I first learned about storytelling from a teller in Ontario named Mary-Eileen McClear. It took me a little while to actually make it out to the Story Barn in Baden.

After telling a story or two at our Toastmasters meeting, when we had the advanced manuals, another Toastmaster named Greg and I talked at an area contest. We decided that we’d show up at the next open telling night, called aptly First Friday. Always the first Friday of the month (with the summers off because of holidays).

Sitting there in that cozy room in the top of a barn (no haymows anywhere to be seen), candles flickering in their holders, I decided this was a good way to spend one evening a month. Hot apple cider in a mug in my hands, and hearing stories.I remember thinking, I need to make this a regular occurrence.

                                                                                   And our host storyteller, Mary-Eileen McClear

That first night, I bravely told a story that I had just written that week and learned just how challenging it can be relaying a written story to a told one, but I did it. And I wanted to do it again. Toastmasters, though different, had helped to prepare me for speaking to an audience, and here there was opportunity to learn from others and do it again.

After several nights at First Fridays, there came an opportunity, or invitation, to consider guild membership and learn about storytelling.  Both Greg and I were there that night and we were invited to join.

That was the beginning of my storytelling journey. I’ll share more in another post in February.

Meanwhile, to save the date: Our guild is getting ready for our World Storytelling Day concert March 23rd 2024. This year I will be MC. The theme is Building Bridges.

Here’s the link for the world FaceBook page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/worldstorytellingday

See you again soon.