LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 18 Each year, the Adirondack Center for Writing and North Country Public Radio organize low-cost, open mic storytelling competitions at over a dozen venues across the Northern New York region. The goal is for everyday people to discover the power of storytelling by getting on the mic to tell a true tale to a warm audi- ence, or by simply listening to others share. As the Howl Story Slam rounds out its 8th season this winter with the Grand Slam in Saranac Lake on January 25th, 2025, Adirondack Center for Writing's Nathalie Thill was asked to reflect on the genesis of this beloved community storytelling program, how it has grown since 2016, and what it means today. But before we jump into the history, an overview of the Howl Story Slam might be necessary, just in case you're one of the few people who haven't heard of it. Every Howl open mic welcomes, on average, about 75 people to the venue and roughly 10 storytellers to the stage. Two audience members are selected to serve as judges to score each story on its overall qual- ity, adherence to the night's theme, and time. Time is important: each storyteller only has five minutes to get the job done, and it must all come from memory (no reading from prepared remarks or notecards). Af- ter many laughs and often some tears, the night ends with the announcement of a winner and two runners up, all who are awarded prizes: Howl tote bags stuffed with swag from ACW and NCPR. But the best prize is given to the winner: an invitation to tell a story at the annual Grand Slam. In January, the winners of each of the local open mic slams compete against each other to be named the year's grand champion. We invite our twelve winners to a much bigger venue, alternating annually between Gulick Theatre on the campus of St. Lawrence Uni- versity in Canton and the Harrietstown Town Hall in Saranac Lake. Hundreds of attendees come out in the dead of winter to hear these stellar stories and see the champion crowned. The competition side makes things fun, but for ACW and NCPR, the true goal is the sharing of real stories by real people. Both organizations believe in the pow- er of storytelling–that to hear someone's narrative, told in their own voice, in their own words, brings us closer to our neighbors and makes us more empathet- ic toward one another. As one attendee of the Season 7 Grand Slam in Canton last January put it, "The thing I love most about the Howl is that it works as an empa- thy-building machine. One of the stories tonight made me cry, and I didn't know I needed that." One thing that makes The Howl special is that hosts Mitch Teich (NCPR) and Nathalie Thill (ACW) always open and close with stories of their own, the opener warming up the crowd and the closer wrapping up the evening with a final laugh while the judges deliberate. This helps our audience get to know our organizations in a deeper way and makes for an entertaining night with a smart and snappy flow. Nathalie will often find Adirondackers coming up to her in public to quote from her stories, proving that well-told stories stick with you long after they end. So, how did it all start? Here's Nathalie to tell the story: 25 years ago, at my job interview to work for the Adirondack Center for Writing, I pitched an idea to my board: an open mic where anyone could tell a story from their life, no notes, no props, no BS. The Adirondack region has a long legacy of traditional storytelling that focuses on memories of our past, but it occurred to me By Tyler Barton and Nathalie Thill Howl Story Slam: Amplifying Adirondack Voices Through the Power of Storytelling Nathalie Thill greets the audience at the Howl Grand Slam.

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