The Moth on Tumblr

And I remember that back then, even though I did not know it, something told me that words had power. That words can save you. And the word that I learned was AIMLESSLY. Because I would call and say, “Lady, I think we found your dog, he was walking AIMLESSLY in Central Park.

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—	Ernesto Quinonez

This week’s video: While doing research for a book, a young writer (Starlee Kine) finds herself getting sucked into a cult.

And wouldn’t we want the person who tells our story be somebody who understand who we are?

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—	Craig Chester

Telling a story tonight? The rules and guidelines at The Moth StorySLAM.

What we don’t want:

Stand-up routines. Rants. Essays. How-tos. Confessions. Lectures. Fictions. Gratuitous anything.

What we do want:

Hook us in. Make us care about you. Paint the scene. Clearly state your fears, desires, the dilemma. Make us invested in the outcome. Introduce the conflict. Make us worried for you. Impress us with observations that are uniquely yours. Rope us into the moment when it all goes down. Conclude as a different person: triumphant? Defeated? Befuddled? Enlightened? …CHANGED.

Kind of applies to all sorts of storytelling, right?

Strand Books: Strand Tumblr Contest »

rachelfershleiser:

strandbooks:

Whenever I find a note or a photograph pressed between the pages of a book, I always find myself inventing a story to go along with it. Now is your chance to make that story up.

Submit an original piece of writing inspired by one of the Tumblr posts, and you could win a $50 Strand gift card!

What a cool writing contest! Do it, you guys!

Attention storytellers!

peter5tewart:

Kurt Vonnegut on the principles of storytelling. Brilliant.

What can we say - the man knows stories.