By Susanna Holstein
The school visit was all that I wanted it to be: well planned, well received, a joyful, thoughtful sharing of stories and songs with over 500 children, parents and teachers. It was an affirmation of what I do. During the times when I have no storytelling work I turn my focus to other things, sometimes researching stories, other times working on my antiques booths or working around home. When a performance comes up after a long hiatus, I sometimes ask myself, “Why do I do this? Would it not be easier to just be like other people and clean house and putter in my gardens instead of going out to tell stories to strangers?”
But each time I venture out to tell, I come home realizing that those who were once unknown are strangers no more. I come home filled with the wonder of the impact of a tale told and a song simply sung. I am humbled by the reaction to the stories, and to me, the storyteller. I realize over and over again the importance of sharing stories, of reminding people of the deep pleasure of listening, of the teachings in the old tales. I come home revitalized and determined to continue this once vaulted profession of storytelling–a profession that over the years lost its command of public interest as different forms of media developed and replaced it in the homes and hearts of people.
And yet…when I say “I am a storyteller,” when I explain what a storyteller is (so many do not know and think it is only reading to little children), when I say that the stories I tell live in my mind and not on paper, when I sing the ages-old songs and see the delight and sometimes deep emotion induced in my listeners, I feel once again the power in my blood, in my voice.
I am a storyteller. I tell stories. I follow the ancient path of bards, griots, seanachies, and elders. This is who I am, this is what I do.
©Susanna Holstein – reprinted from an article on www.grannysue.blogspot.com
About Susanna
Storyteller, writer and ballad-singer Susanna “Granny Sue” Holstein is West Virginia’s Liaison to NSN. She writes the blog Granny Sue’s News and Reviews, the poetry blog Mountain Poet and a monthly column for Two Lane Livin’. Her work has been published by Woodland Press, Little Creek Press, NSN Press and other print and online journals. Her CD, Beyond the Grave: Appalachian Ghost Stories and Ballads is available from Amazon and the WV Book Company. A new CD titled Lucky 13: War, Love and Growing Up in a Family of 13 Children will be available in May 2013.
Contact Susanna
Email: susannaholstein@yahoo.com
Websites:
www.grannysu.blogspot.com
www.grannysue.blogspot.com
www.mountainpoet.wordpress.com
www.twolanelivin.com
In 1996 I wanted and needed a tall tale story. My vivid imagination went to work and that’s how I came up with the idea to grow a big watermelon. This story has been a big hit wherever I tell it. But one of the best benefits I have received from this story is how to outline a story before I begin writing. In the unique process that I use I can start at any point in the story and work forward or backward in my outlining process. I have taught this process in workshops and it has been beneficial to many people in writing a story.
The Scat Rap was first created in 1988 at a “Music and the Environment” workshop at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Tennessee by a group of naturalists, including Andy Bennett, Mary Keebler, and, Rodd Pemble. I added several verses to it and rearranged it with help from Billy Jonas.
To the logical, pragmatic, no-nonsense, Type-A personality that I am, the concept of appreciations in storytelling was initially lost on me.