See Ron’s bio, photo, and Part 1 of this Q&A and Part 2.

Q&A with Ron Donaldson (Question 3):

Q: What people or entities (such as Web sites, blogs, books, organizations, conferences, etc.) have been most influential to you in your story work and why?

A: My top ten in no particular order (to avoid offence):

[Editor’s note: Book and DVD links go to Amazon UK; the same items can presumably be found on Amazon’s US site.]

1. The Seven Basic Plots (Why We Tell Stories) — Christopher Booker (2004): This is a massive book, but I just could not put it down. Detailing the plotlines of almost all famous stories it builds and builds a theory of how writers externalise their internal thoughts, worries and concerns into basic archetypal themes and why we must keep our egos in check. This book really did change my life and made me look at all movies and stories in a different light.
2. Dave Snowden and Cognitive Edge web site: By far the biggest influence in my approach and understanding, as detailed above. Dave’s approach has always been to share everything, so this site contains all his published materials, links to podcasts and videos and his blog is well worth a regular visit as it contains some of the most thought-provoking ideas, and probably the best example of blogging on the web.
3. Soil and Soul — Alastair McIntosh (2001): I met Alastair at a recent “Vine” Environmental Conference and was so taken by his tales of using stories to take on (and win against) corporate power that I bought his book. His intelligent writing, threading in cultural, ecological and some of the best understandings of community I have ever read, are hugely readable, but his explanation of taking on “the dominion system” (“an emergent property of ordinary human failings and commonplace darkness”) is breathtaking, and resonates with every monster, giant and wolf archetypal story you have ever encountered.
4. The Workingstories listserv: I registered on this a few years ago, and I get regular emails from other individuals interested in storytelling from across the world on new articles, interesting blog posts or websites and other resources.
5. Stephen Denning and Springboard story: I attended one of Steve’s Ark storytelling master classes several years ago, bought the Springboard book (2001) and tried out his advice on a number of projects and presentations, carefully crafting a story, and it worked every time. The real strength for me is how it really cranks up the level of engagement of the audience and does inspire involvement and further action on the part of the listener. Last month I had the surreal pleasure of watching a football match with Steve while eating fish and chips in an English pub.
6. The Uses of Enchantment - Bruno Bettelheim (1976): Probably my favourite book (despite the warnings about over-analysis) this details the importance of fairy tales in our lives and the possible psychoanalytical meaning within some of the most well known. Packed full of the how and whys of symbolism, phases of growth and of course the development and control of the ego. I am particularly taken by the idea that fairytales develop the paths for problem solving and making sense of the world in later life.
7. The Worldwide Story Work group (on Ning): Very recently set up by a fellow Cognitive Edge practitioner — Shawn Callahan, this is a useful web community, again of worldwide “story workers,” this is a great place to pose questions, connect with people of a similar interests and share ideas, resources etc.
8. Surlalune website: Time flies by whenever I visit this amazing website, a huge resource of annotated fairytales detailing history, variants, symbolisms and psychological meaning.
9. Sands of Time book — edited by Claire Weaver (2000) — currently being re-printed: This was an English Nature publication that commissioned Joan Barr, a storyteller from Leicestershire, to collect the stories of everyone connected to or who lived near the Satfleetby National Nature Reserve on the Lincolnshire coast. The result was a loosely themed collection of anecdotes that give a real understanding of the reserve and its important to the local population as you read through its amazing tales about smugglers, unexploded bombs, and conservation work. This is an exemplary example of narrative work as a consultation exercise with the use of storytelling sessions in the local pub becoming a constant (and very well received) theme of my storytelling talks.
10. Planet of the Apes and its associated commentary on DVD: I first saw this film with my dad when first released at the cinema in 1968 when I was 11, and we sat in awe as the ship flew across the mountains and eventually crash-landed and it has been a constant happy memory and family conversation piece ever since. I was fascinated recently to listen to the DVD commentary that Taylor (Heston) is in almost every scene, and the audience is asked to identify with him, see what he sees and feel what he feels. I have read a lot of the recent research on mirror neurons, which I think give us an insight into part of the reasons why stories and storytelling like this are so effective.