An obsessive storyteller. That was not a review that I expected. But I have to admit, that comment has given me something to meditate on during the morning walkabouts.

This is how AI described that affliction. “An obsessive storyteller is someone consumed by the compulsion to build, shape, and share narratives. They see real life through the lens of plot points, character arcs, and themes, often prioritizing the flow of a good story over ordinary routines or social norms.”

When it comes to road trips, the people that infuse them with an infectious magic, and America’s amazing story, I do get a bit obsessive with storytelling. But I am not sure that I view life in the context of plot points.

Storytelling for fun and profit

It is rather obvious that the entire Jim Hinckley’s America network is built on a passion for the great American road trip. And an argument could easily be made that Route 66 figures prominently in all of our work.

There are variations on these themes. This past week as the keynote speaker at the Local First Arizona Rural Policy Forum, I spoke about the history and evolution of Route 66. But woven into this was a discussion about the benefits of cultural and heritage tourism as a catalyst for economic develpment.

And this morning I completed my first feature article for Route 66 Sentinel magazine. I used this storytelling opportunity to share the surprising history of celebrity association with Kingman. Did you know that Edsel Ford, Pamela Anderson, Will Rogers, Amelia Earhart and Buster Keaton all have a Kingman connection?

And both the article and the presentation provided me with an opportunity to talk about Kingman Tours.

Storytelling Frustration

There is a great deal of satisfaction that comes with storytelling. But there is also a great deal of frustration.

You pour yourself into the writing of a book and get hit by poor reviews. A presentation animates half the audience, and puts the other half to sleep.

But you keep telling stories. You bring people like Florence Lawrence and Eugene Jacques Bullard in from the shadows and share their story because it inspires.

The profits from storytelling are not always monetary. The rewards are in friendships, from shared adventures, and from mentoring the next generation of storyteller.

A storyteller’s life

A storyteller’s life is never boring. On Monday morning at 6:00 there is a conference call with a publisher. And Monday is the deadline for another writing project.

Tuesday is the deadline for corporate client projects. I turn off the phone and focus on adding polish to the stories.

Wednesday morning it’s breakfast with Anthony Arno of The Route 66 Podcast. And I need to finish a presentation for the Model A Club of Tulsa, another storytelling opportunity. Thursday morning I will set out on a sunrise walkabout to Calico’s restaurant for a breakfast with the developers of a Kingman promotional initiative that needs a storyteller.

On Friday morning I record an episode of Coffee With Jim for our podcast on Podbean. This week I will be telling the story of Route 66 in the Black Mountais. That will be followed with conference call with another podcaster. And there is also a planning sessin with Steve Reyes as we finalize arrangements and plans for a celebration of the great American road trip in Twenty Nine Palms, California.

obsessive storyteller

Obsessive storyteller? Maybe. But there are so many stories to tell!

Did you know that Thomas Devine, father of Andy Devine, played a roll in rerouting the National Old Trails Road? Did you know that the election of 1876, until the assault on the capitol in 2021, was the most divise in American history?

And has anyone told the story of women who transformed the auto industry in the first decades of the 20th century? Then there are a multitude of stories about the EV to tell. And I bet people would be fascinated about the story of the man that started his career at Colt, and that played a key rol in the establishment of Ford, Cadillac, and Lincoln.

Storytelling, it’s what I do!