The Cave of Untold Stories

On sharing and helping others share

A person writes a sentence. They begin writing a second sentence, but are very careful not to put too much in it. You see, this person knows that readers will often stop before they get to a third sentence. Fourth sentences are even more of a miracle to get readers to arrive at, but some say it is possible. Though, in an age of social media algorithms and information overload, fifth sentences are ignored altogether. Sixth sentences are pointless to even type.

Then there’s readers like you. You have been so kind to those fifth and sixth sentences of mine. And beyond. Thank you.

A thing I made about the cycle I find myself in. (Though #9 also carries with it not just the arrival of a new idea, but the panic that comes with realizing you have to share the idea you just finished with other humans.)

Confession: I get a bit anxious before I post or share anything online. It hasn’t always been this way. Years of experience creating and sharing things on the internet have shown me what wonderful things can happen when you connect with people through art and ideas. Adventures in internet-ing have also revealed to me a flip side. Sometimes your work can be misunderstood or maligned or … gasp… ignored. And it can hurt.

The Cave of Untold Stories is a place in my new book. In The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination this cave holds all the stories that have yet to be told, songs that have yet to be sung, parties that have yet to be planned, and problems yet to be solved. It’s a cave full of poems and symphonies, phone calls and texts. It’s a cave I’ve thought about for many years. Getting to share it with people over the last few weeks has been really healing and profound.

Telling the story of The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination with Kristi Montague at Books are Magic in Brooklyn, NY last week.

There’s lots of reasons why someone might toss a dream or ideas into the cave. Fear. Exhaustion. Societal pressure. As I’ve gotten to tell the story live in classrooms and bookstores, I look out into the audience and see so many different children. These are young people who have hopes and longings. They have so much to share with the world around them. What a loss to all of us if any of them felt they should hide their brilliance. So, I tell the story.

In the story, I share about a tiny poet who is afraid to let anyone hear or see his work. As I do, the kids get so into it! (And not just the kids.) They know. They know he shouldn’t let fear hold back the beauty. Gifts were made to be given! They cheer when he finally gets the courage to launch his poems out into the world. It saves the cave! The world is brighter!

They know it’s pretend, but also know it’s true. Afterwards when we discuss their own gems within the Cave of Untold Stories, it’s remarkable how deeply they understand it and how much they know they have to share. (You can find this free activity here. )

To create the Cave of Untold Stories for the book, Kristi had the idea to use wadded up paper. After all, that’s where most ‘untold stories’ end up.

So, yeah. I still shake a little bit when I’m about to post something online. Even with this little email, I’ve worried about each little noun and verb and adjective. WILL THIS BE THE SENTENCE I WRITE THAT MAKES THEM STOP READING? Will they unsubscribe? Will they reject me? Will they laugh at me? Is this of value to anyone?

I get why we keep things in the Cave of Untold Stories.

May I share with you why I keep showing up? This little poem says it better than I can:

Keep showing up, friends. You have words that need to be read. Songs that need to be sung. Love that needs to be shared. Go. Dream. Do.

This community has been such a wonderful surprise. Thank you. I’ve loved the genuine connection that’s beginning to brew here. Your email responses, your comments and shares have all been so generous and truly thoughtful. It feels somewhat similar to how those early days of YouTube felt and I’m really grateful you’re here. May the best be yet to come.