Inviting the Wolf In

I bought Inviting the Wolf In, by Loren Niemi and Elizabeth Ellis, because of the title. I recommend the book because it addresses so well its subtitle: Thinking about Difficult Stories.

A difficult story is one whose content makes it challenging to tell or uncomfortable to hear. It may be yours or someone else's. The tone of this book is so thoughtful, as in, well thought-out, and so compassionate and honest, that it's a comfort, even as it's pushing the reader to step into emotionally scary stuff. It's not flippant. It's not preachy.

It's also practical. The authors walk you through the concept of emotional arc, which is different than plot; structural elements, including comedy; self-censorship; and issues like trust, permission, and ownership.

The authors acknowledge that a story may be told in writing or another art form, but their background is in oral storytelling. In the book, you'll substitute "reader" when they say "listener"; the principles of storytelling are the same.

Even though I bought this at a going-out-of-business sale at a warehouse book kind of place ($1!), the book is still in print and well worth whatever price you pay.

category: reading