In our final installment of our spring podcast season, we use Shana Kelly’s LTYM Boulder 2019 story, “Goodnight Noises, Everywhere” as a vehicle for exploring components of a great story.
A non-traditional narrative arc: Because of the unique structure of this piece, Shana’s narrative arc is different than the typical formula—and it totally works.
Humor is the driving force of this piece, but Shana weaves in vulnerability and a relatable, universal motherhood theme to tie it all together.
A highlight of this story is Shana showcasing a variety of children’s books, using clever and hilarious “voices” to narrate, and providing a satirical dissection of classic childhood literature. The result is a fresh, original take on a motherhood story that the audience loved.
Jenn’s narrative voice is clear and strong—she shows us her imperfections and vulnerability with humor and honesty. She demonstrates to the audience that she doesn’t take herself too seriously, which makes us trust her and feel invested in her experience.
The balance of inner and outer story is different in this piece than the others we’ve discussed, but it’s essential that the audience has something relatable to hold onto as a takeaway, and Shana delivers that clearly by bookending her story with a discussion on creating “perfect moments” as a mother.
This story starts strong with a clear hook and when we return to the opening theme again at the end, rounding it out with a perfect resolution, we can easily see how the narrator has transformed throughout the essay.
Listen to Your Mother Boulder | Sun, May 4th
Will you be there?
📅 Sunday, May 4th, 4:00 PM
📍 FUMC in Boulder, CO
🎟️ Get tickets & info here.
Or catch the livestream here.
Meet the amazing cast here.
🙏 Thank you to Listen to Your Mother show Sponsor, South Boulder Pediatric Dentistry
Want to learn a little more about what goes into crafting a good essay? We’ve got you.
We are excited to host another personal essay writing workshop after the spring LTYM show!
Join us for From Page to Stage on May 28th from 6-9 for an intimate workshop where we give you all the tools and support to write your story. You can read all the details here.
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