Last night, I had a fancy consult with a big time storytelling guru about my TV pilot. It’s (very) loosely based on my life, and so with me as the main character, she’s asking casually, “What’s Alicia’s fatal flaw?” “What’s her deepest childhood wound?” “What’s her biggest dream?” The stakes: Read more…
TRAP 12: “GETTING SICK OF YOUR DAMN SELF“ YOU: Now that I’ve memorized my story, I am SICK and TIRED of it. Of myself, in fact. I’m afraid I’m indulgent, pretentious, un-funny. I want to quit! ME: Hurray! You’ve finally reached my favorite part. You’re sick of your ‘self’! Another Read more…
TRAP 11: FEAR OF FORGETTING YOU: “Ok, I’ll try to memorize my script, I’m so afraid I’ll forget my lines on stage.” ME: “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou “Once you’ve given it Read more…
Trap 10: “WINGIN’ IT” YOU: “I don’t really believe in memorizing and rehearsing. If I “over-rehearse” I’ll sound like a robot delivering lines, instead of a real human being… I’m more of a wing-it, improv-type person. It always goes better that way. If I can’t do that here, I’m out.” ME: Read more…
TRAP 9: YOU’RE STILL THE SAME YOU: Telling a story where nothing changes from the beginning to the end. ME: “You’re going to tell this story a lot of times. Some scientists say that our entire identity is a collection of memories. Repetition re-inscribes what is. So whatever truth you claim Read more…
TRAP 8: TMI TERROR YOU: “Am I really going to tell this story, in public? This is way too personal and vulnerable. Overshare! Not possible!” ME: “People like us for our good qualities, but they LOVE us for our flaws.” -Someone Wise “When we get especially vulnerable on stage, our Read more…
TRAP 7: “KITCHEN SINK-ING” YOU: “I have TOO MUCH to say! I can’t seem to fit everything I want to say in the time I have. People need to understand the entire picture of who I am, to really get me. Help!” ME: “If you want me to give you a Read more…
TRAP 6: “COMPARE AND CONTRAST“ YOU: “I feel a bit out of place here, being a professional comedian/speaker/actor (or other kind of professional). It’s not that I’m… better than you all, but I’m just not learning as much as I’d like to, being surrounded by, let’s face it, people struggling Read more…
TRAP 5: “COMPARE AND COMPLAIN“ YOU: (SECRETLY, INSIDE) “Maria is so good. Can I even compete with her brilliance/humor/presence? (I can’t.)” ME: “It’s so difficult for us to see our own gifts. We are literally blind to our own genius. Our brains evolved to escape from tigers and bears. That’s how Read more…
TRAP 4: “AUTHORITY FIGURE ISSUES” YOU: “I don’t like how you’re leading this workshop. I quit. (And I know it’s non-refundable, but can I have my money back?)” ME: “You may not like me, and you may find my leadership style irritating. I seem bossy and maybe you don’t like how Read more…