Storytwisting: A Guide to Remixing and Reinventing Traditional Stories

by Jeri Burns, Barry Marshall

Overview

An exposition of fractured stories, of the strategies for fracturing them and inspired variations to choose from when an old story may benefit from a makeover and new life.
   

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781624910982
Publisher:	Parkhurst Brothers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	882 KB

About the Author

Jeri Burns, Ph.D. and Barry Marshall, The Storycrafters, perform and teach nationally and internationally as The Storycrafters. In addition to their work in schools, libraries, conferences and festivals, they are healing storytellers at Stamford Hospital Psychiatric Unit and former adjunct college faculty at Southern Ct. State University. Jeri is adjunct faculty at the State University of New York at New Paltz, communication coach for public defenders at New York State Defenders’ Institute, and public radio essayist. Barry is sound engineer/producer of various storytellers’ recordings, including those of The Storycrafters. 
In addition to their award-winning recordings and radio show, The Storycrafters have been recognized with The National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Oracle Award and the Cayman Islands’ Gold Star Award for Creativity in the Arts. They live in New York’s Hudson Valley with their son Zack, their most treasured creation.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Introduction Storytwisting: A Transformational Process
Use of Terms
Legalities and Ethics
Structure of the Book Chapter Two: Essential Strategies of the Storytwisting Process A Way to Look at How Stories Fracture
Retelling
The Storytwisting Process
The Kitchen Sink Issue: Avoiding Pitfalls
How it All Connects: A Duncan Williamson Story
Twist for Thought: Reflections About Mirrors and Rocks Chapter Three: Setting Historical Fiction Folktale: Featuring “Milk Bottles”
Updating a Folktale to a Contemporary Setting: Featuring “I Need Quiet!”
Re-Setting a Folktale to a New Geographic Location: Featuring “The Sleepy Fairy”
Twist for Thought: Cultural Sensitivity When Changing a Story’s Setting Chapter Four: Point of View From the Villain’s Perspective: Featuring “The Troll’s House”
First-Person Folktale: Featuring “The Big Red Beet”
Twist for Thought: The Two Sides of the Troll Chapter Five: Rhyme Story Rap: Featuring "The Tortoise and the Hare Rap”
Ballad: Featuring "The Baker's Dozen”
Sonnet: Featuring "The Quail Sonnet”
Twist for Thought: Every Word Counts: Choosing One Word in “The Baker’s Dozen” Chapter Six: Wordplay Spoonerism: Featuring “Beeping Sleauty”
Spinneroosm: Featuring “The Bully Goats Griff”
Pun Story: Featuring “The Three Pears”
Twist for Thought: Learning and Performing Stories with Memorized Content Chapter Seven: Character A Gender-Swapped Tale: Featuring “Little Red Riding Dude Rap”
Twist for Thought: Lost in Translation: Collector Bias Chapter Eight: Plot (or The Mashup Chapter) A Blend of Two Faithfully-Told Tales: Featuring “The Frog Prince Mash”
An Intuitively-Composed Multi-Plot Mashup: Featuring “Redi-Locks and Goldi-Hood”
Twist for Thought: Storytelling as a Springboard to Social Awareness

Interviews

Educators, Story Performers, Writers, College

Editorial Reviews

Absolutely brimming with practical ideas for every aspect of story work, this book presents a remarkable number of ways to twist a story and each is clearly presented in a step-by-step process that teachers, students and every type of storyteller can employ to create, write or perform. The many  examples and side-bars are particularly helpful"

former librarian at Yale University and NSN Circle Beth Horner

‘How do they DO that?’ … Wonders anyone who has ever heard the Storycrafters tell their twisted tales in concert. This book provides the answer, taking you deep into their storytwisting magic, peeling back the layers of thought, research, creativity and craft that produce their entrancing and thought-provoking stories. Jeri and Barry explore their process step by step, illustrated with clear and relevant examples that will inspire many a twisted tale! This is a generous gift to storytellers, teachers, and lovers of story.” 

storyteller and co-author of Social Studies in the Sherry Norfolk

Award winning tandem storytellers Jeri Burns and Barry Marshall invite you into their artful world of “storytwisting” and share their secrets for storytelling success. Carefully researched and deeply personal, this is an educational masterpiece designed for anyone who loves storytelling.

Dr. Gwendolyn Nowlan