written by Claire ChandlerStorytelling has a ‘voice of it’s own.’  I have told stories of fantasy, humor, wonder and even fright to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.  But, it wasn’t until I told ‘The What If’ story that I realized the power of storytelling in influencing change and creating a path for world peace. In […]

written by Mij Byram “A person’s a person no matter how small.” ~ Dr. Seuss Those of us who work with young children are aware of the unique skill set needed to reach an audience with limited life experience and cognitive range but infinite curiosity and willingness to believe what you say. TIP: Maintain Focus,

Article by Madeline Pots, award-winning Storyteller and Slam Artist. Why I Slam. The room was packed.  It was the first event of the newly formed Orlando Story Club and my first slam.  I put my name in the hat and hoped I would be called.  I had practiced my story.  I had condensed it from

Ready to Learn I love coaching.  I love being coached.  I appreciate hard specific feedback just as much, and sometimes more than, compliments and platitudes about my stories.  Because of these “loves” and “appreciation” in my life, this is what I try to give to others when I am coaching.  I have been asked to

When I Was One And Twenty The Things a Storyteller Can Unlock by Chasing a Great Piece of Music I’m one of those guys who came to a storytelling career from a songwriting career. I still bring a lot of my life as a songwriter to my work as a storyteller. And when I was

One day I noticed the majority of the tales I was telling had something to do with food. Some are about a character with a prodigious appetite who devours everything in sight. Others feature an unlikely hero who uses cleverness to keep from being eaten by a bully. Then there are the trickster tales, where

Check your planner!  It’s almost here. In just a few short weeks, the 34th Annual Florida Storytelling Festival will make its mark in the wonderful world of story. Of course, we have all marked our calendars to be there. Lakeside Inn room reservations have hopefully been made, and map directions to Mt. Dora have been

If you have been around the storytelling world for any time at all, you have heard the expression, “Stories connect us all.” The longer you are around this world, you will find more and more proofs of that.  Many times, the connection is through the message or the theme of the stories wherein we hear

Image-Google Images  Thanksgiving is already under our belts (or should that be bulging at our waistlines)?   But as the rest of the holiday season approaches it got me thinking about food, and how it shapes our celebrations, mirrors our many and varied cultures, and is simply an integral part of how we come together at

By: Madeline L Pots I arrived in Jonesborough on Thursday afternoon. I have been to this festival many times, but this year I was an invited teller.  I was scheduled to perform at Exchange Place, a concert that featured six tellers new to the national stage.  It put me on the inside of the festival,