Next week I’m going back to my hometown for the first time in 25 years. Last Friday I told a story about my first campout and how I discovered I could make people laugh. Both of these things are related to the two themes we have for April’s show. “Hometowns” or “Finding where you belong.” In a way, they could be the same. Maybe your true hometown is wherever you feel most comfortable.
The place I feel most comfortable is on stage telling stories. Sometimes it feels like the only place that makes sense to me. In a few days, I’ll find out if the stories I’ve been telling myself about Alaska still hold true. I lived there for 27 years and when I left I thought I knew exactly what that place was about and who the people who lived there were. But maybe I was wrong. Or maybe I need to reframe those old stories. Or maybe 25 years later the place and the people are just who I thought they were and maybe I’m ok with that now. Who knows. I’ll report back in full on April 18 at our next show.
I’d love to hear a story about you and your hometown or how you discovered where you belong. Did you leave home chasing a dream? Do you still live in the place you grew up in and found the place where you belong somewhere within it? Did you go back home years later and discover it’s where you want to be now?
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 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:
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 wonderful storytellers 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, April 18 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