Tim Sheppard's Storytelling Resources for Storytellers

Reviewed by Beverly Wiley

Accuracy: Even though Tim Sheppard gives his opinion concerning different aspects of the realm of storytelling, especially in the FAQ link, he often gives credit to others and offers links to other websites for more information. He expresses concern in the introductions to the links that he be notified if any links are dead.

Authority: Tim Sheppard is the compiler of a wide range of information which includes some of his own articles and those of many others. According to the biography, Mr. Sheppard has credentials as a storyteller, teacher of storytelling and author of various features for national storytelling magazines in the USA and Britain. Tim Sheppard’s website is linked to another website called The Storytelling Ring, which is a site with links to storytellers around the world.

Objectivity: Basically, Tim Sheppard’s website seems to be an effort to offer multiple sites for those interested in this art to find out as much as he/she can. The FAQ link offers Mr. Sheppard’s opinions, but links to other ideas as well.

Currency: The site is updated often. The last date of new or updated information was April 2002.

Coverage: This site offers a plethora of information from Frequently Asked Questions about storytelling, to story links, a list of books for storytellers and other articles. In the FAQ alone, the topics range from Learning about Storytelling, An Introduction to Storytelling, Getting Professional and Being a Storyteller. The articles linked under these headings offer very specific advice and/or information.

Summary: A person interested in storytelling would not want to miss the immense wealth of information stored in this site. Tim Sheppard introduces and comments on the material in a very conversational manner. The reader almost feels he/she has talked personally with Tim Sheppard who obviously enjoys his craft and conveys that in his website.

Reviewed by Shelly Lane

This site was last updated on March 3, 2003 and hosted by the Storytelling Ring. This site offers: "The official Storytelling Frequently Asked Questions" which gives advice, information and resources The FAQ is the internet's first port of call for information, contacts, and general orientation on the whole subject of storytelling. Articles about storytelling, booklist of books for storytellers, storytelling links and links to stories every kind.

Reviewed by JP ROGERS

I came upon this site from a link that said General Storytelling and then Storytelling FAQ. Now you know the state of mind that led me here. I was looking for general information and to see what I could find generally. Well, little did I know that I had stumbled upon a treasure chest! Tim Sheppard has compiled "comprehensive collections, for storytellers, of articles, links, and information on the oral tradition and the art of storytelling.? Tim Sheppard is a member of The Storytelling Ring, which if you travel to each member?s site, you will end up where you started. This Ring was founded April 24, 1997. It is a ring of sites across the WWW ?featuring Storytelling resources, organizations, events, and the tellers themselves. All dedicated, at least in part, to the vocal art of telling stories.? (http://www.pjtss.net/ring/allabout.htm (accessed 6/19/03)). The last huge revision of Tim Sheppard?s web page occurred 4/14/03 with the expansion and reorganization of categories on the Storytelling Links page, which he claims is the ?biggest collection of storytelling resources on the web, ?? ( http:// www.timsheppard.co.uk/story/ ) (accessed 6/19/2003) A new category was added to the Storytelling Links page on 4/19/03, there were new links added 5/6/03 to History of Stories and Storytelling Links sections, and on 5/17/03 FAQs gained a lot of new questions and two new compilations were added to the Articles section. Mr. Sheppard is not just sitting around telling stories all day! As of 6/17/03, the Storytelling Links page had 700 reviewed links, and the Story Links page had 200 reviewed links. The link to Tim Sheppard?s email is right up front in his introduction, on the Storytelling FAQ page, and Story Links. (I am sure I missed one or two.) I did not find a single typographical error in the entire site and I looked at several pages and linked to about 8 pages. I highly recommend checking out these web pages pulled together by Tim Sheppard. Besides, you might have a jolly good time getting to know this fellow from across the Atlantic in the process.

Review by Suzzanne Malard

Authority:
Mr. Sheppard has a link on his page that is specifically about him. It lists his credentials, which mostly deal with the theatre and the circus. He’s also involved with Wordweavers. The sponsoring organization looks to be called the Storytelling Ring and there are links to this page. At the top of the home page, there is a link with his name so that you can email him your questions. Also, under the Storytelling FAQs there is contact information listed. This web site doesn’t appear to be a personal home page.

Accuracy:
The information looks to be very valid and reliable. He lists who the information comes and provides brief bibliographies and annotations where appropriate. Most of the sources that are mentioned within his site do have links provided, but there are some that don’t have links. The information in this site really expands on some of the general information that people already know about storytelling.

Currency:
This site is very well documented on when it has been updated. The updates are very current. Mr. Sheppard does make reference to keeping up to date with the information and lets the viewers know that if they find a link not working to let him know. All most all of the links also have a date of revision next to them. The links were all in working order. It was nice because there were references to links and/or information that were new to the web site.

Content/Coverage:
There are links to storytelling resources, stories, articles, books, tips on storytelling techniques, and storytelling information in other cultures. Everything is very detailed and informative. The information that is presented is meant for adults, especially those who are interested or do storytelling. A lot of the information is unique to the site and the author. On his Frequently Asked Questions page, Mr. Sheppard does talk about why and how certain information was put into this website.

Objectivity:
Mr. Sheppard talks about how he wanted to share what he has learned about storytelling with others. He thought that it would be useful to provide a site that contained a wide variety of information on storytelling in one place. The information is very straightforward, with no bias. There are no advertisements within the site.

Access:
This site is easy to access since there are no software or hardware requirements. It was quick to load site and seems very stable. There are no costs to use this site nor do you have to register.

Design/Appearance:
This is a very simple website. There are almost no graphics. The home page is a little hard to read because of the colors he chose to use. Otherwise, the site is easy to navigate and is clearly organized.