writercises | FILL: The little daily stories

original posting 23 Jan 2012

I was pondering this morning the difficulty that we all have with coming up with a story. And yet, when we sit down at lunch, in a coffee shop, or just with the telephone, there never seems to be a shortage of things to talk about.

Did you see...? No? Let me tell you about it.

Did you know...? That's right, and then...

I just don't understand... Back when..., I...

Those daily stories. Pieces from the news, our life, our friends and family, television shows, things we read on the net, we blend all of those bits and pieces into little tales, little stories, with themes and cliffhangers and interest all the time. We describe events and characters, we evoke car accidents, vistas of wonder, little comic scenarios, all kinds of story stuff.

Then we sit down and say, "I want to tell a story." And suddenly... It all goes away.

Maybe instead of telling a story, imagine for a minute that your friend is sitting there. And you want to tell them about that funny thing that happened the other day. Go ahead. Just talk to your friend about that daydream that you had, the strange way that secretary piled the papers on the edge of the desk until they fell off, or whatever it is. Now imagine telling your friend another story, one that you came up with just for fun. Make your friend laugh, make your friend cry, make your friend lean forward and say, "And then what happened?"

Sure, it may not be a great story. But you know, it's a story.