<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Storytelling Connections, LLC]]></title><description><![CDATA[Enhancing people's lives by entertaining audiences with stories, educating people to tell stories, and expanding storytelling traditions.  ]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2026 20:55:15 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.clintonbatwater.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Ruminations of a Raconteur - October 26, 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ruminations of a Raconteur October 25, 2026 Monsters, Moonshine, and a Front Porch Built for One Night Last night I stood on a front porch that hadn't existed a week ago and told a room full of strangers about a creature that wanted its tail back.   The occasion was Monsters &#38; Moonshine, a brand-new Appalachian storytelling competition at The June Bug Center in Floyd, Virginia. Seven storytellers from across the region took turns on a porch built just for the night, competing for the...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/ruminations-of-a-raconteur-october-26-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6ade6fd8ba91b6fb751ae7e2</guid><category><![CDATA[Newsletter]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 25 Oct 2026 21:08:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_ab77a43fab264f7b90ec8f56d2b2fadd~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_851,h_315,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let Me Tell Ya! September Guild Meeting]]></title><description><![CDATA[Join Us: Let Me Tell Ya! — September Storytelling Guild A free monthly virtual gathering for storytellers of all levels — share your work and get warm feedback. Tuesday, September 8th, 7:00–8:00 PM EDT Join us for our monthly virtual gathering — storytellers sharing their latest work and getting honest, generous feedback from a community that wants to see you succeed. We give feedback along three simple, supportive prompts: What did I like? Where did I get hung up? What did I want more of?...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/let-me-tell-ya-september-guild-meeting</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a9cb8be3b36b5909cb0cb2f</guid><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:56:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_4afe15d13c5146868017d4f5ad80a1ae~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Living Story: Session 3 - The Storyteller's Presence]]></title><description><![CDATA[Your Body Is Part of the Story A preview of The Living Story, Session 3 — Sunday, June 28th There's a moment in every great story when you stop being an audience and become a participant. Your pulse shifts. You lean forward slightly. You forget, for a beat, that you're sitting in a chair. That moment isn't accidental. It's engineered — by voice, by body, by the invisible chemistry that moves between a storyteller and the room. And once you understand how it works, you can never unhear it....]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/the-living-story-session-3-the-storyteller-s-presence</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a25c816bcf454bfefd93d9b</guid><pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 19:44:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_6eb628158ca44a2ebd3f7d252543f0eb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Living Story: Session 2 - Breathing Life into Characters]]></title><description><![CDATA[Something is happening to your character next Sunday.  The Living Story: Session 2 — Breathing Life into Characters is a 75-minute virtual workshop where you'll give your character a body, a voice, a wound, and a will.  Through archetype work, improv, and our signature Hot Seat exercise, you'll stop describing your character — and start becoming them.  Sunday, May 31 · 4:00–5:15 PM ET · Virtual  No performance experience needed. Just bring a character.  Register at the link below — and before...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/the-living-story-session-2-breathing-life-into-characters</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a11da7a8fa816dacc8159dd</guid><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 16:56:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_6eb628158ca44a2ebd3f7d252543f0eb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Legacy in Words - Storytelling Workshop]]></title><description><![CDATA[I've been talking about doing this for a long time. And now, I'm finally doing it. I am thrilled — and honestly, a little emotional — to invite you to my very first storytelling workshop. It's called Legacy in Words: Crafting Personal and Family Stories, and it is the first installment in a series I've been quietly building called The Living Story: From Memory to Legacy. This series is close to my heart in a way that's hard to put into words — though of course, that's exactly what we'll be...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/legacy-in-words-storytelling-workshop</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e95a76ab5395dde607058a</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:38:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_b5945efa1d054339a898ff6afb44b671~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your Story Deserves to Be Heard]]></title><description><![CDATA[Have you ever had a story bubbling up inside you but weren't quite sure how to shape it? You're not alone — and that's exactly why Let Me Tell Ya! Storytelling Guild  exists. Join us for our next virtual guild meeting on Tuesday, April 14th from 7:00–8:30 PM EDT . Whether you're a seasoned storyteller or someone who's never shared in front of a group, this is your safe, encouraging space to find your voice. Here's how it works: members share stories in development (5–7 minutes,...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/your-story-deserves-to-be-heard</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69dd796ec31b00fb85152b98</guid><pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:20:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_bb38104aa15849409aea5caa6cd6704e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_783,h_529,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let Me Tell Ya!  "Paws Up, Pet Lovers"]]></title><description><![CDATA[An online story swap where the tales are hilarious, the moments are heartwarming, and every pet is the star. Got a pet story that still makes you laugh out loud? One that brings happy tears every time you tell it? This is your moment. On Tuesday, March 31, at 7 PM EDT, storytellers and pet lovers everywhere are gathering online for Let Me Tell Ya! "PAWS UP, PET LOVERS" — a virtual story swap dedicated entirely to our furry, feathered, and fin-tastic friends. Whether your dog once ate an...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/let-me-tell-ya-paws-up-pet-lovers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c971b7fcaccefbd360a704</guid><pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:50:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_668decccf7504497a118ccac3ec7252d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_851,h_315,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[I'm Performing in a Free Improv Comedy Show - Come and Watch!]]></title><description><![CDATA[After 8 weeks of improv comedy training, it's showtime! Join me for a free Improv Comedy Graduation Showcase at the June Bug Center in Floyd, VA — Friday, March 27 at 7 PM. No scripts, no safety net, all laughs.]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/i-m-performing-in-a-free-improv-comedy-show-come-and-watch</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c1b680adda444fefaf5bfd</guid><pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:24:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_38b0891ca7d047c2829bca9d814869fd~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Practice Makes the Story: Why the Let Me Tell Ya! Guild Matters]]></title><description><![CDATA[I'll confess something: I've gotten lazy. Not with my storytelling performances—I still show up, tell my tales, and connect with audiences. But with my practice? That's another story entirely. I've become so comfortable with many of my pieces that I've stopped putting in the rehearsal time they deserve. I know my stories well enough to get by, and somewhere along the way, "well enough" became enough. Then I recently listened to a February 2019 episode of Conversations with Storytellers  where...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/practice-makes-the-story-why-the-let-me-tell-ya-guild-matters</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6988ea4d43ec5706c434caac</guid><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 20:06:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_4afe15d13c5146868017d4f5ad80a1ae~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Escape the Winter Storm: Warm Your Heart with Stories at Let Me Tell Ya! Story Swap]]></title><description><![CDATA[Is the winter weather getting you down? Trade the cold for warmth this Tuesday night—not the kind that comes from a fireplace, but the kind that comes from shared human experience. Join us for Let Me Tell Ya! Story Swap  on Tuesday, January 27th at 7 PM ET  for our special "New Year, Old Story"  event. While the winter storm rages outside, settle into your favorite cozy spot and connect virtually with fellow story lovers for an evening of nostalgia, reflection, and heartwarming tales. Looking...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/escape-the-winter-storm-warm-your-heart-with-stories-at-let-me-tell-ya-story-swap</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6977f9446e1e6fddb81a3710</guid><pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:41:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_39c0bffb6870415e9d4f32656fed8649~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_851,h_315,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your Story Deserves Witnesses: Join the Let Me Tell Ya! Storytelling Guild]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here's what we've learned over countless guild meetings: that story you've been hesitating to share? The one you think is "just a random Tuesday" or "probably boring"? It's almost certainly more powerful than you realize. That moment that still makes you pause when you're driving alone. That memory you've told exactly twice—once to your best friend and once to yourself at 2 AM. That turning point you've never quite found the words for. The Let Me Tell Ya! Storytelling Guild exists for exactly...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/your-story-deserves-witnesses-join-the-let-me-tell-ya-storytelling-guild-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696592f1f5f67715567557cf</guid><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:35:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_bb38104aa15849409aea5caa6cd6704e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_783,h_529,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your Story Deserves Witnesses: Join the Let Me Tell Ya! Storytelling Guild]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here's what we've learned over countless guild meetings: that story you've been hesitating to share? The one you think is "just a random Tuesday" or "probably boring"? It's almost certainly more powerful than you realize. That moment that still makes you pause when you're driving alone. That memory you've told exactly twice—once to your best friend and once to yourself at 2 AM. That turning point you've never quite found the words for. The Let Me Tell Ya! Storytelling Guild exists for exactly...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/your-story-deserves-witnesses-join-the-let-me-tell-ya-storytelling-guild</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69658fe5f1ba376a5bbd682d</guid><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:28:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_bb38104aa15849409aea5caa6cd6704e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_783,h_529,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Happy New Year from Storytelling Connections!]]></title><description><![CDATA[As we turn the page on 2025 and step into the fresh possibilities of 2026, I find myself reflecting on the power of stories—the ones we tell, the ones we live, and the ones we've yet to discover. There's something beautifully symbolic about New Year's resolutions. We craft narratives about who we want to become, setting intentions that shape our personal stories for the months ahead. This year, I invite you to consider a resolution that connects you more deeply with others: improving your...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/happy-new-year-from-storytelling-connections</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69566b995d8d95362e15e7d9</guid><pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:52:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_ea61ff248a6d481db6e8d3eb7bed2fe4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_851,h_315,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your Story Deserves to Be Heard—Let Me Tell Ya! Guild Meets Tonight]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here's what we've learned over countless guild meetings: that story you've been hesitating to share? The one you think is "just a random Tuesday" or "probably boring"? It's almost certainly more powerful than you realize. That moment that still makes you pause when you're driving alone. That memory you've told exactly twice—once to your best friend and once to yourself at 2 AM. That turning point you've never quite found the words for. The Let Me Tell Ya! Storytelling Guild exists for exactly...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/your-story-deserves-to-be-heard-let-me-tell-ya-guild-meets-tonight</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6937c0a41d422bb0eb1aaf6e</guid><pubDate>Tue, 09 Dec 2025 06:43:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_bb38104aa15849409aea5caa6cd6704e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_783,h_529,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Before the Turkey: A Pre-Thanksgiving Story Swap You Won't Forget]]></title><description><![CDATA[The countdown to Thanksgiving is on. You're planning menus, prepping guest rooms, and mentally preparing for family dynamics. But before the big day arrives, we invite you to join us for a different kind of preparation—one that involves laughter, vulnerability, and stories you've been dying to tell. This Tuesday, November 25th, just two days before Thanksgiving, let's gather for something completely different from your typical holiday prep. Introducing "Bottoms Up or Out": A Let Me Tell Ya!...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/before-the-turkey-a-pre-thanksgiving-story-swap-you-won-t-forget</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69238b4056b819e3fb94221b</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Nov 2025 22:39:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_69be88ba9dcd4df5a03341443013539c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_392,h_315,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bottoms Up or Out: The Story Swap Where Nothing Is Off Limits]]></title><description><![CDATA[Bottoms Up or Out: Let's Talk About the Room Nobody Mentions Let's talk about the room nobody discusses at dinner parties—but everyone has stories about. You know the one. The gas station bathroom in the middle of nowhere. The porta-potty incident at the music festival. That time you walked into the wrong restroom. The door that wouldn't lock. The automatic flush with a mind of its own. We've all been there. We've all had that moment of panic, confusion, or pure mortification. And you know...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/bottoms-up-or-out-the-story-swap-where-nothing-is-off-limits</link><guid isPermaLink="false">691a038a560695af7d2e5de5</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 17:16:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_bb38104aa15849409aea5caa6cd6704e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_783,h_529,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Stories We Almost Forgot to Tell]]></title><description><![CDATA[There's something about October that makes stories stir. Maybe it's the season of transformation—the trees letting go of what they've held all year. Perhaps that's an invitation for us to release the stories we've been keeping tucked away. Your "Ordinary" Story Is Probably Extraordinary Here's what we've learned: that anecdote you think is "too small" to matter? It's probably remarkable in ways you can't yet see. That memory that makes you laugh every time? It deserves to be heard by more...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/the-stories-we-almost-forgot-to-tell</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68edb025fd59c61d91b60013</guid><pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 02:19:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_bb38104aa15849409aea5caa6cd6704e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_783,h_529,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Get Ready to Be Captivated: Let Me Tell Ya! Stories of Engagement]]></title><description><![CDATA[Let Me Tell Ya! Sept. Story Swap "Stories of Engagement" When:  Tuesday, September 23 · 7:00 - 8:30 PM EDT / 6:00 - 7:30 PM CDT / 4:00 -...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/get-ready-to-be-captivated-let-me-tell-ya-stories-of-engagement</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68d1eb8ba30359f10dd1bf1d</guid><pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:44:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_cf7f7d4d0e744cbd9e20e0fec5010aca~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_377,h_250,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Alchemy of Story: Where Raw Memories Become Golden Narratives]]></title><description><![CDATA[In the sacred space between telling and listening, transformation happens. There's a moment every storyteller knows intimately—that...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/the-alchemy-of-story-where-raw-memories-become-golden-narratives</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68bf69c051377663b72ef9b6</guid><pubDate>Mon, 08 Sep 2025 23:47:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_bb38104aa15849409aea5caa6cd6704e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_783,h_529,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pack Your Stories: "Just 'Plane' Stories" Awaits Your Travel Tales]]></title><description><![CDATA[There's a universal truth about travel: the best stories rarely happen when everything goes according to plan. It's in those moments of...]]></description><link>https://www.clintonbatwater.com/post/pack-your-stories-just-plane-stories-awaits-your-travel-tales</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68ab4646855527eea2cd9c8c</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 Aug 2025 17:11:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d9f477_a006c3b33b934bdb945c739198184d70~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_402,h_277,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Clinton Atwater</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>