Storytelling

Stories are the currency of our time, but how do they work?

Hi hi - Starting next issue, you'll see the sender of these newsletters listed as "Sublime" rather than "sari azout". Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere! This newsletter is just expanding to include other creative voices like that of Alex Dobrenko who wrote the post below. More soon. xx Sari

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Inspired by Sari’s banger of a moodboard last week, I decided to experiment with the format as a way explore my beliefs around storytelling.

Stories are the currency of our time, but how do they work? I find formulas and structures to fall flat in capturing that ineffable essence at the heart of stories, so then what can? Why do some stories resonate and other, almost identical stories, feel forced?

The more writing and storytelling I do, the less I understand how it all works. That’s okay. A good thing. But still, a mental map of the space feels important. Here goes.

This morning I read two short stories by Miranda July in “No One Belongs Here More Than You” and sentences started pouring out of me like driblets of water from a basement leak (see, like that line is an example - I didn’t say it was good!!)

Heather Havrilesky is my fav writer on Substack - check her out at her advice column on Substack, Ask Polly, and then check out her other newsletter Ask Molly (“Molly has been living in the shadow of her advice-giving twin Polly for years now, and all of that optimistic, feel-good drivel has rendered Molly short-tempered and vainglorious.”)

Rebecca Solnit on the beautiful and key distinction between writing and becoming a person who writes

Ok Carl you didn’t have to be so intense about it but fine.

I sorta hate ‘rules for writing’ but if one guy can do it, it’s Kurt Vonnegut - here are his 8 rules for writing.

The internet demands we actively perform ‘being yourself’ so that others can see it.

inflame is such a great word here

This is from The Oatmeal, one of the internet’s funniest people. Beyond making silly yet existentially powerful comics, he also has great insights on the creative process itself.

by madebynelson

I’ve added a bunch quotes and images to a collection in Sublime called storytelling: a moodboard. If you’re a Sublime member: the collection is collaborative. I would love for y’all to add cards and ideas that resonate with you.

Comments

1. What are some of the best stories you’ve ever heard and/or told (across any medium)?

2. I love the idea that even more important than the story itself is how it is told and by whom - who are some of your fav storytellers?

3. If you write or create stories yourself, what gets in your way?

4. Making these moodboards is v fun! What other topics would you want to see Sari and I make moodboards on?