A DISCOVERY WHILE THINKING

WRITER'S RETREAT TO CRITIQUES:

Attending a Writer's Retreat is what most writers dream of doing.  A good one will put you among fellow writers in a relaxed, inspirational setting, where writers can do everything from write their books to receive quality advice and critiques.  While thinking, an interesting idea came to mind.  You may wish to try this idea on your own, with other writers, or with your Critique Group, if you belong to one.  The idea?

STORY TELLING FESTIVALS:

Attend a story telling festival is the idea.  They go by many names, Tall Tales, Story Telling, Liars Convention, etc.   Story telling is an ancient art.  Homer is among the most famous story tellers of all time.  Today, we often forget his written stories were originally oral stories; recitations told by a man who trained his mind to recall events with precision and detail.  Not only this, Homer had to make his tales interesting or lose his audience. 

TALES, STORY TELLERS AND TODAY'S WRITER:

Many tales are old, traditional tales; others newly created tales.  Writers, especially Critique Groups, should attend a story telling festival in your area or one near you.  Writing descends from story telling!  Be open to the way the spoken word conveys a tale.  Story telling techniques, as you will come to recognize, opens doors and windows in your writing-mind.  Story tellers reveal facial expressions, changes in tone of voice, or give unique voices to different characters.  How might you translate all this to paper?  This helps you find what readers need to hear in your words.  By listening to tales, you will better understand how ideas are communicated to the mind.  With a Critique Group or a group of writers along, you get to meet to discuss individual thoughts and ideas, related to writing, based on the experience.  The idea is to learn to hear your writing speak.  Exploring concepts of oral story telling remains central to the writer of the modern written story.  You are carrying on an ancient legacy.  Seek and you will find yourself a better writer.  Best of luck to you!

MORE TO FOLLOW:

Related topics may appear in the future.  The root idea for this post grew a trunk, then branches.  I'm starting with the root.  Branches, if worthy, will follow.  Enjoy!  Maybe this "metaphoric virtual tree" will have leaves someday.