USA Storytelling trip with Cyrus - Day 2

We are in Atlanta and enjoying ourselves. It is now 10:15PM Monday night. When we arrived it was raining and mild with a gentle breeze. It felt a lot like Melbourne!

Our hosts are a lovely retired couple. They have already fed us some lovely food and I've given them copies of all my books. We're getting along great!

Cyrus really wanted to go shopping today rather than sleep so we headed off to the shops (about 15 minute drive) in our rental car. He was asleep when we got there. I woke him and he told me to go do my shopping first and them come wake him. I locked the car and headed into ROSS - a huge discount clothing store.

When I came back, he was so funny! He woke with a start and looked around. He kept looking at everything, turning his head, looking at buildings, at the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car, at the door handle next to him which he tried to grab but missed. Then he looked at me and said, "It's all in the wrong places."

I laughed and asked him if he was getting out. He nodded and said, "Yes!" as if he were very excited. Then he sat there doing nothing. I asked him again. After a few prods, he got out of the car and followed me into the shop.

When we got inside, I said, "You ready to shop?"

He said, "I just want to sleep."

So we went back and both fell into bed. He's still asleep. I reckon he'll go through the night. It was a very long flight! (or set of flights and layovers)!

So, tomorrow we have a rest day and a bit of shopping. Then we get into the filming!

USA Storytelling trip with Cyrus - Day 1.5

It's a bit crazy to figure out whether this is day one, two or somewhere in the middle!

Cyrus and I left home at 7am Sunday morning and arrived in the Melbourne International Airport at about 8:30am. Thanks to Loren Pratt for dropping us off and storing the car at his place!

Our first flight was four hours late which caused a full scale whiplash effect down the chaos of airline tickets. We left Melbourne around 4pm and, in Sydney ,rushed from one flight to the next.

After 13 hours, we arrived in Los Angeles and got through customs and immigration quickly. We were still 40 minutes behind and were not allowed on our flight to Denver. Instead we were rebooked through Washingtom DC. That flight didn't leave for another 10 hours! Lol... So, we enjoyed laptop, iPad, iPod, food, drinks, chatting and went on a couple walks.

Now we are in DC and it is 7:15am on Monday morning. Doesn't sound too bad, eh? Left Melbourne 4pm Sunday and will arrive in Atlanta at 10:40am Monday. A breeze! Yet, somehow it feels like we've missed two nights sleep!

You know what? It's worth it. Every minute of it! Cyrus and I are laughing, talking, hanging out, playing with our toys. We're two peas in a pod. He's a great kid and I count it an honor to be jet lagged by his side!

CSPS Storytelling Workshop Series

Calling for storytellers, preachers, teachers and all people interested in communication. Please review the following and give me your ideas, critiques and any help you can!

I have been asked to present a Series of 6 story building and telling workshops to Video for the CSPS (Centre for Secular and Postmodern Studies – of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church). I'm heading to Atlanta, Georgia tomorrow to do the filming this Wednesday and Thursday.

I have put a rough sketch of each workshop in the following posts. Each 20 minute video will be 10 minutes storytelling and 10 minutes technique teaching. I would love to receive your feedback and guidance so I can adjust my talks to be as useful and effective as possible!

Story Seat = CGCV + STANDS

Books used as resources – Narrative Plot, The One Who Tells the Best Story Wins, The Story Factor, The Revolutionary Communicator, LoveMarks, The Art of storytelling, Super Simple Storytelling, Story Proof, It’s all in how you tell it, Storytelling from the Bible, Enchanted hunters, Improving your storytelling.

CSPS Storytelling Workshop 1. Sermon – Using story in a sermon. Narrative plot building.

Story: The Dragon Story (Revelation 12)

Teaching: CGCV: Teach basic CGCV model.
Focus - C: Character is story. Focus on the character and the story comes to life.
Typically the Character is a “good guy.” I’ve used the Dragon story to illustrate that the Character can be the “bad guy.”
Character Workshop (separate file)
Narrative Sermon: Oops, Ugh, Aha, Whee, Yeah! (Book: Narrative Plot)

CSPS Storytelling Workshop 2. Small Group – How to use story in a friendship group

Story: “The BMW Driver” and “Double Click” (Article separate file)

Double Click – Eikon (Icon)
Activity: Draw an Icon representing you (like W for Word, etc)
Story: hitting the BMW
Question: When you get double clicked, what opens up?
Point: As Icon’s of Jesus, we should open a gateway to Him.

Teaching: Fact is Forgotten. Story comes back when you need it. Matt’s story.
CGCV: review basic CGCV model.
Focus - V: Values are the heart of story. Choose one. Just one. Then put it in the actions and mouth of the character. If the Character embodies a strong value the story will be unforgettable!
Teaching Faith: Head knowledge is only part of it. Head, Heart, Hands, Horizon. Teaching faith is values teaching and we must approach faith through as many avenues as possible so that by all means we might save some!

CSPS Storytelling Workshop 3. Educators - Children’s storytellers in church or SS

Story – Nehemiah – “The Joy of the Lord is your strength”

Teaching: Using the Stage. Introducing an idea to use later.

CGCV: Review basic CGCV model.
Focus: GC – Goals and Conflict
Goal – Main goal: How will the story end? Sub-goal: How will the story mature?
Conflict: What gets between the Character and the Goal? External and Internal.
Nehemiah: Internal conflict – can’t handle weeping people. Flashbacks!
External conflict – unmentioned villans (Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem). Why? Not important to the chosen Value – Joy of the Lord is your Strength.

CSPS Storytelling Workshop 4. Personal Witnessing – The Power of you story

Story: Interview in Mildura

Teaching: Be yourself – authentic, honest, open. Turn experiences into testimonies.
CGCV/STANDS: Review CGCV. Introduce STANDS.
Focus: ST – Style of Telling. Tell stories your way. Your Style of Telling is authentically you and rings true to the listener. Be yourself.
Teach positive attributes: hope, love, generosity, compassion.
Story: People of the Map. Be bold sharing what you have. Share yourself and your faith authentically, honestly and openly – your way!
6 Stories of influence

CSPS Storytelling Workshop 5. Personal Bible Studies – Guided discussion

Story: Riding the Spirit (Article – separate file)

Teaching: Your Christory is your most powerful communication tool. Use it well!
Christory: Where your story and Christ’s Story work together.
CGCV: review basic CGCV model. Then STANDS.
Focus: AN – Audience’s Needs. Listen first. Then speak.
3 Keys to Listening:
1. Suspend Judgement (Café’ Sabbath story)
2. Empathise with them (put yourself in their shoes-they are the character
in their own story. Get to know the character before you respond
to the story!)
3. Reflective listening (This is what I heard. Is this correct?)
Once you understand the needs of the audience you can ask “Where will I apply my influence? What story will I tell to touch that part of their story?”