Long Story, Short Story, Too many Words, Too Few, Tell the Story Anyways

Long Story, Short Story, Too Many Words, Too Few, Tell the Story Anyways

John Paul Derryberry

When anyone puts themselves out there publicly, it’s not if but when the negative comments come flying back at them. It always surprises me when people in public spaces are shocked to discover they are not universally accepted. Now my little Sunday night with John has a dedicated readership, but it’s not large enough to get negative comments every Sunday. But occasionally, some constructive, sometimes funny, sometimes confusing, and sometimes mean comments come my way. I have never classified the comments as hateful, often because I think hate is a strong feeling to express, and how would any reader know me well enough to truly hate me? It’s often more a reflection of the person posting the comment than anything about me.

Yet I do want to take a moment to address last week’s comment. It was a good one, “That’s a lot of words to basically say nothing.”  The great thing about this comment is that it may, in fact, be true. Perhaps I wrote too many words, and the meaning of what I was trying to convey was lost on readers. It happens especially for a verbal storyteller based on talent, skill set, and habits.  But I’m sure I have occasionally said too few words to relay my message. I’m certain I used a short story when a longer one would have added depth. Feedback from numerous readers and audience members has reminded me that sometimes short stories have a greater impact than longer ones.  However, it would be the lack of storytelling that would cause me great personal harm if I waited until I had every story just perfect, because that doesn't exist.

Once the story is public, it’s up to the individual reader or listener to determine its worth to them. The good thing is that no individual reader or audience member can determine its value. It's one of the things I value most about my storytelling: hearing from people what it ultimately meant to them. Even if it means that I was long-winded, and didn’t add much value to them. Others have commented on how my stories altered their thinking, changed their lives, or made them laugh when they felt surrounded by darkness. My stories reconnected them to their lives in a way they needed. Worrying about perfection would have been attempting to please people I probably have no chance of ever appeasing.

Now, that doesn’t mean a ton of thought, care, and passion isn't poured into this message, the stories, and the connection I'm trying to create. Sometimes I knock it out of the park, sometimes I miss the mark completely. I’m currently reading an 800-page book, and its message and story could be summed up in a lot less, yet the depth of the storytelling intrigues me. Maybe it ultimately tells me nothing new about life, but its ability to take me on a journey is impressive. Not everything has to say something, even in this day and age, where we are told to feel that way.  And whether I run too long, cut it too short, say something meaningful, or ramble in a confusing way, I will continue to tell the stories. You should, too. We never know who is listening and what they will take away from our interactions with each other. The comments are going to come, no matter what, so you might as well get out your point of view of the world.