Class prepares speakers for storytelling event
Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 1 week, 1 day AGO
Do you have an amusing and/or inspiring personal experience story you’d like to share with friends and story fans?
Flathead Story Concerts curators Glenn and Barbara Schiffman seek new local storytellers to coach via an upcoming spring Flathead Valley Community College course and live public events.
In March, they return to the college’s Continuing Education program with a new edition of their story-crafting course, "Public Speaking for Storytellers." It covers a four-part structure for creating 7-minute (1,000 words) personal essays — like those heard on The Moth Radio Hour or PBS’s “Stories From the Stage” TV series. Students will also learn and practice easy public speaking skills to make their live-told stories memorable.
National Tell-A-Story Day 2026 is being celebrated on April 27. Save the date to join the 2026 spring students as they share new personal stories with Flathead neighbors at a free public “story concert.” Information is available at FlatheadStoryConcerts.wootick.com
To be included in the event, students need to attend the FVCC class on March 21, April 11 and April 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. where the Schiffmans will guide and coach them to craft and practice their personal stories. Class is limited to 10. Cost is $149. Previous writing or public speaking experience is not required. Pre-register at FVCC Continuing Education at campusce.fvcc.edu/fvcc/course/course.aspx?catId=18
“Our desire to support storytelling in the Flathead expanded after our 2023 Story Day event at FVCC,” recalls Barbara, a Hollywood pitch coach who previously co-founded the first Toastmasters club for writers. “Everyone who attended wanted more live events. Since then, hundreds of listeners have heard true stories from the local tellers we’ve coached for our Flathead Story Concerts held at FVCC, local libraries and Sacred Waters Brewing.”
Glenn has told stories from his 1970s rock ’n’ roll trucker years and other wild experiences at live story events in Spokane, Los Angeles and the Flathead, including CRYJ’s annual “Not Your Average Love Story” fundraisers.
For info on the spring “Public Speaking for Storytellers” course at FVCC or Flathead Story Concerts 2026 events, email the Schiffmans at [email protected] or visit FlatheadStoryConcerts.wootick.com