What Makes Nifty Stories Nifty? »


Check Out a Unique Gift Children Can Grow On

Posted by admin on Oct 19, 2008

I keep lots of memories from the days when I was a young parent. Some of them are downright exasperating! One of them involves purchasing gifts for my children. Gifts for the holidays. Birthday gifts. Those occasional gifts rewarding good behavior. I spent some serious hours searching for something unique, something meaningful. Most of the time it was rough going. I quickly realized that a good gift is hard to find. A meaningful gift is even rarer. And when I did find a special gift, I regarded it as something of a treasure. And I hoped my children would do the same.

I am now a grandparent. And I am always on the lookout for a unique gift children would enjoy. Something that will last far beyond the moment of giving. One great gift I have found is a memorable story. And it is appropriate for all ages, children included. Think of all the pleasurable hours an entire CD of stories can provide. Imagine the trip around the world your progeny can take on the wings of a story!

You can find three CDs listed on the “Recordings” page of my website. Fables in Four Minutes contains ten wonderful stories from ten different storytelling genres. For listeners who want to take a virtual trip around the world, World Full of Stories makes a unique present. My latest project is Parking in Manhattan, and it contains a compendium of urban folktales that will tickle the funny bone. If you wish to make a purchase of one or more CDs, the directions on the “Recordings” page will assist you.

Hunting for a unique gift children will enjoy and appreciate? A unique gift children can grow with? A unique gift children can share with their parents and friends? Give them the gift of story. It is a unique gift children will cherish for the rest of their lives!

62 Comments »

Humor stories: Things you should know…

We prefer to take our medicine with a bit of sweetener. That is where laughter comes in. Humor makes a hard message a bit easier to swallow. Priceless humor is filled with wit and wisdom. An awesome blend of entertainment and enlighten…

November 16th, 2008 | 11:45 am

Great day dude. This page is worth bookmarking.

November 18th, 2008 | 10:53 am

I will use this site in the future.

November 22nd, 2008 | 12:13 pm

Any story with a moral at the end sends the listener a clear message. It teaches using a concrete example. However, the lessons in many other stories may not be as obvious. The characters may act out the meaning of the story. It is up to the listener to decipher the message.

November 24th, 2008 | 12:13 pm

Whenever I heard the word I assumed it meant something good, something attractive. Still, I did not really define the word until I found myself using it to refer to the stories I tell to audiences and on recordings. Actually, I hit the books when a listener said my stories were nifty. The current Wiktionary defines the word as “good; a general term for anything that is good, useful or beneficial. ” A thesaurus gives synonyms such as “peachy, smashing, dandy, great, keen, and groovy,” all of which strike me as exchanging one jargon term for another!”

What makes nifty stories nifty? The stories I choose to tell are, indeed, particularly good and rather effective at making a point, a lesson, a message, a bit of perspective.

December 4th, 2008 | 12:17 pm

Think of all the pleasurable hours an entire CD of stories can provide. Think of the glimpse it can give into cultures and customs from countries around the world.

You can find three CDs listed on the “Recordings” page of my website. Fables in Four Minutes is a collection of ten stories, each one representing a different storytelling genre. For listeners who want to take a virtual trip around the world, World Full of Stories makes a unique present.

December 5th, 2008 | 12:17 pm

You should write more. Love the post.

December 16th, 2008 | 12:21 pm

Glad i found this. Really awesome.

December 30th, 2008 | 12:28 pm

Holiday gifts. Gifts for birthdays. Those occasional gifts rewarding good behavior. I would search high and low for something meaningful, something unique. Most of the time it was rough going.

January 1st, 2009 | 12:29 pm

Very awesome.

January 13th, 2009 | 12:33 pm

Folktales, on the other hand, are generated from daily village life. Naturally, stories of the folk world are couched in rural settings. The world of folktales is also inhabited by fairy tales. The questioning minds of preliterate villagers found apt expression through stories of magic and mystery. Cautionary tales abound, all of them containing messages to avert disaster.

February 4th, 2009 | 12:55 pm

Have a nice day.

February 10th, 2009 | 1:01 pm

This page is worth bookmarking. Totally great.

February 13th, 2009 | 1:03 pm

It was a word that meant a variety of things, all of them good and attractive. As I grew older I heard the word being used in a wider range of topics: a nifty song, a nifty concert, a nifty evening out. Later still, it cropped up in conversations about more “cultural” experiences: nifty books, nifty poems, and nifty stories.

Whenever I heard the word I assumed it meant something good, something attractive. However, it was only when I found myself using the word in my description of my own stories that I needed to define it.

February 25th, 2009 | 1:07 pm

That is where laughter comes in. Humor makes a hard message a bit easier to swallow. Witty humor is priceless humor. A unique combination.

As you know, everyone loves to laugh.

February 27th, 2009 | 1:09 pm

Post more soon please. Blog is great.

March 8th, 2009 | 12:11 pm

Write more soon.

March 9th, 2009 | 12:11 pm

Love your blog. Totally cool.

March 14th, 2009 | 12:12 pm

Epic stories have many layered lessons Think of the difference between an Aesop fable and a tale from the Arabian Nights. Which one do you prefer to hear? My personal penchant is for finding my own lessons when I listen to a story. The stories I chose for my Fables in Four Minutes and World Full of Stories CDs are good examples of nifty stories with subtle messages.

Nifty stories are stories that teach. Nifty stories are memorable.

March 27th, 2009 | 12:49 pm

This is a great blog.

April 3rd, 2009 | 12:53 pm

I could have used this information a while a go. Great day dude.

May 5th, 2009 | 7:13 pm

I will come back to this site.

May 30th, 2009 | 5:03 pm

From the CD Parking in Manhattan, “Service with a Smile” brings a great message to the listener. Long after they are told, inspirational stories stay in the memory. I am even inspired by the inspirational stories I tell!

We live in a complex, fast moving world. We all need a bit of “inner” direction to guide us as we cruise down the highway of life. Inspirational stories can help us in our travels.

June 2nd, 2009 | 5:06 pm

More posts please. I liked reading this post.

June 8th, 2009 | 5:14 pm

Those occasional gifts rewarding good behavior. I would search high and low for something meaningful, something unique. It was tough going most of the time. It did not take very long to realize that a good gift is rare gift. A meaningful gift is even rarer.

June 13th, 2009 | 5:21 pm

Your blog is really packed with great information.

June 22nd, 2009 | 5:39 pm

They include creation stories along with other stories that explain the world.

Folktales, on the other hand, are generated from daily village life. These stories rise out of a rural setting for obvious reasons. Fairy tales also live in the world of folktales. Stories about magic and mystery were apt outlets for questioning minds of preliterate villagers.

June 24th, 2009 | 5:43 pm

“Service with a Smile” on my Parking in Manhattan CD offers the listener a great hidden lesson. I find that inspirational stories stick in the memory long after they are told. In fact, the inspirational stories I tell even inspire me!

We live in a complex, fast moving world. As we head on down the highway of life, we can all use a little direction to guide us. Inspirational stories can help us in our travels.

June 28th, 2009 | 5:52 pm

Daily habits and geography. So the world stories I hear have substantial meaning to me. And one of the benefits is to see how world stories come directly from the cultures of origin. The more I experience a particular culture, the more I appreciate the value of their stories. I have visited countries in Europe, Central and South America, throughout Canada, the United States, and Southeast Asia.

June 29th, 2009 | 5:56 pm

It did not take very long to realize that a good gift is rare gift. A meaningful gift is even harder to find. And whenever I succeeded in finding a gift that I regarded as special, I treasured it. And I anticipated that my children would do the same.

I am now a grandparent.

July 12th, 2009 | 11:35 am

Glad I found this. Awesome post.

July 13th, 2009 | 11:36 am

As time passed, I heard the word used in a wider range of conversations, including nifty evenings out, nifty concerts, and nifty songs. Later still, it cropped up in conversations about more “cultural” experiences: nifty books, nifty poems, and nifty stories.

Whenever I heard the word I assumed it meant something good, something attractive. However, it was only when I found myself using the word in my description of my own stories that I needed to define it. Actually, I hit the books when a listener said my stories were nifty.

July 15th, 2009 | 11:38 am

And each time I visit another country I have the opportunity to learn a bit about it. Customs and rituals. Geography and daily habits. In turn, that lends substantial meaning to the world stories I hear. In the process, I have discovered how world stories arise out of the cultures from which they are born.

July 19th, 2009 | 11:42 am

Conflict. Pestilence. Thorny relationships. All of which beg for some direction, some assistance. A resolution of some sort.

August 2nd, 2009 | 11:51 am

However, the lessons in many other stories may not be as obvious. The characters may act out the meaning of the story. Listeners are left to figure out the message for themselves. And there may be a different message for each listener. This kind of story is generally attractive to a wider audience.

August 10th, 2009 | 11:55 am

In the process, I have discovered how world stories arise out of the cultures from which they are born. The more I experience a particular culture, the more I appreciate the value of their stories. My travels have taken me to Southeast Asia, Central and South America, around the United States, Canada, and Europe. The differences as well as the similarities of the various countries impress me deeply.

All cultures regard certain notions as sacred.

August 14th, 2009 | 11:58 am

This page is worth bookmarking. Thanks.

August 17th, 2009 | 12:00 pm

Whenever I heard the word I assumed it meant something good, something attractive. However, it was only when I found myself using the word in my description of my own stories that I needed to define it. Actually, I hit the books when a listener said my stories were nifty. The current Wiktionary defines the word as “good; a general term for anything that is good, useful or beneficial. ” A thesaurus gives synonyms such as “peachy, smashing, dandy, great, keen, and groovy,” all of which strike me as exchanging one jargon term for another!”

What makes nifty stories nifty? The stories I choose to tell are, indeed, particularly good and rather effective at making a point, a lesson, a message, a bit of perspective.

August 23rd, 2009 | 1:43 pm

jaystetzer. com you can find memorable inspirational stories. On the “Listen” page of my website, click any one of the story samples and you are likely to find a message worth your time. “The Egg Seller” and “Herschel and the Wedding” from the World Full of Stories CD are good examples of inspirational stories. “Service with a Smile” on my Parking in Manhattan CD offers the listener a great hidden lesson.

August 29th, 2009 | 1:50 pm

You should write more.

September 8th, 2009 | 2:12 pm

Keep writing good posts like this one.

September 18th, 2009 | 2:33 pm

This blog rocks. Keep the great information coming.

October 2nd, 2009 | 7:57 pm

Call it a message. It might give the listener a suggestion of a new direction. It might even state a moral. The name one might give to this ephemeral quality is not as important as the fact that the stories I tell actually possess it.

Even when I was growing up, I found myself deeply touched by inspirational stories.

October 8th, 2009 | 9:12 pm

It doesn’t really matter what name you give to this elusive quality; it is more important that the stories I tell possess it.

As a child I found deep meaning in inspirational stories. Both my mother and my grandfather told similar stories. Once in a while, a teacher would tell a story that held profound meaning to me. I noticed that stories with a message stuck in my memory.

October 14th, 2009 | 9:59 pm

Do not go into the deep, dark woods! Keep away from wild animals! Avoid strangers! On the other hand, reward and happy endings comprise many folktales. Good and evil are eternal foes. One can discover the Golden Rule in most plots. Regardless of genre, any worthy world story can be applied to contemporary life. And that’s where modern day storytelling has a place.

October 17th, 2009 | 10:14 pm

Honesty is the best policy. Slow down and notice the things around you. Community giving is part of community living. Messages that made me who I am today.

Today I tell many of the stories I heard as a child.

October 18th, 2009 | 10:19 pm

My travels have taken me to Southeast Asia, Central and South America, around the United States, Canada, and Europe. The differences as well as the similarities of the various countries impress me deeply.

You can find in every culture notions which they hold as sacred. The demonic can also be found. Their stories regularly exhibit these notions.

October 25th, 2009 | 1:44 am

“The Egg Seller” and “Herschel and the Wedding” from the World Full of Stories CD are good examples of inspirational stories. “Service with a Smile” on my Parking in Manhattan CD offers the listener a great hidden lesson. Long after they are told, inspirational stories stay in the memory. I am even inspired by the inspirational stories I tell!

We live in a complex, fast moving world. We all need a bit of “inner” direction to guide us as we cruise down the highway of life.

October 27th, 2009 | 1:48 am

Totally awesome.

November 2nd, 2009 | 2:57 am

I needed this site last month. I love this blog.

November 7th, 2009 | 3:06 am

It teaches by example. On the other hand, many stories are not so obvious in the lessons they offer. The characters may act out the meaning of the story. Listeners are left to figure out the message for themselves. And there may be a different message for each listener.

November 13th, 2009 | 3:08 am

And one of the benefits is to see how world stories come directly from the cultures of origin. My firsthand experience of a given culture heightens my appreciation of their stories. I have visited countries in Europe, Central and South America, throughout Canada, the United States, and Southeast Asia. The differences as well as the similarities of the various countries impress me deeply.

All cultures regard certain notions as sacred.

November 20th, 2009 | 3:11 am

Great day dude. Love this post.

November 24th, 2009 | 3:12 am

Lovin this blog. Really awesome.

November 26th, 2009 | 3:13 am

And I hoped my children would do the same.

I am now a grandparent. And I am always on the lookout for a unique gift children would enjoy. Something that is memorable long after the gift is given. A memorable story is that kind of gift.

November 29th, 2009 | 3:14 am

Longer stories are likely to be more subtle in the lessons that result. Epic stories have many layered lessons Think of the difference between an Aesop fable and a tale from the Arabian Nights. Which one appeals to you? My personal penchant is for finding my own lessons when I listen to a story. The stories I chose for my Fables in Four Minutes and World Full of Stories CDs are good examples of nifty stories with subtle messages.

Nifty stories edify.

December 3rd, 2009 | 3:14 am

One can learn many lessons from epic stories. Think of the difference between an Aesop fable and a tale from the Arabian Nights. Which one appeals to you? Personally, I like to find my own message when listening to a story. Check out my World Full of Stories and Fables in Four Minutes CDs for some examples of nifty stories with more subtle lessons.

Nifty stories are stories that teach.

December 9th, 2009 | 3:16 am

A good example is the memories I have of buying gifts for my children. Gifts for the holidays. Birthday gifts. Those occasional gifts rewarding good behavior. I spent some serious hours searching for something unique, something meaningful.

December 13th, 2009 | 3:17 am

Keep the great blog posts coming.

January 20th, 2010 | 5:32 am

Great blog info. I keep coming back to this blog.

January 21st, 2010 | 5:34 am

Listeners can readily find many humorous circumstances in my CD Parking in Manhattan. These hilarious comedies involve characters everybody can relate to and empathasize with. Priceless situations create priceless humor.

World stories also capitalize on priceless humor. These stories always bring gales of laughter when they are told.

January 26th, 2010 | 5:56 am

The demonic can also be found. These notions appear regularly in their stories. They make up the mythical soil out of which the stories grow. Myth forms the basis for many world stories. They include creation stories along with other stories that explain the world.

January 28th, 2010 | 5:58 am
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