Storytelling is Eternal, Great Stories are Timeless
Storytelling is one of the oldest art forms. We can surmise that storytelling was an integral part of our standard repertoire when our primitive ancestors sketched their hunting exploits on the walls of caves.
The storyteller, and storytelling, is a uniquely human affair. No other species on earth engages in this act. Tools don’t separate us from other species, for chimpanzees and crows are known to use them. Language is not unique to humanity either, for other primates are able to communicate with us through sign language. And, emotions are neither the signifying factor that makes us unique, for we can observe emotions in other animals. I’m not afraid to make the claim, with a hint of boldness, that storytelling is what makes us ‘human.’
Why Storytelling?
Storytelling and the storyteller are on a journey together. The journey is a simple one. At the outset, it will be difficult, and it has the opportunity to become easier over time, but that certainly I doubt. The obstacles encountered along the way are designated by the purpose of the journey. The storyteller is shackled with the singular burden of sharing the meaning of life with the populace. Why we are here? What is our purpose? Ultimately, these are the reasons we are drawn to stories. It’s a perpetual quest for all of humanity, and that is why storytelling is an will be a function of humanity for all eternity. Or at least as long as humans will exist in the Universe.
The Storyteller’s Obligation
The obligation that we, storytellers, face is not merely to tell stories, but to tell great stories. It’s our duty to the rest of the humanity that we attempt to interpret the world, the universe, the multiverse through tales that will transcend the limits of time. We house the exploits of heroes, heroines and their great deeds in our imaginations. It is our obligation to transfer these stories into storytelling mediums: comics, dance, screenplays, madrigals, theater, slam poetry, and other forms of story.
Write, write, write, but write well. Never be satisfied with your work, always strive to improve your writing by engaging your subconscious on a daily basis. Harass it, stimulate it, but don’t let it weigh you down, for it is at that point we encounter expectations and self-consciousness, which then lead to writer’s block.
Commit to writing as if your life depended on it. For what our audience desires is quite simple: great stories.
Now, follow your muse and fulfill your obligation.
Go write!
