Anytime something bad happens, the first thing I do is figure out how to tell the story. I know if I can get a story out of it, I’m halfway to making everything better. Telling the story gets it out of my head and stops me from rolling around in the pain, which if I’m not careful can start to feel good after a while. 

It also forces me to look at what happened from a different perspective. It makes me say, “What good came of this?” Of course, sometimes the good takes a while to show up. Often, I don’t even realize the good until I’m trying to write the story of the bad. 

But that’s the kind of story we’re looking for at our next show. Did getting dumped lead to finding someone better? Did getting fired force you to rethink your career path? Did a near-death experience make you appreciate life more? Maybe your ship sank at sea, you washed up on a desert island and stumbled across buried treasure that included three chests of gold and a rowboat. You have to come to the show and tell that story!

Whatever story you tell, remember to practice it 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

We have a free monthly online workshop that’s a great place to get feedback on your story. 

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, September 19 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

Thanks to everyone who came out to the show last Thursday. We had a wonderful night. Todd, Bob, David, Kate, Lisa, and Chris all did an amazing job. We heard stories about running, drinking, marrying, taking care of other people’s kids, dads, and professional cuddlers. Looking out over the audience, you’d never know all the stories those folks held inside them. I’m always so touched by what people will share.

Three days before the show the most amazing thing happened. The walls in my basement began to weep. It was almost biblical. How can walls weep? I’ll tell you how they can weep. A pipe somewhere in your backyard can rot through and start pushing tasty, ice-cold well water into your house. By the day of the show, I was exhausted from pushing shop-vacs around and dragging waterlogged boxes up a flight of stairs. I almost canceled the show.

I’m so glad I didn’t. Hearing those stories, and meeting all the new people who just discovered us, was exactly what I needed. Thanks to everyone who came up to me and the other tellers after the show. Talking and getting to know each other afterward is a big part of FGS. The audience is just as much a part of the show as the tellers. 

Send me an email if you told a story and would like the audio of it. I can get that out to you in a few days. Our next show is September 19. I’m bringing back a theme we did a few years ago, “The best bad thing that turned out good.” I can’t wait to hear your stories. I’ll get the invite out as soon as I can.

Thanks again to everyone who came out and supported us. See you next month!

Paul
freshgroundstories@gmail.com

Hi Everyone,

I hope to see a bunch of you at tonight’s show and that some of you are bringing stories.

Tonight’s theme is Fools Rush In – Stories of acting before you think

https://www.meetup.com/fresh-ground-stories/events/302431179

Our building is having a little work done on the outside but everything is fine on the inside. The show is still on. Looking forward to seeing lots of names in Mr. Coffee 🙂

Paul

Freshgroundstories at gmail dot com

Hi Everyone,

The big show I’ve been telling you about for months is now accepting applications for tellers!

NAMI’s annual fundraiser, The Brainpower Chronicles, features people sharing personal stories of living with a mental health condition or being a family member/caregiver of someone with a mental health condition. A number of FGS folks have been in this show over the years, including myself. It’s always a touching, inspiring night and I’m grateful they keep asking me to host.

Here’s a brief bit of text from their website:

“This is NAMI Washington’s signature fundraising event and features true, personal stories that are hopeful and inspiring while reducing the stigma of mental illness.

This year’s event will be held on November 16th at Kane Hall on the UW Seattle Campus.  UW has graciously partnered with us to host BPC this year! UW students, alumni, staff, faculty are strongly encourage to apply.”

Here’s the link to the site if you want to know more:

https://www.namiwa.org/brainpower-chronicles

And here’s the link to the application form if you’d like to tell them about yourself and your story:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5YOedDKPkIjhFgdIfHLlqvpmzbkn1T01hjFA8Rzq7NyJM9w/viewform

The application deadline is August 30 so don’t delay if you want to try to be in the show. I’m not connected with the show in any way other than hosting so I can’t give you any more details than what they have on their website. 

Good luck to everyone who applies. I hope to see you onstage in November 🙂

Paul

freshgroundstories@gmail.com

PS – don’t forget the next FGS show is coming up in a couple of weeks on August 15. The theme is, “Fools Rush In – Stories of acting before you think”
https://www.meetup.com/fresh-ground-stories/events/302431179/