“I don’t think you can write - at least not well - if you don’t love stories.”

~ Nora Roberts

“To hell with facts! We need stories!”

~ Ken Kesey

Demades, the Ancient Greek orator, is about to address an assembly in Athens on a matter of vital importance. Though widely recognised as one of the greatest speakers of his time, he can’t get his audience to listen. They’re joking and laughing among themselves, ignoring Demades as he stands alone on the podium, babbling, struggling in vain to attract attention.

He pauses briefly before starting to speak again. At the words he now speaks, the audience falls into an enchanted silence, focusing on every syllable coming from Demades lips.

Demades’ words were these: “Ceres set off on her journey with a swallow and an eel as her companions.”

Demades’ opening words - after his pause - contained a simple magic: the magic of storytelling.

As a writer, it is not words, but stories, that are your elemental tool.  Stori