The Storyteller’s Responsibility
An oath for all storytellers to remember.
Writers, listen up. Filmmakers, listen up. Orators, listen up.
Artists, listen up.
Back in a time when I needed to boost my strength up as a storyteller, I wrote this oath. It is the Storyteller’s Responsibility. If you ever believe that you are not suited to tell your story, remind yourself of this vow. Remember your responsibility to get stories out.
If you ever need strength, remember this.
A story came into my mind. So long as it is a series of synapses that run around my imagination forever and always, what will always be present alongside it is the sense that it needs to get out into the real world.
This is my responsibility.
In a world of millions of talented and creative storytellers — many of whom may be more talented and creative than me — I have what none of them have. I have this story.
And for this reason, it is my responsibility to let it out.
Plenty of storytellers tell their story whether or not they are great writers, actors, painters — artists. All a storyteller needs is the courage and ambition to tell the story. Skills are needed to give the story its proper justice. Yet, the skills I need to tell this story will grow when I tell it. And who is to say that I don’t have the skills to at least begin telling this story? Who is to say that I am not talented and creative enough?
It is my responsibility to have the courage to tell this story. The skills I have for it will come and strengthen.
I owe this story the initiative to do everything in my power to let it out and make it a reality. That is my job. And if life experience serves me, it will not be the only story that comes to my head. Letting this story die out will only make room for the stories yet to come.
I was born a storyteller. I was born with this responsibility.
Maybe this story doesn’t get out into the real world, but there will be a next story. And a story after that. But this story is not just for me. Stories are made to be shared.
This story in my head is worth telling to the world. It is my responsibility to believe in that, and to then do everything I can to share it.
There will be people who believe that I am not qualified to tell this story. They will see the people who are more talented, experienced, and creative, and want to listen to them instead. My job is not to please these people, nor to listen to them.
My job is to tell this story, and do whatever it takes to tell it. I will reach the people needed for this story, and they will come.
The only qualifications I need to tell this story are within me. I have this story. I have earned the right innately to tell it. Telling it will require me to strengthen my skills, to build up my courage, and to take action. But none of the struggles I will face in making this story a reality will serve as proof that I am not qualified to tell it.
This is my story. I have the right to the responsibility to tell it.
This is the storyteller’s responsibility.
