Honor the Storyteller's Verbs

Sunday, July 5, 2009

When I taught the young writers at Chanticleer, when I have taught, indeed, anywhere, I have shared, as the hours and days go by, my own idea about what makes for authentic storytelling. This morning I stumbled across two columns of teachable verbs—words I'd compiled in advance of a morning class. The first, I think, makes for screech and demand. The second makes for story.

Explain/Illuminate
Record/Remember
Argue/Explore
Retaliate/Evolve
Condemn/Liberate
Accuse/Understand
Obliterate/Rescue
Attack/Approach
Demand/Long for

7 comments:

grete said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
grete said...

Sorry, I messed up my first attempt at sending a comment to this post, but this is what I wanted to say -

I love, love, LOVE the way you have paired these words. They not only apply to storytelling, but to life itself. You are a true teacher, Beth, Thank You! This post makes my day.....

Priya said...

They're almost like two different worlds.

Sarah Anne said...

To me it's like they're opposites but they compliment each other. Does that make sense?

Sherrie Petersen said...

I like these distinctions!

Woman in a Window said...

You will help me yet...one of these days all of this wisdom will pay off for me. Right?

Holly said...

"Illuminate" is so beautiful!

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