From Audience to Zeal: The ABCs of Finding, Crafting, and Telling a Great Story Kindle Edition

If you are making a care package for a storyteller who is just starting out on their journey, put this book in it. If you are a storyteller who has been traveling for a while, take a break and read this book. Either way, it has a lot to offer, and it is as heartwarming a starting gift as it is a reminder of why we do what we do.Laura Packer is an experienced, knowledgeable, honest storyteller, who is sharing her experiences generously in this volume. In short, A-to-Z thematic chapters, she touches on a variety of issues - practical (how to write a contract), ethical (what to do about cultural appropriation), philosophical (the role of storytellers in the world), scientific (how storytelling affects the human brain), and personal (why we are very lucky to have a calling like this). She includes example stories, personal anecdotes, and a good deal of humor. She approaches touchy subjects with integrity, honesty, and a no-nonsense attitude. As a storyteller, she is unique: She is not only one of the rare artists that craft their own tales from scratch (sometimes called "new trad" storytelling), but she has also been doing this on a very high artistic level for a long time, pushing boundaries with fearless creativity and active kindness. Her creative process is admirable, and she openly explains the details of why and how she does what she does, offering her knowledge to help other tellers. She also talks in detail about working with fairy tales, personal stories, and historical narratives, making the book diverse, and a very useful source for storytellers who are thinking about branching out into genres they have not tried before.I have been a storyteller for 13 years, and I adore this book. It says a lot of things that need to be said, and said repeatedly; it acknowledges storytelling as art, craft, calling, and profession. It stresses the importance of kindness, dedication, and personal connection. It speaks wisely and eloquently to other tellers, listeners, and curious readers alike. It is a great introduction to storytelling, and also a drink of fresh water for every time we get too lost in the details of what we do. Excellent book. We are lucky to have it.

A superb and invaluable resource for professional, amateur and aspiring storytellers alike from acclaimed master storyteller Laura Packer. Written in an approachable, intimate style, designed to be accessed topically, with entries ranging from business-related (bookings, contracts, intellectual property, sourcing, venues) to creative (fracturing stories, imagery and imagination, story triangle) to technique (accents, improvisation, movement and gesture, sensory detail) to self-care for the artist (resilience, voice and vocal care, boundaries) to general advice for performers and good humans (kindness, gratitude, respect) but equally worth a cover-to-cover read. This is a wealth of knowledge and hard-earned experience from a gifted working storyteller with a diverse career.

Brilliant storyteller, writer and story coach Laura Packer has organized a treasure of knowledge, insight and skill. Any artist can appreciate her ethics and sense of community, and her deep generosity in sharing so much of herself in this book. This is a masterclass that's accessible to a beginner and to a master of the craft, without a wasted word. While it's dense, it's also beautifully written and readable; because of this you will enjoy it the second and third time through. No matter what kind of storytelling you do this is a needful reference on performance, professionalism and the craft of telling in every form.

Laura Packer’s new book, "Audience to Zeal" delightfully covers subject areas of storytelling that we have all encountered, and many we have never even thought about. This is a great thing for storytellers, to encounter concepts that keep us focused, constantly learning and on-our-toes. She covers “dialogue” and also “death” and not only “movement” but “monsters”. She does this all with the knowledge and “tenderness” (another chapter) that separates her as a great coach and caring friend. Most chapters in this book are short, easy-to-read gems of knowledge gleaned from a lifetime of storytelling and story study. This book is a clear treatise on storytelling, inspired by all the letters of the alphabet. A treasure for both beginners and seasoned tellers who may understand “blocks” but, perhaps, have never thought about how “baggage” affects their storytelling. :: - Mark Goldman , Storyteller and Author.

Laura’s book is absolutely incredible. Not only does she cover so many of the essentials that tellers need to know about crafting good work, but she includes necessary and complex topics too. This is a book I plan on recommending to my students who are new to storytelling, but also to my own mentors and teachers of the craft. If you are looking for a way to grow your storytelling, look no further.Now, I should admit that Laura is one of my teachers. Many of these topics (for example: vulnerability, abundance, storyseeds) are things that I have read or heard from her before. In the book, she expands on them. For those areas, it felt like Laura was nurturing my relationship with storytelling, as if to say, “Remember this? This is important, and you can connect it to what you are working on now.” I’ll add that for those familiar areas, the book felt like I had my own reference guide to Laura’s mind -- “What did Laura tell me about abundance in our coaching session? Oh, it was something like this.”For other topics -- such as Fracturing Stories -- that’s not something I do in my work. It was really a delight to have the guidance of an expert and trusted teacher on these things. Laura’s book has built my confidence to experiment more with my stories. I have her guidelines, and her loving, supportive way of crafting the work.This is not the only time I will read the book, certainly. I plan on dipping back into it as I am teaching new classes, crafting new stories, and preparing for new gigs. I feel blessed to call Laura one of my teachers. So if you are reading this and you want to learn from her work, buy this book.

As an improviser, writer and performer, I have come to rely on Laura's insight, coaching and tutelage to take my performance to levels I didn't think possible. If you can't manage to work with Laura in person, this book is the very next best thing. I can't recommend it higher.