Here’s the Zoom info for Thursday’s show.
We still have room for more tellers!
See you then 🙂

Topic: FGS: Changes – Stories of reinventing yourself

Time: Oct 20, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

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Meeting ID: 813 1064 1982

Passcode: 819760

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Meeting ID: 813 1064 1982

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Hi Everyone,

I hope you’re getting ready for next Thursday’s show. We still have spots open so let me know if you’d like to tell. The theme is “Changes – Stories of reinventing yourself”. The change can be big or small, and you can define it however you like. Here’s the link to the invite to read more: https://www.meetup.com/fresh-ground-stories/events/288665545/

If any of you are in Portland tomorrow you absolutely must see Auntmama tell stories with the Go Janes. Auntmama has told stories with us many times over the years but I bet you’ve never heard her tell stories with three amazing musicians backing her up. It is sublime. Go see them!

https://www.facebook.com/events/433684558793712/

Here’s a great story by Matthew Dicks that shows how much you can pack into six minutes and 45 seconds.

Don’t forget about our free monthly workshop! The next one is online on November 6.

https://www.meetup.com/fresh-ground-stories-storytelling-workshop/events/288890152/

I’m also available for help or feedback on any story you’re working on. Send me an email and we can set up a phone call.

I think we might have a temporary space for our in-person shows starting early next year but I’m still looking for a larger, more permanent space. Have no fear. The perfect place for us is out there somewhere. We’ll find it. In the meantime, we get to hear storytellers from all over the world on Zoom! I’ll send out the Zoom info to everyone next Monday.

Write me directly at freshgroundstories at Gmail dot com if you have any questions.

See you next Thursday!

Paul

I always know when I need to change things up in my life because it feels like the flu coming on. I get a scritchy feeling in the back of my mind and my stomach starts tightening. Then I start forgetting to breathe and end up having to take a giant breath every few minutes. Sometimes I know what’s causing all this and sometimes I don’t. What I never know is what I need to do about it.

That’s the part I hate. I know I gotta do something but I can’t figure out what. I hope it’s not a big thing this time. I’m too old for a complete makeover. I’m not going to sell my house because I just chopped a bunch of firewood and I’m not moving all those logs again. I’m not quitting my job because people at work have finally accepted my self-appointed title of “Chief Sense-Maker.” And I’m not going off to an ashram because if I meditate for more than 20 minutes my legs fall asleep and I have to crawl around the house for another 20 minutes until I can feel them again. 

Luckily, I have a bunch of people in FGS who I can always count on to inspire me. Come tell a story at our next show on October 20 about a time you reinvented yourself. Or at least made a meaningful change in your life. What led up to it? Was it the right thing to do, or do you wish you had done it differently? Did you tell off your boss and walk out of work? Did you run away from home and hop a freight to a new life? Maybe you decided to have kids when you swore you’d never start a family. Whatever it was, we’d love to hear the story.

Remember to practice your story out loud on as many people as possible and time yourself when you’re doing 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 (freshgroundstories at Gmail dot com) 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 on a story. Send me an email and we can set up a phone call. 

See you on October 20th at 7 pm on Zoom!

Paul

Freshgroundstories at gmail dot com

HI Everyone,

Our show is coming up this Thursday. We still have some spots open so let me know if you’d like to tell a story. This month’s theme is Strangers – Stories of chance encounters. (Don’t worry if it’s not technically a chance encounter. It could be any kind of encounter with someone you don’t know)

Here’s the invite if you want more info:

https://www.meetup.com/fresh-ground-stories/events/288069941/

Below is the Zoom info for the show.

See you soon!

Paul

Topic: FGS – Strangers – Stories of chance encounters

Time: Sep 15, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82319509021?pwd=WmNtcWtLdnlsVDBJaVBXUnNBZ3owZz09

Meeting ID: 823 1950 9021

Passcode: 037504

One tap mobile

+12532158782,,82319509021#,,,,*037504# US (Tacoma)

+17193594580,,82319509021#,,,,*037504# US

Dial by your location

        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

        +1 719 359 4580 US

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 669 444 9171 US

        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

        +1 309 205 3325 US

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

        +1 386 347 5053 US

        +1 564 217 2000 US

        +1 646 931 3860 US

Meeting ID: 823 1950 9021

Passcode: 037504

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbRmQTvBT

This month’s theme was inspired by a TED talk one of our tellers gave in 2019 called, “Why we need strangers.” As a Seattle city bus driver, Nathan has made a career out of talking to strangers. Many of them people no one else talks to.

Like Nathan, I’ve had momentary connections with people who changed my life and who I’ll never see again. Often, it’s been strangers who have restored my faith in humanity. Sometimes an unexpected kindness or a quick nod of acknowledgment is all you need to feel like everything’s going to be ok.

So bring a story of a chance encounter with a stranger to our next show, Thursday, September 15. Tell us what happened and how it changed you. It doesn’t have to be a big story. It could be about the moment someone shared something with you that made you feel less alone. It could be about the time someone gave up their seat and showed you the compassion and patience you needed to get through your day. 

Remember to practice your story out loud on as many people as possible and time yourself when you’re doing it. All stories have to be under 8 minutes. Stories can be as short as you want but not over 8 minutes. If your story goes long, someone else who practiced for weeks might not get a chance to tell theirs. Stories also have to be clean in both language and content. Send me an email (freshgroundstories at Gmail dot com) 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 on a story. Send me an email and we can set up a phone call. 

Here are four short articles by one of my favorite storytellers with all kinds of good advice on the kind of stories we’re looking for at FGS:

https://jeff-simmermon.medium.com/?p=cc29027b8cd8

https://jeff-simmermon.medium.com/how-to-structure-a-funny-story-d1730535f81b

https://jeff-simmermon.medium.com/this-is-a-boring-shark-attack-8-rules-for-fascinating-storytelling-3b9d2bab6dca

https://jeff-simmermon.medium.com/this-ice-cream-will-heal-your-heartbreak-how-to-find-your-storys-north-star-b818f50250ab

This is the best book I’ve ever read on personal storytelling: 

https://www.amazon.com/Storyworthy-Engage-Persuade-Through-Storytelling/dp/B07GT7BMJV/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=matthew+dicks&qid=1582788172&sr=8-1

Here is a short piece by the author of the book on what questions to ask yourself when you start working on a story (it’s about halfway down the blog post): https://mailchi.mp/104f63f44a5a/you-should-be-able-to-answer-this-question-before-ever-telling-your-story?e=a4dd06ea14 

Here is Nathan’s TEDx talk that inspired this month’s theme.

And here’s the book he wrote about all the strangers he’s met as a city bus driver.

I hope to see you on September 15th at 7 pm at Zoom!

Paul

Freshgroundstories at gmail dot com