The stories we tell are delivered in conversation without much thought or reflection. Our most prominent memories and well-known tales are quickly offered as a way to open discussions in the social networks to which we belong. The wish for connection and sharing is strong, making It essential to speak responsively and appropriately for the company and the situations in which we find ourselves. We have a way of embellishing the details to make the story fit the company. All good. The told story is a social activity that requires a shared time and place and a willing listener. Some of us are good at speaking the story, and some are good at purposefully listening.
The stories we write require an extended time between the first word and the last. It compels us to slow down, to reflect, to evaluate, and to allow new information to enter consciousness.
We do our writing alone, even when we are writing amid crowds. Because writing is a solo activity, we can go deeper and broader and be more authentic than we can with a spoken story. We are not distracted by the interactions that are necessary during a telling. We embellish a written story for our pleasure. It is a richer medium, albeit a lonelier one. All good. The written story is an inner journey that taps into themes and values that can sometimes surprise us. Some of us are good at penning the story, and some of us are good at reading them.
The stories we perform fall somewhere in the middle of writing and telling. That, however, is for another time and another person who understands the ins and outs of story performance. I expect that a cherished story performer friend may share some insights into his practice on this Blog sometime soon.
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