On Storytelling
The past, the future, and distilling it all
As a writer I have spent a lot of time thinking about story. Specifically elements of story structure. Things like creating a story arc that moves a character from the beginning to the end. Defining a conflict that is big enough so that the resolution in the end feels satisfying. Pacing things just right to make the reader want to keep turning the page.
But recently I’ve found myself thinking more about storytelling than story itself.
But wait, you say— how exactly are these two things different? Story and storytelling. Isn’t one just the act of doing the other? Noun and verb. And you’re right, spot on— that is exactly the difference. It’s that action of storytelling that I’m finding fascinating these days.
Specifically the act of telling a personal story.
It started back when my Friday morning writing group started taking turns talking about our writing journeys (which inspired this reflection). Most of us could tie some element of writing back to childhood. Most of us remembered having diaries or writing stories or poems and spending a great deal of time reading. The theme continued for each of us as we tackled academic writing in college and made decisions about what to study.
Telling a story about the past helps us see themes. What shows up over and over again, perhaps different in form but the same at heart. I can see my love of creating stories when I think back to my love of playing pretend as a child. Or the stories I penned about my stuffed cat (who had some pretty serious medical issues, apparently, likely thanks to all those Lurlene McDaniel books I read). Recently I opened a book my Mom shared with me to find a bookmark that I very clearly remember picking out at the school book fair (and probably marking my place in those Lurlene McDaniel books).
Words have always been important to me.
As an adult I still read a lot— books, articles, newsletters, all the things. My love of creating stories and organizing worlds and the characters in them showed up very obviously in the form of my novels. But I think it shows up when I create curriculum and lessons for classes, as well— crafting a narrative through the material, putting it together in an order that builds and makes sense.
While storytelling very clearly helps us identify patterns from our past, crafting a narrative about the future helps us test out new ideas. In the Designing Your Life curriculum I teach, one of the hallmark activities is creating three different visions for your future (Odyssey Plans, they are called). Once students have completed their three odysseys they pair up and talk about each of these ideations about the future. It’s a storytelling and reflecting exercise. The student presenting their odyssey is encouraged to just explain what they have designed without self-judging commentary like this will never happen, but anyway . . . (actually really hard to do). The listener’s role is to notice where the presenter seems excited or unsure. They can ask clarifying questions (tell me more about this) but must not criticize.
There is power in stating your ideas for the future. Saying “I want to work in graphic design for a large company and teach art classes with a local non-profit in the evenings” helps you test out what that feels like. Does it make you feel happy or unsure? Does it feel authentic, or is it more what everyone else is saying you should do? Is the plan where you envision yourself doing freelance design work and travelling in your repurposed Sprinter van more exciting to talk about? Even if the future narratives feel like fiction at the point they are written, the feelings when speaking them out loud and the reflections back from peers contain multitudes.
The power is in the storytelling.
The third way I’ve been thinking about storytelling lately is in that of distilling. The idea of telling the shortest, simplest version of something to quickly convey its meaning. Getting to the very heart of it. The core of the thing. I’ve been thinking about the Healthier Hustle and how I might want to grow it beyond these weekly reflections. I recently joined a business coaching program and am starting to work through a series of workshops to clarify my plans and test out some new offerings.
One of the first activities was to define the who, why, how, and what of my business and then summarize that into a 2-3 sentence description. Talk about a task that is simple to explain, but difficult to complete! But what this process of distilling a story that feels big and broad and vast in its possibility into a very short blurb did was it forced me to get really clear. To chose concise and descriptive words that lay out a clear path forward. The story may change, but this newly distilled version gives me a first chapter. A place to start.
That’s the beauty, isn’t it? We’re still writing the story every day. While it can be good to tell those past stories, because they often have something to teach us about ourselves, it’s important to remember that they don’t have to define us.
What story are you telling, today?
Things of Beauty
Just a few things that felt particularly soul-nourishing recently (or maybe just made me smile).
🍠 Sweet Potato Nachos. I’ve made a variation on this recipe a couple times lately, now that sweet potatoes are back in rotation in my CSA box. So good! (my variation: cut the sweet potatoes into rounds, skip the green chiles and cauliflower, add a drizzle of ranch dressing and sprinkle of green onions — oh, and I just use Penzeys Chipotle and salt on my potatoes, because I don’t typically have taco seasoning around).
🧀 Did you know that the absolute best* flavor of Goldfish crackers come in snack size packs? I did not, but they do. And it’s a delightful discovery.
🏃🏻♀️Sticking with the food theme this week— these Mint Condition Picky Bars have been my pre-long run favorites through half-marathon training. The Ah,Fudge Nuts! ones are a close second.
Would love to hear how storytelling shows up in your life! Or, as always, let me know something beautiful in your world this week (even if it’s those other Goldfish crackers).