by Tami Kamin Meyer | Mar 3, 2022 | Blog, Write Now Columbus Essay Archives
March Madness
by Tami Kamin Meyer, Editor
I would be remiss if I didn’t begin this message with a note of love and deep concern for the people of Ukraine, Europe, and frankly, the world. Just when it started to feel like the most burdensome aspects of COVID19 might finally be lessening, even just a bit, our world has been rocked by a virus of hatred, violence and greed.
Both Nita and I hope for a peaceful, speedy resolution not only to the horrific situation in Ukraine, but to all conflicts worldwide. Yes, a lofty goal for one short month, but who would have thought we’d be where we are now just one month ago?
A few words about WORD
And now…an exciting announcement to hopefully lighten the mood. In a recent essay, I shared my excitement at being named the Producer of WORD – Live Literature & True Tales, at the Nest Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. WORD seeks and supports local stories, and has been a recurring show at the Nest since 2107.
WORD will unfold quarterly in 2022, with the first night of storytelling set for March 24 at 7 pm. WORD is a community-wide event that provides an opportunity to connect with one another through true stories from diverse voices throughout Central Ohio.
The theme of the March 24 event is SPRING FORWARD.
If you are interested in sharing a true story relating in some way to the theme (which is purposely vague for personal interpretation), please reach out to me immediately at Wordnesttheatre@gmail.com. When I say immediately, I do mean that! We are under a tight deadline for garnering interest and securing storytellers, so if you have any interest, please email me there. I will respond with an FAQ detailing info like length of stories, the perk you receive as our Thank You for participating in the show and more.
Our goal is to have our slate of storytellers set by mid-March, so time is of the essence. Please share this message with anyone who might be interested in participating. We are seeking a diverse group of storytellers, and appreciate the assistance in spreading the word about WORD.
If you would like to be support Central Ohio storytellers by attending the March 24 WORD event, tickets are $10 and are available www.nesttheatre.com. The Nest is located at 2643 N. High Street, with free parking available in the back lot and nearby streets.
My involvement with the Nest is separate from my contributions to this newsletter, and I appreciate Nita’s support in allowing me to mix my passions together. Like a Reese’s Cup, but without the calories or carbs.
I close with a prayer that when the time comes to pen the April essay for this space, our world has regained some semblance of peace, tolerance, and joy.
~ Tami
(c)Tami Kamin Meyer, 2022, all rights reserved
by Tami Kamin Meyer | Jan 6, 2022 | Blog, Write Now Columbus Essay Archives
WORD is the Word
Guest post by Tami Kamin Meyer
As I type this, I (Tami) am beginning my second week of Omicron. At least I think it’s Omicron. Despite “enjoying” a myriad of symptoms for at least a week, the results of my pharmaceutically-administered COVID test read “negative.”
Hmmm….
Despite the uncertainty of the test, something “positive” did happen to me in December, something writing-related. I’m extremely proud to share it, so I appreciate this venue for spreading the news.
A bit of background
I have been involved with The Nest, an improv comedy theatre in Columbus for nearly three years. My wonderful, longtime boyfriend and I used to attend shows there, and we created many fond memories. It was his Christmas gift in December 2018 of the first level of improv comedy classes at The Nest that led me to me to become a part of that incredible community. It has since become a huge part of me, too.
Unfortunately, just two weeks after I began my first class, in May 2019, I found my dear Brad dead in the shower of our Manhattan hotel room. We had traveled to NYC to celebrate our sixth anniversary of meeting (and dating, because ours was that rare ‘Love at First Sight’ story that began the moment we met).
Despite the unspeakable shock I was in following Brad’s untimely death, I returned to my improv class its next meeting. It was incredibly difficult to open the same entrance door to the Nest that Brad and I had walked through multiple times to see improv shows, but I persevered. I had to. Brad would have wanted me to.
Heads turned when I walked into the theater turned classroom. Everyone knew what had happened in my life just a week before. Our teacher, who happened to be someone from the local improv scene Brad and I adored, embraced me deeply. I cried. He cried. Others came up and touched my shoulders in a show of support. It was a deeply touching moment forever etched in my heart.
Fast forward to December 2021, and the exciting news I received from The Nest.
One of the longest running shows at The Nest is actually not improv-based. It is WORD Live Literature & True Tales. As a writer, WORD is one of my favorite performances at The Nest because it focuses on real stories. Storytellers are invited to share a true story with audience members based on the show’s theme. I myself have presented at WORD three times, so I know it both as a presenter and attendee.
And, in 2022, I will be producing its quarterly incarnations! Just as exciting is the woman chosen to host the show is my closest “Nesty,” as we improvisers at the theatre are lovingly referred to. Brad would have been so happy for me and proud of me, so this means just that much more to me.
In the February issue of WNC, I’ll reveal the theme of WORD’s March show. Storytellers will be invited to volunteer to present at the event. Hopefully, so many folks will volunteer that Jodie and I will have to narrow down the number of storytellers chosen to perform (storytellers will know well in advance if they are being asked to participate).
If you have any questions about WORD, or The Nest, or writing, or even Omicron, please feel free to email me at writenowcolumbus@gmail.com. I’ll be happy to hear from you!
In the meantime, here’s to a sparkly, exciting, productive, joyful and HEALTHY y2K22.
![Author Interview – Kate Farrell]()
by Theresa Garee | Nov 18, 2020 | Author Interviews, Blog
Author Interview – Kate Farrell
I interview authors to find out what makes them tick. This author interview features Kate Farrell. Kate and I met while volunteering at the San Francisco Writers Conference for the Women’s National Book Association of San Francisco. Another Mango author, Kate is a dynamic storyteller, teacher, librarian, and all-around fun woman. I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I have.
Nita Sweeney (NS): When and how did your writing journey begin?
Kate Farrell (KF): I didn’t consider myself a writer until I received a grant to teach storytelling forty years ago. I was immediately asked to write a how-to book on the art of storytelling for a wide audience of adults: teachers, parents, librarians. Faced with this daunting challenge, I moved to a remote valley in the Eastern Sierra for a six-month writing retreat, not only to write the book, but consider the entire storytelling project—its scope and brand.
Armed with a portable, manual typewriter, erasable paper, and my background as a teacher and librarian, I wrote the manuscript chapter by chapter. I’d bundle the typed pages and ride my bicycle to the only photocopier in the town of Bishop, CA, keep the copy and mail the original at the post office across the street to San Francisco, unedited.
When I returned to the city, my work was published almost verbatim, along with the storytelling project’s name and scope, Word Weaving: A Storytelling Workbook, 1980. This first book has since been archived in historical collections in public libraries and as an educational resource. It became the basis for teaching the statewide project throughout California public schools.
NS: Why do you write? What motivates you?
KF: My motivation is to share the universal nature of stories and the timeless art of storytelling. In that sense, I see myself more of a storyteller than a writer.
NS: Plotter or pantser?
KF: Plotter. In nonfiction, I work from an outline; in crafting personal narratives, I use a storyboard. Well defined structure is essential in the oral tradition; nonfiction requires clarity in developing key points from general to specific.
NS: What’s your biggest writing struggle and how do you handle it?
KF: When writing personal narratives, I often doubt that my own experiences have value for others. I hope to communicate something universal that enhances others’ lives. At the same time, good stories don’t tell, but show, requiring skill in the use of detail and imagery. To overcome my doubts, I revert to technique. I use a storyboard or simple outline to delineate the narrative arc. I consider the conflict at the heart of my story and determine if others can identify with both the central conflict and its resolution.
For nonfiction, I fight fatigue since the work is fleshing out an outline with compelling language that engages the reader. Imagining the reader sitting across the desk does help, but the best motivator is an absolute deadline, chapter by chapter.
NS: What is one thing about writing you wish you’d learned earlier?
KF: In nonfiction writing, I wish I’d learned the basic components of paragraph structure.
NS: What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever heard?
KF: To use adverbs, especially with attributions in dialogue.
NS: Do you write by hand or on a computer?
KF: Both. I find writing by hand more relaxing. When crafting a personal narrative, I frequently use a storyboard and sketch out the scenes with stick figures and key words.
NS: What are you currently reading?
KF: To escape from contemporary society and as a Jane Austen recommended spin off, I’ve been reading the Regency romances of Georgette Heyer. My favorite is The Corinthian; I’ve read it three times for sheer hilarity, situation comedy, and historic interest.
Kate Farrell, author of Story Power
NS: Is there a book you couldn’t finish? Why?
KF: I generally prefer historical fiction, so when confronted with any novel written in the present tense, I put it down. I typically cannot read present tense fiction, in first, second, or third person POV.
NS: What book couldn’t you put down?
KF: Cara Black’s new book, Three Hours in Paris, is a hunt for a covert operative in Nazi Paris, with vivid scenes, lively characters, pulse-elevating suspense. This book actually reminded me of Nancy Drew mysteries, such an intrepid heroine!
NS: What advice would you give writers starting out?
KF: Develop voice by imagining your reader next to you and speak directly to him/her as you write.
NS: Some writers struggle with the emotional side of writing. Do you have any tips for them?
KF: Focus on the purpose outside of yourself: to entertain, inform, or reveal. Connect with supportive writers to increase confidence and for encouraging feedback.
NS: What would you like readers to know about your most recent writing project?
KF: This how-to book on the art of storytelling is a culmination of my lifelong passion. It brought me full circle back to the first book I wrote forty years ago.
Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories. Mango Publishing, June 2020.
Storytelling is a powerful and engaging art, now enjoying a comeback, touted by business experts and public speakers—from branding to TEDx. Kate Farrell, a masterful storyteller who founded the Word Weaving Storytelling Project and trained thousands in the art, has now released a new book, Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories, to share the essence of the art with everyone who has a story to tell. In the book, more than twenty skillful contributors with a range of diverse voices, show you how to tell an unforgettable story.
NS: Has your writing life turned out differently than you expected? If so, how?
KF: It took me the longest time to realize that personal narrative had replaced the folktale in the oral tradition, even though The Moth and TED talks became popular twenty years ago. However, by 2005, I began to write personal narratives for my local writers’ club anthologies. With the help of experts in the field of memoir, I slowly learned the specific skills required in the genre and edited award winning anthologies. Still, I was not fully convinced of the universal nature of these personal stories until I attended the Moth Story Slams and observed their impact. These personal efforts continue to be works-in-progress. I’m excited to be part of the new direction in the oral tradition.
Story Power Author Kate Farrell and Mango Associate Publisher Brenda Knight
NS: What’s next for you writing wise?
KF: I’m writing my memoir with elements of folk and fairy tales, using the devices of magical realism combined with real life experiences. The working title is ONCE: Memoir of a Storyteller.
NS: How can storytelling help during the holidays this year?
KF: During the holidays this unusual year of social distancing, often separated from families and loved ones, take the time by phone, letter, or online to tell personal stories. Remember the good times, the gatherings, and those beloved friends and family who have passed away with a vignette or an unforgettable tale. Story Power can help you to create and craft these precious stories. The book makes a great gift for those who are journaling or recording memories during these challenging times. Prompts, exercises, and examples will stimulate your creativity and how to share.
AND FINALLY:
NS: Mermaids or Goddesses?
KF: Goddesses
NS: Toast or bagels?
KF: Toast
NS: Ocean, mountains, or forest?
KF: Forest
NS: Leggings or jeans?
KF: Leggings
NS: Dogs, cats, fish, guinea pigs, or horses?
KF: Dogs
About Kate Farrell
Story Power by Kate Farrell
Kate Farrell, storyteller, author, librarian, founded the Word Weaving Storytelling Project and published numerous educational materials on storytelling. She has contributed to and edited award-winning anthologies of personal narrative, Times They Were A-Changing: Women Remember the 60s & 70s, and Cry of the Nightbird: Writers Against Domestic Violence. Farrell’s new book, a timely how-to guide on the art of storytelling for adults, Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories, was released in June. Recently, Farrell presented workshops for adults on the art of storytelling at the San Francisco Public Library, Mechanics Institute, and the San Francisco Writers Conference. Kate is now offering virtual workshops for libraries and writing groups, as well as performing virtually as a storyteller.
Website: https://katefarrell.net/
Blog: https://storytellingforeveryone.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kate-Farrell-Storyteller-330923030933184
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateStoryteller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-farrell-1930a510
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/katefarrell2
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