Martha Retallick  of Western Sky Communications, recently posted an article in FreelanceSwitch about her experience telling a story, called Public Speaking – a Storytelling Odyssey. In it she talks about her process of crafting and telling her story on the Odyssey Storytelling stage from the unique view point of a freelancer (but the insights can apply to anyone.)

She has this unique bit of advice for freelancers.

Here’s how storytelling can help your freelancing career:

• Quite often, freelancers are solitary creatures who work at home on computers. Getting up in front of an audience will expose you to a wider community. Who knows, you may find a new friend or even a client out there.
• Words are very powerful tools. And words presented with flair are even more powerful. Politicians and religious leaders have known this for a long time. It’s something that freelancers would also do well to learn.
• People who speak publicly are perceived as experts. As successful people. And brave. Did you know that public speaking is the most feared activity? So, if you look for speaking opportunities, you’ve already separated yourself from the rest. Such courage will spill over into many other areas of your life.
• If you persist, there will come a time when people pay you to speak in public. Which opens up a whole new profit center for your freelancing career. Not to mention the spinoff sales of books and recordings.