I asked you for questions you have about the Paris Storytelling Workshop I’m attending (and fundraising for) this summer and the first one was –

What Does Moth-Inspired Mean?

Typically in Portland, The Moth storytelling shows are in December. My husband and I usually go as a date.

The Moth is a non-profit organization that hosts live, true, personal storytelling – live and without notes or scripts.

The focus of the Moth is building community through bringing together storytellers and audiences.

Here is the Google AI breakdown of how The Moth works in communities:

• Live StorySLAMs: These are open-mic storytelling competitions where anyone can sign up to share a 5-minute story on a specific theme.
• The Moth Mainstage: This is a two-act show featuring a musical act and notable storytellers sharing true personal stories.
• The Moth Radio Hour: A Peabody Award-winning radio program that features stories from The Moth’s live events.
• The Moth Podcast: A podcast featuring stories from The Moth’s Mainstage, StorySLAM, and Community programs.
• Education Program: The Moth offers workshops and resources to teach the art and craft of storytelling to students and educators.
• MothWorks: This program uses the principles of Moth storytelling to help businesses and organizations use the power of storytelling.

What The Paris Moth-inspired Storytelling Workshop Offers

This workshop is “Moth-Inspired” because it is not directly sponsored by The Moth.

However, both instructors are well-seasoned and award-winning storytelling champions affiliated with The Moth.

Skills that we will learn include finding the universal truths hidden in out personal experiences, infusing stories with authenticity, humor, and emotional resonance, refining pacing, tone, and structure for maximum impact, and building confidence in my voice and performance style (yes, this is directly from the informational/application page, lol, but exactly the skills I need, nonetheless).

Why I’m Going Paris Moth-inspired Storytelling Workshop

Here are my word straight from my application ~

I want to change lives through harnessing the magic and power of storytelling.

Like many writers, I wrote a lot as a child, and those stories are quite entertaining.

It wasn’t until 2002 that I began to write to survive. At 29 weeks pregnant with my oldest child, I developed a rare pregnancy disease related to eclampsia. The only “cure” for this disease was to deliver my baby, and even then, chances were good that one of us might not make it.

My baby and I both lived. I felt shell-shocked. The only way I could process those events was to write about them.

Once I began writing about my traumatic experiences, I could not stop. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by my father, I had a lot to say about hope, perseverance, and resilience, along with knowledge and wisdom, from the perspective of a survivor who was determined to overcome her circumstances.

I realized that trauma and grief never go away, we simply cycle around and bump against them when encountering new experiences. I took that theory and my stories and wrote an award-winning book called, Caskets From Costco.

I have long been able to write a good story. Now I want to learn how to develop my raw talent and weave a story into something magical.

I have three primary reasons for wanting to hone my craft at the 2025 Paris Storytelling Workshop: improve my raw storytelling skills, build community, and engage with the future, as well as a fourth reason, which is purely bucket-list material.

The first is that I want to learn how to transfer the magic of the written word into storytelling, learning new skills, including pacing, tone, structure, and the elements of storytelling that I don’t even know are missing. While I see my authenticity, emotional resonance, and humor, I would love the opportunity to refine these raw talents in both my writing and storytelling.

The second reason is to build community. Trauma and grief need a witness. In these chaotic and uncertain times, community has become more essential than ever. The more communities, the better, from our neighborhoods to our towns, cities, states, and the world. As a writer who facilitates trauma and grief writing groups, I know that nothing can heal, connect, and build relationships like sharing tough stories. Trauma and grief experiences make up the bulk of stories that we need to share, and these stories can change the world.

This leads me to my third reason, which is to use the skills, knowledge, and wisdom that I learn at this workshop to help clients and community members tell their own stories for greater peace, healthier relationships, and stronger communities.

Finally, my fourth reason is to celebrate that in November 2024, I turned 50 years old. For my second act, I can’t think of a better gift to give myself than to spend time in the City of Lights, learning how to weave magic with like-minded instructors and students.

Yes, I Absolutely Plan to Perform With The Moth Someday…

And this will help me get there!

Let’s Change the World Together

You can be part of this adventure! I am currently accepting donations. Through GoFundMe and Venmo, current pledges and donations are up to $2045, which is about half of what I need.

• Gofundme – Donate here any amount helps!
• Venmo
• Info about the workshop

And, of course, please feel free to share!

Questions? Contact me at kelly@mapyourhealing.com

Thank you!

Ready to Tell Your Story? Let’s Chat ~

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