Workshop tips!

This past Saturday, I had a blast hosting another live lit workshop at The Old Town School of Folk Music, where I used to teach kids' music and creativity classes. 

The class was full and the attendees inspiring. They played along with aplomb, and wrote some beautiful stuff!

We started out the workshop with a few physical games to get the juices flowing. Then, I doled out prompts. We talked about how to mine their best personal stories.

No one wanted to take a break when I asked, so we chartered on.

I watched and coached as they toiled and scribbled, and these sweet folks came up with the most awesome stories. After some feedback, we realized that four hours had just flown by without a bathroom break.

Here are a few of the tips I spurted out in the workshop:

• Always move the narrative forward.• Offer at least a modicum of self-exposure and vulnerability.• Make use of your voice, your body, your hands, your facial expressions, even (especially) in the moment/s when you don’t verbalize. • Know your strengths as a teller, and use them. Work on fixing what doesn’t work, especially if the fixes are related to technical things like nervousness, delivery, diction, or vocal volume. • Your story needs a beginning, a middle, and end!• Paint a few scenes with “show don’t tell” sensory elements.• Introduce other characters by setting up "in scene" dialogue moments. • Build the tension by sharing your internal or external conflict with the listeners.

There are many more tips. Take our classes and learn them all!

In the meantime, I just stumbled upon an advice page from a show called Tenx9 Chicago, if you'd like more of these tidbits. Here's a very basic list of how to tell a live lit story.

And here's Tenx9 Chicago's advice on how to WRITE a personal story.

May Story Jam Show Recap, by Maggie

Our May 20th Story Jam show was a fantastic success. We were incredibly touched by all the storytellers and musicians who contributed their talents to our show. Shannon Cason reminded us of the trials of young-love with his recounts of college dating. Nestor Gomez used humor to move us with his story about the long, grueling process of gaining citizenship in the United States, and Annalise Raziq reminded us that, after losing a loved one, heartbreak can be both healing and humorous. Stephanie Rogers sang soulful, funky songs to compliment the various stories, backed by an amazing ten-piece band.

We are so looking forward to the next show happening September 16th, noon, at City Winery! If you want to feel inspired by these artists and musicians--then mark your calendars for September 16th, folks.

Upcoming Story Jam Show

Hello friends, Maggie here!

Our May Story Jam show is coming up, and I already know it's going to be such a moving, unique, and lively experience. We are featuring renowned storyteller Shannon Cason, as well as three other storytellers who have been spotlighted on NPR. Nestor Gomez, a national award-winner, will also be performing at our show. We are very lucky to have such a fantastic line-up.

If you love literature, music, and the arts, I highly encourage you to join us this Sunday, May 20th, noon, at City Winery. This is a show you don't want to miss!

There will be great food, drinks, and fun new Story Jam merchandise.

Click the link below to get your tickets!

https://citywinery.com/chicago/story-jam-5-20-18.html

Interview w/ Unrated Magazine

By Dan Locke 

Stephanie Rogers the Hipchick

Interview - January 17, 2018

Read more »