Learning Communities

The Green Apple, a small family own bar/restaurant, reminds me of Cheers, was my "Chautauqua", learning community.  I can't even pronounce the word, and yet I ache to reexperience the concept.  I will not be satisfied with only a  virtual learning community.  I will recreate this with real people, in real time in my life.  I need this as much as I need air, food,water and love. I enjoy the Internet, a champion of e-mail communication.  This cannot replace connecting with real people.  I refuse to be stripped of the most meaningful experiences in life.  Ok, I've vented.

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
jeanettevaughn.blogspot.com (listen to a story)
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."

Connecting through Storytelling

Storytellers,

 

We are entering the season of great joy and great human need.  The best and the worst, more giving and loving; more depression more suicide.  The more high tech society becomes the more high touch will become necessary.  Unconsciously, we can spend days and even weeks without meaningful conversation with a real human being. Yesterday, I worked with a first grader that cried most of the day because she missed her mother.

 

What does this have to do with us as storytellers? We are high touch, we provide the high touch that far too many people are missing.  I sat beside the crying child and read a story.  She began to smile before the story was over.  There were more tears; she felt comfortable enough with me to let me hold her hand. She was willing to accept the comfort I offered.

 

This season, bring the gift of storytelling to those within your circle.  Share the beauty of human longing, suffering and triumph.  Truly, storytelling is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

Happy Holidays

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
jeanettevaughn.blogspot.com (listen to a story)
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."

Conquering Unreasonable Fear

 

This was an exciting day for me, both as a Kuumba member and personally.  The telling flowed, each story building and adding another dimension.  Listening was truly a feast for my ears.  I didn't plan to tell.  I asked to be placed last, hoping that we would run out of time and I wouldn't have to.

 

After about the sixth teller, I realized I'd better think of a story.  I'd thought about telling "The Trunk of Possibilities, a story I wrote for Southwest Atlanta Magazine.  I've never told a story that had begun as a written story.  The personal stories I've told up till this point were developed as oral stories.

 

I've never been able to translate a story that began as a written story into an oral story.  I'd almost changed my mind, until I talked with a friend of Gwen Napier's.  Gwen's friend said she'd read the story and really liked it.  (I wondered if anyone ever read those stories.)  She went one to tell me that it was her favorite of all the stories I'd written.  As if that wasn't enough encouragement, she shared a story. 

 

While Christmas shopping, she began a conversation with the sales clerk wrapping the purchase she'd just made.  The clerk mentioned that she didn't have a  present to give her grandchildren.  Gwen's friend told her the story "The Trunk of Possibilities."  She said that "you have something valuable that would be appreciated.  You may not know what it is now, somewhere, you to have a "trunk of possibilities."  The woman began crying as she finished wrapping the present.

 

Of course I chose to tell the story, and it turned out better than I ever expected.  Leaving the library, the adrenalin was pumping, not ready to go home, I ended up listening to a Latin band.  I've always wanted to dance in the street.  Tonight I did.  It was incredible.

 

Each time I conquer an unreasonable fear, my storytelling is transformed.  I am freed to be more expressive and to try the untried.  Watch out, I've just tackled two unreasonable fears, at our next event I may be dancing on the tables.

 

Thank you all for sharing this journey with me.  

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
jeanettevaughn.blogspot.com (listen to a story)
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."

The Storyteller's Voice

The Kuumba Storytellers of Georgia has many exceptional
storytellers. I've listened in awe during the last five months as they
performed at The Green Apple, a small restaurant/bar in downtown East
Point Georgia. Any storyteller that can hold the attention of adults in
a bar is worth noting. Even better than that, when the bar patrons turn
from the baseball/basketball game, listens, and remind the storyteller to
continue repeating the story's refrain.

Listening, I'm often coveting the storytellers style and voice.
Eventually common sense prevails and I understand that I enjoy the teller
precisely because they are staying true to their voice. We are each
different, each unique, each with a passion for storytelling. The
passion is expressed in the particular stories we choose.

This journey is filled with surprises and pitfalls. I want to
enjoy the surprises and avoid pitfalls as much as possible. Those I
don't avoid, I want to learn and pass the lesson on to others. This
lesson I pass on: Discover your voice and maintain true. It is the only
way to lasting success.

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
jeanettevaughn.blogspot.com (listen to a story)
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."

Audio Story: How Wisdom Came into the World

Storytelling workshop for teachers, media specialist, daycare providers. 

And Then...

And then I checked the Creative Storytelling Blog, lo and behold, my post
was there. I am spending this week and next week developing an internet
presence. I am registered with Kudzu. com and began this blog. The next
challenge is to have audio and pictures on the blog. Audio will allow me
to share some of my favorite stories. Pictures are still worth a
thousand words. I am also going to sign on with Storyteller.net, with
audio and a written article.

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."

The Story Finally Begins

I've tried for several days to post to this blog. I've met with
countless hours of frustration. Finally, I'm hoping that this will post
through email. This is a new venture for me.

Jeanette W. Vaughn, Professional Storyteller
404-765-9751; kuumbastorytellers.org
"Weaving a web of words that educate, encourage, entertain."