Tag: story

creativity

When writing feels like play

Christa Avampato
Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

Even though it’s Labor Day weekend, I’m laboring away at the outline for my University of Cambridge dissertation with the goal of having a single page of my literature review written and edited by the end of the day.

The weird and wonderful part of the work at this point is that it doesn’t feel like work at all, but play. Like a set of LEGO blocks, I’m linking the information and data to support the story, synthesizing everything I’ve learned after all this reading and note taking into a cohesive, communicable form that helps people and the planet.

I’m sure there will be rough spots along the way where I get jammed up on the journey. I’ve a long way to go over the next year. But for now, I’m excited to begin writing and using prose for purpose. Happy days.

creativity

Why we create art—inspired by the words of Scottish actor, Robbie Coltrane

Christa Avampato
Photo by Allison Batley on Unsplash

“50 years on, my children’s children will sit down to watch these [Harry Potter] films. Sadly, I won’t be here. But Hagrid will.” -Robbie Coltrane, Scottish actor

This is the most true thing I’ve ever read about art and the motivation of artists. It’s our chance to be immortal, to get down stories and put them out into the world. They will be here long after we’re gone. Someone will see them or read them or hear them and a part of us will be there. Our energy, our hopes, our dreams, our fears, our disappointments, our joy.

It will mean something to someone across space and time who we never had the honor to meet on this plane. And maybe they will feel less alone.

They will find in our art someone like them, someone who validates everything they’re feeling, someone who makes them feel seen and heard, who helps them see that they matter. Art is the gift that never stops giving. It becomes our home, in the truest sense of the word, the place where we will always belong.

This week we lost Robbie Coltrane, the actor who immortalized Hagrid, a character who is dear to so many of us. His memory lives on in his work and his art.

creativity

Joy today: On the passing of Toni Morrison

Christa Avampato
Toni Morrison taught me that prose can be poetry, that struggle can lead to freedom, that you get what you give in writing and life.

She gave me 2 priceless lessons: we all have time to write and never give up. As a single mom with 2 kids, Morrison wrote her first novel, The Bluest Eye, in 15-minute increments each day because that’s all the free time she had. It took her 5 years to write it.

She kept writing despite her novel’s low sales. 3 years later, her next novel, Sula, was nominated for the National Book Award. Her following novels received mixed reviews, but she remained determined.

In 1987, 17 years after publishing her 1st novel, she won the Pulitzer. If you have a dream project, work on it bit by bit. Don’t let critics sap the joy you get from your work. Toni Morrison lived her life with passion and unending grace. She taught me to keep writing.

You were the GOAT, Ms. Morrison. How lucky we are to forever inhabit your multitude of worlds through your gorgeous books. Rest in Power, because that is what you gave all of us—the power of our own language, our own stories. What a life. What a gift.

creativity

Joy Today: Hear about my love affair with science at New York City’s Story Collider

Christa Avampato

I’m over-the-moon about being part of the New York City Story Collider show, My Love Affair with Science, on Tuesday, February 5th at Caveat. I’ll be talking about my long and winding road of a relationship with science and how we got to where we are today. Tickets on sale now: https://www.storycollider.org/shows/2019/2/5/new-york-ny-my-love-affair-with-science

creativity

A Year of Yes: My book is almost one year old

Christa Avampato

My book, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, is almost 1 year old. A year ago today I launched the trailer. What a year it’s been! I can’t wait to share the next leg of her journey with you in Book 2. You can grab a copy of Book 1 here: emersonpage.com/shop

creativity

A Year of Yes: Starting a secret society in NYC

Christa Avampato

41852145_10104544950240096_8564755427831578624_oYou’ve always wanted to be in a secret society, right? These skeleton keys are your way in and I’m saving one just for you. To claim it, grab a ticket to New York City’s Secrets & Lies storytelling show at Caveat on October 9th w/ Zak Martellucci, Alex Taylor, Michele Carlo, Erin Leafe, and Julie Gaines. Tickets are available here: https://www.caveat.nyc/event/new-york-city’s-secrets-and-lies-10-9-2018. See you there!

 

creativity

A Year of Yes: Hannah Gadsby is a role model for storytellers

Christa Avampato

Like everyone else I know, I am riveted and inspired by Hannah Gadsby’s show, Nanette. (If you haven’t seen it, go to Netflix immediately. I will not at all be offended that you stop reading this blog post because she is genius.) Her words about storytelling are the ones that really got me, and they are powerful advice and wisdom for all of us, and particularly those of us who tell stories in any way, shape, or form.

“I think I have to quit comedy. Because there’s a difference between stories and jokes. Stories have 3 parts: a beginning, middle, and end. Jokes have 2: beginning and middle. You learn from the part of the story you focus on. I need to tell my story. My story has value. I will not allow my story to be destroyed. Stories are our cure.”

creativity

A Year of Yes: The healing power of stories

Christa Avampato

“The most daring thing to do is create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.” ~Kurt Vonnegut

Storytelling is a kind of medicine that heals by generating understanding, compassion, and curiosity. Listen to the stories of others and share yours. We are in this together.

creativity

A Year of Yes: Storytelling dinner with New York City secret history

Christa Avampato

This week, I got some very exciting news today about my storytelling dinner with New York City secret history, all inspired by my time in Ireland: my #1 choice for a museum partner is very interested! Friends, swing for those fences and make ’em high. You never know what you can do until you try.

creativity

A Year of Yes: NYC’s Secrets & Lies at Caveat is 1 week from today

Christa Avampato

What do rent control, an underground world in Brooklyn, a lady real estate mogul, women’s suffrage, and wild New York City teenagers have in common? They’re all a part of the NYC’s Secrets & Lies lineup at Caveat! Our storytelling show on Monday, June 18th at 7pm, features 4 wild but true stories about New York City history and 1 big lie. Guess the lie correctly, and you might just be the lucky winner of our amazing prize courtesy of our friends at Untapped Cities. I hope to see you there! Grab your tickets at http://caveat.nyc/event/new-york-citys-secrets-and-lies-3/.

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