I didn’t grow up a storyteller.
I didn’t need to because I really didn’t learn how to lie well until I was about 25. Before then (like most kids needed to) I didn’t need to craft wild stories to hide my disagreeable choices because for the most part, I was a rule follower.
Any stories I told were ones that were real and I wasn’t even good at exaggerating so, you can imagine, most of them fell flat.
You know what happened last night?
Suddenly all eyes in the group are on me.
Well (nervously) when she was driving me home this song came on the radio…
I’d try to make it interesting.
I’d try to get people to listen to me past the first sentence.
But so much of the time I was either boring, didn’t know how to explain myself the right way, or got interrupted by someone else in the group who had something more fun to talk about.
Sigh.
I’d like to believe since high school I’ve gained a little ground in the storytelling arena.
I’m a mother so by trade I’m forced to create elaborate stories out of unicorns, daisies and butterflies in fields of freshly fallen snow, or meadows, or a castle terrace. And now I’m a writer so I’m working on crafting words together to make up interesting stories that people want to read.
I’m pretty sure I’m getting better.
But only because of necessity and practice.
There have been some periods in the little lives of my daughters when they have wanted a DIFFERENT story EVERY night for months. I’m forced to be creative. And with writing I set out 2 1/2 years ago to begin a blog (and then somewhere along the line decided to write a book). Blogging has given me daily practice in attempting to produce something that resonates with others.
Back in high school, after embarrassing myself enough times in groups, I just stopped telling stories. I laughed at other people’s stories but I faded into the laughter of everyone else. I didn’t know that I just needed a little more practice.
Writing this book has put a lot of things into stark perspective: I’ve been practicing but I’m far from where I need to be.
So I’m going to keep practicing on all of you, if you don’t mind.
I promise I’ll try to be more interesting than what I heard on the radio last night.
What do you need to get better at? Are you a storyteller?
Will it encourage you if I tell you that I want to be just like you when I “grow up” as a writer?
You are doing a great job in practicing your craft; and what I love the most about you is how you take seriously the gift God has given you, how you seem to cherish and resolve to use with impact the platform He has given you to shine His light on others.
And I totally suck big-time in group settings like that- never know what to say, when to speak, and never get the jokes. I’ve learned to relish the joy and laughter in those situations, and rest easy in the fact that my impact, my say, comes in smaller doses…my writing, or the time I take to sit with a hurting woman one on one.
Have a beautiful day Sarah-
You just described me in high school
I wish someone had told me then, practice could improve storytelling. Like anything else I’m not naturally talented at, it all starts out awkward and steadily climbs from there… if I could just get past awkward and gain confidence, right?
I, too, am under pressure each night at bedtime to entertain my little ones with stories of adventure and rock climbing and volcanoes and rabbits and puppies (I have a boy and a girl!), so I know that helps in the storytelling arena. I started a blog years ago to practice journaling my family’s stories and it has helped immensely. When I go to put a layout in my scrapbook, I can just pull the story right from the blog (for the most part).
So, what am I “awkward” at right now?? Answering questions on the spot. I never have an answer right away
A little encouragement: I always love your stories. And I am really excited that you are coming to my church this sunday. Steve Leonard announced it last week and my roommate and I were both jumping out of our seats. =) We found your blog through Lisa of course and have been inspired by it ever since! =)
Stephanie- I know! We are so excited to be there this weekend. Be gracious with us because it will be our first time sharing together as a couple. Pray for us, okay? And PLEASE introduce yourself to me on Sunday alright! Looking forward to meeting you.
I will definitely introduce myself. =) And we will be praying for you!
oh my gosh sarah! i think you are an awesome storyteller! i wish i could speak and write like you do and give my testimony so eloquently…you are my hero!
i tell stories with my scrapbooks, if that counts? i think writing only using words is so difficult; writing stories/memories with photos is much easier!
i need to ge better at living a better story. donald millers new book is all about living a better story, it is inspiring, and speaks to the ache in my heart. he says “you can’t go on without a story any longer than you can go on reading a book about nothing.” i am making changes in my life, each day waking up intentional about living a better story.
I, too, am a rule follower, but I am quite the storyteller. I get very animated and will suddenly find myself standing up in front of everyone relating my tale. Once I realized that I always ended up standing, I would get a little embarrassed, but I had good friends who encouraged me by saying they adored it. They started nicknaming my stories “The Heather Show,” and when we moved away from one another they’d write saying they wanted “The Heather Show” on DVD. We all thought I just had the craziest things happen to me, but another friend once pointed out to me that it’s not that anything “crazier” happens to me than it does others, it’s the way I can look at any simple thing and make it a big deal.
But although this is great for social gatherings, my dramatic, performing tendencies are proving quite the hurdle to overcome as I embark in a new marriage.
Every strength brings with it a weakness, I suppose. I believe it’s the Lord’s way of humbling and refining us.
I am a lurker on your blog (I love reading your stories) and I felt I had to come out from the shadows and tell you that your stories are so engaging and crafted beautifully. I never would have thought that you have felt you needed to practice. But I guess all writers feel the need to practice the art of storytelling. I would say I am still learning as well. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Honestly…you’re insane to think you’re not a great writer. I love checking your blog every day to see what you’ve written. I can relate to so much of it, and that makes you a great storyteller.
Sarah, I used to teach college level journalism. My students who had trouble writing — by the way, you wouldn’t be in this group — always tried to write like they thought writing should sound and not at all like they talked. None of them had any trouble speaking a coherent thought or going through a spoken narrative. But they thought writing was too special. For writing they needed special words (and too many of them) and special sentence structures, preferably very complicated ones. They found themselves struggling down dark alleys of bad writing, and the more they struggled to get out the worse their writing became.
I have never heard you speak but you write straight from your heart and I suspect you speak the same way. As my favorite Martha quote goes, “That’s a good thing, a very good thing.”
Schley Cox
I am working on becoming a storyteller. I am far from being good at it. But I definitely have lots of practice with inventing stories for my 4 and 2 year old…and I’m sure the baby will want some soon.
As to what I need to get better at? Oh, so many things. The first that comes to mind is using my time wisely. And living passionately. And learning to write better. And many more:-)
I’m glad you’re practicing on us, because you are an amazing storyteller, Sarah. You take a simple moment and weave it into an intricate tapestry that turns into a lovely message. Every single time.
I’m just starting to have moments of energy and want to write, but am finding that, after six months of being immobile and most of the time unconscious, I have nothing going on to talk about! Guess that’s what I’ll be working on…
I am not a great storyteller but I can sing a mean Karen Carpenter song at bedtime. That’s something, right?
absolutely – i love karen carpenter. =)