Hello & Welcome.

Welcome to my website and my first blog post!

 I wanted to take some time to write about my journey to this path and to explain more about what exactly a Storyteller is.

To introduce myself, hello! My name is Selina. I’m an Apprentice Storyteller, writer and creative producer currently living and working in Scotland. I am originally from Ireland and spent many childhood holidays crossing the Irish Sea to visit relatives in Scotland, an activity which has given me a great love of the water and the beautiful coastlines on either side.

Background

 My own background is in History and Law. I studied History because, as I told many people at the time, I love stories. Often the truth is stranger than fiction and there is something magical about discovering a story of someone you never knew, walking in their footsteps through their life.

I studied Law to find out more about myself, and it definitely worked. The stories and symbols around our strongest and most important institutions are very powerful and I learnt a lot about their place in our society and in our minds. These opportunities have shaped my understanding of stories and have helped develop me into the Apprentice Storyteller I am today.

Apprentice Storyteller

I am currently developing my practice as an Apprentice Storyteller. The Apprentice Storyteller Scheme is run through the Scottish Storytelling Centre based in Edinburgh. It is a beautiful place, in the historic medieval building just within the old city’s boundaries where John Knox himself spent his final days.

I highly recommend for anyone visiting the city, both for the history and the lovely centre which runs many Storytelling events. The café is also great, offering Haggis, Neeps & Tatties to newcomers from Edinburgh wishing to try Scottish delicacies.

As an Apprentice Storyteller, I take part in seminars and other events through the centre to develop my skills, as well as developing my practise independently. This involves short initial storytelling sessions to introduce clients to the medium and to develop my storytelling muscles, so to speak.

The Oral Tradition

The oral storytelling tradition is an ancient one, practised around the world and continued to this day in a myriad of different forms. I believe it is an important and essential part of human experience, from a quiet fairy-tale at a child’s bedside, to a lively anecdote in the pub. We all communicate through stories, whether personal, jokey or dramatic, no matter where we’re from. By hearing more stories, from more places, we learn about our differences and our similarities while also hopefully enjoying ourselves in the process.

I am looking forward to taking on the mantle of this ancient and variable craft to explore it myself and hopefully to introduce more people to the beauty and fun included in Storytelling.

Come along for the journey and I hope you enjoy exploring the world of Storytelling with me.