Letter #3: Brilliant Storytelling.
Letters from an Internet Traveler
September 17, 2015
Dear Reader,
I’ve been pretty burnt out from searching for inspiration and thinking of the next story to write, so I thought I’d get lost in stories told by others. I’ve realized that sometimes it’s necessary to get away from your own mind, and dive into someone else’s.
This week I went on the hunt for a few great pieces that embody the art of storytelling and journalism. This is what I found: a story that will leave you haunted; a story that will leave you wanting more; a story that will leave you contemplating. Enjoy!
-CJd
“If a story is not about the hearer he will not listen. And here I make a rule–a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.” — John Steinbeck
[Article] Something haunting.
When you think PTSD, who do you associate it with? Police officers, firefighters, military veterans. Am I right? I mean we all have watched Law and Order. The officers, besides the victims, are usually the ones who have to suffer through the situation at hand. But what about 911 operators? The first ones to respond to every 911 distress call made are just as susceptible to traumatic experiences. In some cases, as this article describes, talking the victims through their situations can be as traumatic, if not more, than experiencing the actual scene, because the mind leaves everything up for interpretation. Sometimes those who help, need some serious help of their own. The sheer storytelling alone left me feeling haunted. This is a fantastic, compelling read.
This piece was written and reported by Anthony Taille, a freelance writer based in Montreal. His work has been featured in publications such as Human Parts, Vice Magazine, and Thought Catalog. You can follow him on Twitterand Medium.
Additional reading.
- Something inspirational: The Last Voyage of the Vollmer Twins.
[Audio] Something gripping.
In searching for a new podcast to listen to that wasn’t about technology, the future, or something intellectually binding, I stumbled across Limetown — a narrative podcast that tells an extremely gripping story about an entire town gone missing, created by a small production company called Two-Up. So far it’s only two episodes in, but I’m already hooked. When I listened to the first episode, I was extremely curious as to if it was a true story or a work of fiction — don’t worry, I’ll save you the trouble, it’s fictional. But it’s done really well. Comparable, in fact, to serial Serial, aside from the premise being more like X-Files. It’s really worth a listen if you’re looking to get lost in something. Read more about Limetown here.
[Video] Something eye-opening.
Ever thought about what it’s like to die? I’m sure everyone has, but probably not very often. It’s something we’ll never know until it happens, and even then, who’s to say we’ll know how it feels? I mean, after all, you’d be dead. Luckily, for those who are curious enough, there’s a service for that in South Korea. Noted as the suicide capital of the developed world, with over 14,000 suicides in 2012, there’s a high demand for faux death in SK. It’s seen as a chance for reflection, self-insight, and the chance to start over. The story here is captivating, and eye-opening to the underlying issues of an overly connected world. It’s a weird concept at first mention, but after watching the process and gaining a little insight on the meaning, it doesn’t seem all that crazy. I’m sure many of us in the overly connected developed world could use some enlightenment and time to contemplate our lives.
This is an adaptation of Letters from an Internet Traveler, the irregularly scheduled newsletter from an overactive cybernaut — sending you thought-provoking tidbits and internet obscurities you’ve probably overlooked, one digestible chunk at a time. You can also follow the Medium publication.
