The risks are worth it, all the time! by Donna Martin

It is the end of the fall semester - the last class meeting of STO 297: Creating and Telling Personal Stories. We gather eagerly to hear these last few personal stories thoughtfully crafted by our classmates. They do not disappoint.

I have avoided telling personal stories since 1999 when I earned my storytelling certificate. I found that sharing all the other types of stories – folk tales, tall tales, myths, historical stories, fact-based stories – far easier, more enjoyable, and less scary. To tell a personal story well you need to open yourself up and be vulnerable –scary stuff! This being vulnerable does not come to me easily.

My classmates embrace the process and share amazing stories with humor and pathos. I know more about their formative years, their families, their beloved pets, and adventures because of their honest, authentic storytelling. I am in awe of their personal courage.

Any time a teller crafts a story, certain choices are made – how to structure the story, which perspective to use, what imagery works best to evoke the setting and the characters and weighing the risks of telling the story in a particular way to a specific audience. This is especially true when crafting a personal story.

The best way to conquer fear is to face it. I enrolled in the personal story telling class to face down my fear of being vulnerable while telling stories. We were asked to craft and tell three personal stories – themes and topics were left up to us. I did not disappoint.

Yes. It was challenging, scary, and risky. I was anxious about the way I crafted the stories. Was it relatable? Was it funny in the right places? Could I keep the audience safe? Should I play it safe, or take the risk and be as vulnerable as needed to deliver a well-told story? These questions and more bounced around in my head right up until the moment I started telling the story.

What I learned is. . . the risk is scary, and then you take the risk, and it works. The next time you take the risk, it is still scary, but you remember how well the last time turned out, so you take the risk again, and again, and again. For me, it does not get easier – it becomes a learned habit. Take the risk. Enjoy the outcome.

The risks in storytelling are worth taking. The risks in personal storytelling are worth taking every time.

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

Comments

[Dee Dee]

Donna, I have learned so much about structuring personal stories for your telling. Each of your stories led me to know you a little better and I am so glad you chose to take this class.