Allowing the Story to Take the Lead by Anna Blocher-Rubin

“Authors do not choose a story to write, the story chooses us.” Richard P. Denney

Storytelling is a known art. What is not always known is that the story can take the lead as the storyteller tells the story. It’s as if the story takes its own form in the process of being told. In the beginning of my storytelling adventure I had a process: write it, memorize it, then deliver. I began to notice I was initially nervous when I told my story, but as I got into it, the events of the story would take over. My body language would change, facial expressions would be revealed and it was all in a natural way of telling a story.

As time went on I stopped memorizing the story, and whatever story I composed, the important parts of it would be told. At first it was concerning to me, because there were many details I wanted to share, or so I thought. Over time, I began to notice the story was taking the lead. The more I trusted in myself, the more the story would give direction. This became comforting, taking off the pressure of delivering a story that was “perfect”; a pressure I had put on myself.

I soon realized the energy of the story will reveal what needs to be revealed and I became the vessel for telling the story. Now that I am aware of this, I think about my story often, as it is in a process of creation. Sometimes I write out the main parts of my story to figure out how to make it smooth, but I no longer memorize my story. When I get up to tell it, I take a deep breath, center myself, and allow the story to be told. In other words, I get out of my own way, and let the story reveal itself. For the story has chosen me and I will let it take the lead.

The picture at the top of the post can be found here.

Comments

[Myranette Robinson]

Anna, I also feel that the story leads your telling. It can also adapt itself to your telling environment. I can tell the same story but the story can have me leave out things in one environment only to have me emphasize that same thing in my next telling. That's the joy of storytelling, that the story is never the same no matter how many times you tell it.

[Mo Nance]

Thank you Anna. All you said makes perfect sense. Once I get rid of the fear, I look forward to trusting myself to being a vessel 100%.