What Clements tells his young interviewer Kevin about how storytelling differs from writing bothers me intensely, although I know his intentions are good.  I fear storytelling is used like this a lot in education - as a way of getting students to open up and be more creative by turning off their inner critic. But storytelling is a heck of a lot more than permission to be sloppy, say whatever you want, and talk as long as you want.  Of course it’s clear from the other things Clements says about the art and craft of storytelling, and the Nasrudin story he tells, that he knows this.  What is truly sad to me, however, is that Clements gives Kevin no sense of the role the audience plays in shaping the story.  So the most important difference between storytelling and writing never gets mentioned.  And a positive teachable moment about the dynamic nature of communication is lost. 

The Nasrudin tale is a great one though, and not a story I hear all that often.  Someone should tell it to Schrodinger before he puts that cat in a box.  

Paula