We’ve all said yes to things we shouldn’t have. At last count, I have 3,452 things I should have said no to but didn’t. Not all of them are storyworthy but I bet at least a couple dozen are. Some of them I’m too embarrassed to talk about, but there are a few I’d be willing to say in public. 

The time I tried to swim across the lake to impress a woman I was dating? I should have said no to that one. The gig I accepted in Homer, AK at Alice’s Champagne Palace? I definitely should have said no to that one. Saying the wrong thing to that guy with a knife in the parking lot of Chilkoot Charlie’s bar in 1986? I definitely should have kept my mouth shut and walked away from that one. 

The thing that keeps me from regretting all those things is that I learned something from them. So even though I should have said no in those moments at least I got some lessons. 

That’s the kind of story we’re looking for. Come tell a story about a time when you should have said no but didn’t. What happened and what did you learn from it? Did it change the way you act today? Did you learn something about yourself that you wouldn’t have otherwise?

Remember to practice your story out loud on as many people as possible and time yourself when you’re doing it. Please don’t get onstage if you haven’t practiced your story. The audience is giving you their time and attention. It’s not fair to them if you get up there and try to wing it.

All stories have to be under 8 minutes. Stories can be as short as you want but not over 8 minutes. Stories also have to be clean in both language and content. Send me an email if you have any questions about that.

The rest of the rules and guidelines are below:

Storytelling Rules and Guidelines

Workshops are a great way to get feedback on a story you’re working on. Here is one I highly recommend. It’s run by two people who have told many times at FGS and other shows in the area:  

https://www.meetup.com/Fresh-Ground-Stories-Storytelling-Workshop/

I’m also happy to help anyone with a story they’re working on. Send me an email and we can set up a phone call.

See you on Thursday, November 16 at 7 pm, at the Chabad of Queen Anne – Magnolia. 1825 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 (Remember, no non-kosher food in the building)

Paul
Freshgroundstories at gmail dot com

Hi Everyone,

I hope you’re looking forward to our next show this Thursday. The theme is “Fish out of water – Stories of not fitting in”

https://www.meetup.com/fresh-ground-stories/events/296434043/

I also want to tell you about another wonderful storytelling show, 7 Stories. They started earlier this year and just set up their own Meetup group. Click here to check them out.

https://www.meetup.com/7-stories/

Their members have been very supportive of FGS and you’ve heard them tell stories with us a number of times. So join their meetup and check out one of their shows!

See you all next Thursday. Email me directly if you have any questions 🙂

Paul

Freshgroundstories at gmail dot com