The Storyteller's Guide

by Mooney, Bill; Holt, David

• ISBN13: 9780874834826
• ISBN10: 0874834821
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-14
• Publisher: August House Pub Inc

Summary

Ask a storyteller a question and in response you get a story. The interviews in this handbook are packed with well-chosen anecdotes, metaphors, and parables illuminating the art of storytelling as it is practiced today in many varied settings. Rather than representing the opinion of a single author, this comprehensive guide to storytelling features interviews with more than 50 storytellers, including teachers, librarians, authors, musicians, actors, clergymen, and full time professionals.

Author Biography

David Holt Bio:

David Holt found his life's journey in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. With a passion to become an old-time banjo player, David traveled to remote mountain communities like Kingdom Come, Kentucky and Sodom Laurel, North Carolina searching for the best traditional musicians. Holt found hundreds of old-time mountaineers with a wealth of folk music, stories and wisdom. There was banjoist Wade Mainer, ballad singer Dellie Norton, singing coal miner Nimrod Workman, and 122-year-old washboard player Susie Brunson. Holt learned to play not only the banjo but also many unusual instruments like the mouth bow, the bottleneck slide guitar and even the paper bag. For over three decades, David's passion for traditional music and culture has fueled a successful performing and recording career. He has earned four Grammy Awards and performed and recorded with many of his mentors including Doc Watson, Grandpa Jones, Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff and Chet Atkins. Today he tours the country performing solo, with his band The Lightning Bolts and with Sutton, Holt and Coleman. His work has been featured in a number of public television productions.

Table of Contents

Introduction	7	(3)
How Do I Get Started?	10	(6)
How Do I Find the Right Stories?	16	(8)
Once I Find a Story and Like It, How Do I Make It My Own?	24	(7)
How Do I Shape Stories from Printed Texts?	31	(4)
How Do I Create Stories from True-Life Events?	35	(5)
How Do I Create Original Stories?	40	(6)
What Makes a Story Strong? What Makes a Story Weak?	46	(5)
How Do I Memorize and Rehearse a Story?	51	(7)
What Performance Techniques Do I Need to Know?	58	(10)
How Do I Make a Program Flow?	68	(4)
Introductions and the Role of the Emcee	72	(5)
What Mistakes Are Frequently Made by Beginning Storytellers?	77	(7)
How Do I Control Stage Fright?	84	(7)
What Are the Ethics of Storytelling?	91	(7)
How Do I Market Myself?	98	(11)
Setting Your Fee	109	(2)
Finding and Using An Agent	111	(2)
How Do I Record and Market Audios?	113	(11)
What Is the Life of a Professional Storyteller Like?	124	(9)
What Was Your Worst Performing Experience?	133	(8)
How Can a Teacher Use Storytelling in the Classroom?	141	(27)
How Can a Media Specialist Improve and Expand Storytelling in the Library?	168	(9)
What Should I Know about Censorship?	177	(6)
What Are the Copyright Laws Concerning Storytelling?	183	(17)
Storytelling Resources	200	(1)
The Storyteller's Bookshelf	201	(4)
Contributors	205