Next Tuesday is the Tall Tales Competition at our club. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to participate in any contest I’m eligible for so when the first competition was announced, I threw my name in the hat.
On the one hand I was excited. On the other hand, I thought, “Now I have to think of a Tall Tale! I probably haven’t read, let alone written one, since the seventh grade… Rats!”
So what did I do next? I caused myself a whole lot of stress at the idea of having to write a speech. And I worried about it for a few weeks without sitting down to write a single word.
Luckily, after one of our Tuesday meetings I took a second to talk to Jon Henry about all the trouble I was having coming up with a concept.
He gave me this little tidbit: take a single experience from your own life, whether it’s childhood or parenthood or whatever, and exaggerate it like crazy.
I thought, “Bingo! I can do that.” The next day as I was sitting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, I pulled out my computer and started typing.
At first, I began describing an event that happened to me in Middle School. Slowly but surely that story morphed into a complete Tall Tale.
I should not have been surprised when the final story came rushing through my fingers onto the keyboard. After nine speeches, I ought to know by now that that’s my process.
If I will just sit down to do the work, the work will get done. Duh.
I don’t know if I’ve written the winning Tall Tale, but I do know I’m glad I’m in the contest and I’ve had a lot of fun making up a silly story. Thanks, Jon!
Missy, great job. Its wonderful to have this resource to share insight and seek assistance. Thanks for tackling this project