Hello friends! 

ONCE AGAIN...TWO BIG EVENTS!

Join me on Saturday, June 18 at 7:00 PM ET at the Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford, CT for the launch of my next book, Someday Is Today: 22 Simple, Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life. 

I'll be telling stories from the book, offering some brand new strategies for making your creative dreams come true, and taking questions from the audience. I'll also be joined by Elysha Dicks, author of the foreword, and Matthew Shepard, author of the afterword, and Jeni Bonaldo, frequently maligned figure in the pages of the book, to talk about their part of the process, too, as well as two very special guests...

Clara and Charlie! My kids will be joining us to share some thoughts of their own. 

We'll also play games, give away prizes, sign books, and more!

RJ Julia Booksellers will be onsite to sell books, and refreshments will be provided courtesy of the Historical Society.

Click here for tickets.

A suggested donation of $10 is requested – all proceeds go directly to the Connecticut Historical Society.

If you live locally (or if you're willing to travel), I hope you'll join me for a fun night!
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Tickets are also on sale for my long-planned weekend storytelling workshop at The Mount in Lenox, MA.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 15, 16, and 17, I'll be teaching day-long storytelling workshops that will guide participants through the development and crafting of a complete story. 

On Saturday night, July 16, I'll be performing a solo show. I'll be telling some BRAND NEW STORIES filled with humor and heart, as well as improvising a story based upon audience prompts. 

On Sunday evening, July 17, members of Saturday's storytelling workshops who are ready and willing will be performing onstage for an audience. 

If you attend my storytelling workshop, you can attend my solo show and the class show for free.

But if you're not interested in this three-day workshop but would like to attend one or both shows, tickets are available for those events as well. Click the links below for information and tickets:  

• July 15, 16, and 17: Storytelling weekend workshop at The Mount, Lenox, MA
• July 16: Storytelling performance at The Mount, Lenox, MA
• July 17: Storytelling student performance at The Mount, Lenox, MA

THIS WEEK'S LESSON

In medias res: (Latin) the practice of beginning an epic or other narrative by plunging into a crucial situation that is part of a related chain of events; the situation is an extension of previous events and will be developed in later action.

This is a term (and a practice) that every storyteller must understand well. All too often storytellers start their stories in exposition, assuming that the audience needs to know everything (or even something) before anything can happen.

Not true. Audiences want stories to start. They want to be thrust into the story. They are willing to be taught things along the way, but get that story started and help the audience catch as you move forward with action and dialogue. 

Do the same for each scene of your story.

Don't start your restaurant scene with your arrival at the restaurant.

Don't start your airplane scene with the arrival to the airport.

Don't start your embarrassing high school locker room scene when your fully clothed.  

Start with a moment of meaning. Push into the story and each scene to a place that will grab the audience's attention. 

Start in medias res. Make the audience WANT to hear your story.