Grateful for the friendship & stunning talent of the vivacious Julie Amlin www.julieamlin.ca #muralist #streetart #julieamlinart #painting

That your journey may have started in a place of darkness does not preclude you from revealing your beauty to a world that needs it.

Why are you telling me this story? I don’t know… yet. I rarely start a story with a mission or agenda. Rather, the story simply begins to reveal itself, & the “why” eventually appears. The “why” then helps me hone the message. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing

#Escape may be part of my #healing #journey but inevitably, it is only the first part. Healing requires more than simply escaping injury.

VELOUTE presents: An Evening at the Palace (Pier) welcomes seasoned storyteller Maddy Sedgewick Join us on Sun, Aug 16 for “I’ll drink to that” when Maddy weaves a personal tale to keep you spellbound Tickets available at: www.showpass.com/veloute-presents-august/ #storytelling #TorontoEvents

The most terrifying foe in any story is the truth a character refuses to acknowledge & accept. In the end, the #characters must choose to be defined by that truth or their fear of it. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing

Keep your chin up! You could be a herring.

Regularly, you want to force your #characters to see their worlds & others in a new way. Whether you provide new insights or put truth to a lie, these turning points offer them a chance to make things right & evolve. Their choices reveal who they are. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing

VELOUTE presents: An Evening at the Palace (Pier) welcomes storyteller extraordinaire Ronit Rubinstein Join us on Sun, Aug 16 for “I’ll drink to that” when Ronit shares a personal tale of celebration & good-bye Tickets at: www.showpass.com/veloute-presents-august/ #storytelling #TorontoEvents

Think a community is underrepresented? Represent them. Help share their stories. Do your homework. Ask questions. Understand. And remember that community members are individuals, not stereotypes, each with a unique story & perspective. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing

Looking for an air-conditioned night of hot #truetales from the coolest #storytellers in Toronto? TONIGHT, @replaystorytelling.com completes its season with FULL CIRCLE! Live & live-stream tickets at: www.replaystorytelling.com/tickets #storytelling #TorontoEvents @paulaflalo.bsky.social

Many live their lives in cages, & for many of those, in cages of their own making. Freedom is a personal choice, but it is a hard choice because with #freedom comes #responsibility for my own #happiness.

“I have never been more satisfied & excited as a writer as I was when I wrote the last four words: “Fade out. THE END.” I felt like I came in first at the finish line. I actually raised my hands in the air – like I was ready to stand on the podium.” – student sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling

VELOUTE presents: An Evening at the Palace (Pier) introduces our emcee Randall C Willis Join us Sun, Aug 16 for “I’ll drink to that” when Randall shares a rollicking tale of two weddings & a pub crawl! Tickets now at: www.showpass.com/veloute-presents-august #storytelling #TorontoEvents

There is a world of difference between conveying information & conveying meaning. Where knowledge can come with facts, understanding is only possible with message. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing #communications

Forget the myth of using 10% of your brain. Why are you only using 1% of your #vocabulary? Vivid pictures demand vivid words. Each word choice brings your #story subtlety & nuance. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing #communications

VELOUTE presents: An Evening at the Palace (Pier) introduces our hosts Chef Fawzi Kotb & Alise Matos Join us when Toronto’s best #storytellers bring us heartfelt & funny tales of the events we celebrate & the beverages that lubricate our joy! Tickets: www.showpass.com/veloute-presents-august

That your voice is coarse makes you no less a songbird. Whatever your song, sing!

One of the hardest things to accept as a #storyteller & #writer is that I have no control over how my words are received. I can only convey my message fully & efficiently, knowing that others will interpret my words through a lens of their own making. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling

What exactly is… VELOUTE presents: An Evening at the Palace (Pier)? Six heartfelt & funny #stories from the best Toronto #storytellers Complimentary charcuterie Cash bar of wines, beer & cocktails. Our next show is Sun, Aug 16 @ 7pm Tickets & info at: www.showpass.com/veloute-presents-august

Are you looking for a 100% foolproof method to never fail as a #writer? Guaranteed results with no effort! Stop #writing now!* The only way to guarantee you will never fail is to never try at all! * I hear pickleball is fun. Or maybe canasta? sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #creativity

The earliest rounds of #rewriting anything are effectively #writing #adaptations of the previous draft. It’s not about tweaking the earlier version to make it work so much as discovering the story within the draft & committing that version to paper. Repeat. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling

To enter the #TCCFF2026 Short Film Competition, does my film need to be: Set in Toronto? Canadian? Chinese? NO! 5 Submission categories ◦ 5 Finalists per category ◦ $11,500 in cash prizes Submit your #shortfilm or #shortdoc now: filmfreeway.com/TorontoChineseCanadianFilmFestival #filmfest

Wonderful memories of presenting former Toronto Marlies captain Rich Clune with a painting by Anthony Jenkins (www.jenkinsdraws.com). The painting was auctioned to raise money for mental health research and services at Toronto’s CAMH & was generously gifted to Clune by two other Marlies fans.

“The Virgin must answer the question: Who do I know myself to be & what do I want to do in the world, separate from what everyone else wants of me? Her journey is toward psychological independence.” -- Kim Hudson, The Virgin’s Promise sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing #characters

Never going to stop doing my thing until the final curtain drops (if even then). #perseverence #storytelling #writing #passion

The only way through writer’s block is literally going through it by #writing … ANYTHING! Write without purpose & a purpose will soon appear. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #fear #process @ce-gbpolytech.bsky.social @gbpolytech.bsky.social

The power of #dialogue comes not just in the words that are spoken. The power is also conveyed in the words that remain unspoken, in the silences that are held, & in the reactions of those who hear the words. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing @ce-gbpolytech.bsky.social

Why would anybody want to listen to my story? Beyond entertainment, an audience seeks connection, & that comes through shared experiences & more importantly, shared feelings. We are different but your story tells me that we are not alone. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing

Only TWO MORE DAYS to take advantage of our 40% DISCOUNT off submissions to the TCCFF 2026 SHORT FILM COMPETITION Use discount code TCCFF26Canada & let us celebrate your #shortfilm or #shortdoc Submit now at: filmfreeway.com/TorontoChineseCanadianFilmFestival #filmfests #filmfestival

My greatest fear in seeking is missing what is before me while searching for what isn’t. #presence #openness #awareness

Just going to leave this here for friends

Struggling to find the words for your story? Find the imagery for the poster or book jacket. Find the music & sounds playing over top. Find the smells & tastes of the setting. Find the surfaces & textures of the environment. Make senses of the story world to find the story. sowhatsyourstory.ca

Go ON THE ROAD with Toronto’s best #storytellers at Tales Told Live at the Tranzac on July 14 Hear personal stories of the trips that changed us & detours we never saw coming. Show is pay-what-you-can but seating is limited. www.talestoronto.com #storytelling #truetales #TorontoEvents

Complete the @replaystorytelling.com cycle with the final show before summer hiatus Check out FULL CIRCLE: Stories of Journeys That Finish What They Started Live/Live-Stream tickets @ www.showpass.com/replay-storytelling-presents-full-circle/ #storytelling #TorontoEvents @paulaflalo.bsky.social

COME RAISE A GLASS on Aug 16 as we recount & reflect on true personal stories of lubricated life The #storytellers at our next VELOUTE presents: An Evening at the Palace (Pier) celebrate “I’ll drink to that!” Tickets at: www.showpass.com/veloute-presents-august/ #storytelling #TorontoEvents

#Characters do not require #dialogue to convey thoughts & feelings. #Action (or inaction) & physical nuances can provide deep insights. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing @ce-gbpolytech.bsky.social @gbpolytech.bsky.social

Hot off the wonderful response to our first show, tickets are now available for VELOUTE presents: An Evening at the Palace (Pier) Come join us for rollicking personal tales on the theme “I’ll drink to that!” www.showpass.com/veloute-presents-august/ #storytelling #truetales #TorontoEvents

In creating art, in telling stories, in living life, there is nothing wrong with the word “perfect” as long as you use it as a verb. As an adjective, it is an unachievable goal that might well drive you to quit. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #creativity #writing @ce-gbpolytech.bsky.social

I am so proud of you. Way to be who you are! sowhatsyourstory.ca #sendinglove

A major part of getting good at any skill is consistent repetition of that skill set. If you’re not willing to practice #storytelling, you are unlikely to achieve as much as you could. Write. Write. Write. Even if the #writing isn’t for a story. sowhatsyourstory.ca @ce-gbpolytech.bsky.social

Celebrating the “CANADIAN” of TORONTO CHINESE CANADIAN FILM FESTIVAL with 40% OFF when you submit your #shortfilm or short #documentary to our competition. Submit to any of 5 CATEGORIES with the discount code TCCFF26Canada at check out. Visit filmfreeway.com/TorontoChineseCanadianFilmFestival

Millions of words used* Thousands of stories told* 94% blech to okay. 6% good to amazing. Never stops telling stories. * Very conservative estimates. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing

THANK YOU ALL! Our sincerest thanks to the #storytellers who shared such wonderful tales & to the audience who supported us so generously with their time & their laughter. Mark your calendars for our next show on Sunday, August 16. #storytelling #truetales #TorontoEvents

The greatest threat to art is the belief that there is a capital A version, a sanctioned, superior version. If #art uses a capital letter, it is P for #passion. You & your art are worthy of consideration. You do not need to achieve anyone’s standards but your own. sowhatsyourstory.ca

I am always inspired, but not always open. I am always motivated, but not always brave. #Inspiration & #motivation are not things that arrive from elsewhere. Rather, they reside within me, always ready for me to act. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing @ce-gbpolytech.bsky.social

Taking time for yourself is not not working. It’s a chance to reload. Even when relaxing, #storytellers never stop discovering stories. They just might not write them down immediately. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing @ce-gbpolytech.bsky.social @gbpolytech.bsky.social

The world in which your story takes place may be completely surreal of fantastical, but once you establish the rules by which it operates, those laws must remain immutable. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing @ce-gbpolytech.bsky.social @gbpolytech.bsky.social

Trying to write deeper & more realistic #characters? Consider taking an #improv class, where the focus is on #character rather than on being funny. Learn to be present in the moment, to listen, to commit to choices & to respond instinctively & honestly. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing

The adventures you’ve survived. The mistakes you’ve made. The lessons you’ve learned. The wounds you’ve borne & bear. These give your voice its unique timber, cadence, tones, & perspective. They define your art as yours & yours alone. sowhatsyourstory.ca #storytelling #writing #creativity