No Summer Slump
So, summer is here, school is
out, and people are off in different directions going on vacations. Things seem
somewhat quiet, don’t they? Why even the traffic in town is a bit less
congested because of the absence of school buses making their rounds twice a
day.
Ah,
but storytellers, stay alert. Summer is not a dull or dry season when it comes
to stories. Listen and watch the world around you. Look for those moments where
a story is forming and take a few notes so that you can
develop your tale later.
Here
are a few practical habits to help you capture stories this summer:
1.
Keep a Bits Journal. This is a listing of
interesting details that might be used in future stories. Storytellers are keen observers and keeping a
journal will provide a storehouse of potential material. Entries might include interesting
observations, details from your everyday life, snippets of overheard
conversation, memories you are interested in exploring, etc.
2.
Visit
an art museum. Take in the art and
ask yourself, “What does this make me think of in my own life?” Often art
begets arts. Surrounding yourself with
beauty and creativity will often remind you of something that would make an
interesting story.
3.
Visit family members. Talk about shared memories.
Enhance what you remember with the new details offered by their memory
of shared experiences. This informal
research will prove valuable if you decide to develop one of these memories
later.
4.
Take a vacation tour of your childhood places. Visit the
home you grew up in, the school you attended, the neighborhood park where you
played. Record any memories these places
inspire.
5.
Be on the lookout for stories everywhere. It may be
that while you are digging through your garage looking for that lost life-jacket
that you will find a special treasure or beach toy that will stir up a memory
asking to be nurtured into a tellable story.
There’s
no telling where you will find a story. Nope. When it comes to storytelling,
there is no summer slump. Keep your eyes and ears open for your next story. It
is just waiting for you to see it, and it is waiting to be told. Happy summer – happy story gathering!
Robin
Schulte and Wanda Violet
