So, what’s the upcoming writing project all about, you ask? Well, it’s sorta like…

Have you ever experienced this? (What am I saying? If you’re even remotely human, then of course you’ve experienced this! Uh… you are human, aren’t you?)

You’re socializing around the water cooler (or whatever passes for this particular social activity these days), or gathered with a group of friends over, well, let’s assume it’s coffee, OK? (You still have to drive home, you know.) Everyone is having a great time, and one of you has just related a strange, funny, sad or otherwise engaging story about something that happened to them, or maybe to someone they know.

Now, as they’re telling the story, inevitably your mind is busily making all kinds of associations and connections. Suddenly, a memory pops into your mind – related in some way to the story you just heard. In fact, you can’t wait to tell it. In no time, your social gathering turns into a sortof story-telling tag-team smackdown.  Everyone sharing their stories, and each one is connected in some way with one of the previous ones. (Come to think of it, it’s like a rapid-fire blog, don’t you think?)

Surely it’s happened to all of us, right? (Yes, I know - don’t call you Shirley.) After all, it’s a big part of the enjoyment we get out of casual interaction with others. True, some folks are just better storytellers, but that’s not really as important as the fact that the story gets told.

Oh, didn’t you know? Stories passed from person to person are a major source of all cultural norms. That’s right; the sobering truth is that you might accidentally be responsible for teaching someone else how to act in a certain situation! Quite a responsibility, don’t you think? (It brings to mind the words of that immortal philosopher, Scooby-Do: “Ruh-Roh!”)

Of course, it can go too far. I mean, you know who I’m talking about, right? The one who, no matter how dramatic, how outrageous, how funny your story is – they always have one to top it. But here’s where we change the focus, and answer your original question (thought I’d forgotten about it, didn’t you?) This project isn’t about one-upmanship.

Surprise! This time, it’s all about YOU! Are you further intrigued? Good! Stay tuned… there’s more to come…

Don’t forget – the project kickoff is on Tuesday, May 1. Mark your calendars; set your alarms; schedule your wake-up calls. It’ll be great! (Of course, you don’t have to wait until then, you know; stop by anytime.)