson, and anywhere there’s a mic or a Zoom room.