The Stillwater Public Library and Stonecloud are partnering for a StorySLAM on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. The theme, “Holidays, Yay,” will broadly focus on holiday experiences. Registration is requested to help staff members prepare for the event.
StorySLAMs, made popular by “The Moth” radio program and podcast, are storytelling competitions that invite attendees to share a short story with a room full of people who appreciate a well-told tale. Stories must be true, on theme, family-friendly, five to eight minutes long, and told from memory.
Librarian Lisa O’Donnell has hosted several StorySLAMs and is looking forward to having one highlighting holiday experiences.
“The StorySLAM we held in the summer was all about adventures, and the stories we heard were all amazing,” O’Donnell said. “But some of the best stories I have ever heard involved holidays, so I know this event will surpass the last one. Almost everyone has an amusing or entertaining holiday-related story to tell.”
The theme “Holidays, Yay” is broad, and storytellers are encouraged to prepare any story about any holiday. They can be about crazy, silly, heartwarming or even disastrous moments.
“Don’t feel constricted to winter holidays,” O’Donnell said. “If you had a great time catching fireflies on Independence Day or want to describe a moving memorial you attended on Veterans Day, those are perfectly in line with the theme.”
Storytellers will be judged on how well stories fit the theme, the quality of the presentation and whether stories stayed within the allotted time frame. The best storyteller will win a $30 gift card to Aspen Coffee and the runner-up will win a $15 gift card to Balanced Coffee.
The event is for storytellers and audiences who like to hear good stories. Two audience members will be asked to be judges at random, so active listening is highly encouraged. If there are more storytellers than time, presenters will be chosen by lottery.
“The summer StorySLAM had such a great audience, and that inspired a few people who had not prepared stories to share as well,” O’Donnell said. “The crowd of people who pay rapt attention to the stories is so important for a great StorySLAM.”
The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. Library hours are Monday- Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
