Gathering Tools

One of the "tools" used by storytellers, is the "gathering of the tools". Think about Harry Potter in the first book. He gets money, an owl, and a wand. These are his first, and most important tools.

I am starting to gather tools for storytelling. But it ain't easy.

I feel like I signed up for a construction class because I'd fixed broken doors in my house and helped with a few Habitat for Humanity projects. Thinking how easy this sort of work is, I decided to start a new career, get some training, make a lot of money.

The first day of class, the instructor gives me a giant toolbox. I am concerned. It's really big ... really, REALLY big. It'll hold a lot of tools. Do I really need all that many tools just to construct a house? I mean really; surely a hammer, a screwdriver and a wrench are enough.

Then I open the box and see that it's already half-filled with tools. Some of the them are familiar to me, some are familiar but I don't why they would be in a construction toolbox, and some are just plain weird. I sigh.

Then the instructor says, "Take care of this toolbox. We're going to add more tools as we go along."

E gads! More? I suddenly feel faint.

This is going to be a lot harder than I expected. Surely there's an easier set of classes around here. Maybe I could go across the hall and sign up for those easy classes about space walking. Surely they don't have a stupid tool box. Surely!

But something keeps me in this class. I slam shut the lid on the toolbox, sharpen my pencil, take out a fat, blank notebook, and wait to learn.

Of course, first thing, we must open the toolbox and use the tools.

My first tool is "gathering of the tools". Fortunately, I at least understand the basics of this tool. How well I can use it in a story is another thing.

What are the tools of your challenging work? Do you use a "toolbox"? Do you ever wish you could take those other classes across the hall?