Dr. Thom Bristow, a big storyteller

There's a time and a place for stories;  They happen every day.
A magic time, a special place That's not so far away.

Storytellers believe in a chain reaction. When you tell a story, it starts something. You think of another story right away. A listener chimes in with his own story. Pretty soon, everyone is sharing moments of joy, sorrow, mystery, or success.

South Carolinians have engaged in an organized approach to storytelling for a long time. Six Storytelling Guilds from Greenville to Charleston meet regularly to hone their skills and share their narratives.

Until recently, Columbia was host to an active Storytellers Guild, providing entertainment and rich history throughout the Midlands.

Currently, the Storytelling Guild in Columbia has slowed to a feeble crawl, but some dedicated storytellers want to energize it again.

Will Sox, 2008 Middle School Division Torchbearer

Dr. Thom Bristow heads the Three Rivers Storytelling Guild as president and also as liaison to the National Storytelling Network. A family therapist and an educator, he believes fervently in the power of storytelling, which of course predates written history by thou- sands of years.

"I seek to touch the soul and the funny bone," is his stated goal. "The keys to human survival on this planet are good stories and a good sense of humor."

Dr. Bristow uses music to enhance his storytelling and has composed songs about the lore. He plays tenor guitar and has introduced a country character called Persimmon Plumbottom, giving voice to the oral history of the people of the backwoods.

Most of us think of children as listeners for our stories, but hearers of all ages can enjoy and learn from this time- honored tradition. "Any time we get together with family and friends, the same thing happens," points out Bristow. "Someone says, 'If I had not done that…" and the incident takes shape. Or, "I remember the time," or maybe, "Can you believe that this really happened!" The storyteller is off and running.

The Three Rivers Guild has worked with the South Carolina State Museum for a number of years to present a "Tellebration" each November. A nationally known storyteller is brought in to perform and to lead a workshop.

A Julyfest was tried once, and the guild learned quickly July is not a good time to gather listeners, as teachers, librarians and families are out of town.

Many schools have lost some of the funding that underwrote storyteller appearances. Dedicated storytellers still want to bring their special brand of entertainment and education to the school or library or community clubs.

Youth storytellers are an important branch of this endeavor. Each year, the National Youth Storytelling Showcase is held at Pigeon Forge, Tennesse, during the Smoky Mountain Storytelling Festival. Will Sox, 12- years- old of West Columbia, won the highest award for his age group, the Middle School Division Torchbearer in 2008. Over the past six years, several from South Carolina have won this competition.

Research shows that when a child engages in storytelling it can lead to better writing and reading. Young or old, experienced or beginning, or maybe just curious, anyone can take part in this ancient tradition, and the Three RiversStorytellers welcome all.

Want to learn more about the Three Rivers Storytelling Guild? Contact Dr. Thom Bristow at 803 - 772 - 9458, 208 Middlesex Road, Columbia SC 29210. SC.

Storytellingnetwork.org