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Hello friends,

I hope you and your loved ones are still safe and well. 

All remains well with my family, though they are sometimes less helpful than I would like.

Case in point:

Last week, I was sitting on the toilet.

Don't imagine it. Just know it happened for the purposes of the story.

I called out. "Clara! Can you bring me a roll of toilet paper?"

"Sure," she said.  Enthusiastically, even. I listened to her footsteps as she ran across the house and up the stairs.

A moment later, she was standing on the opposite side of the door. "Sorry, Dad. I couldn't find any toilet paper," she said.

This, of course, was ridiculous. Seeing the pandemic coming in early February, we stocked up on toilet paper and many other things before the supply chains stretched and broke. As a result, we still have a pile of pandemic toilet paper.

"I know we have some," I said. "Lots of it. In the bathroom closet."

"I looked," she said. "I didn't see any. But it's okay. I got you this."

I know. You're wondering what she was holding in those small hands. So was I. What could she have possibly brought to me in lieu of a roll of toilet paper?

The door opened a tiny bit, her little hand reached through, and in that hand was a single square of toilet paper. One four-by-four inch double ply.

"Here, Dad," she said, sounding quite proud of her solution.

"Clara!"

"You're welcome!" she said, releasing the square of toilet paper, allowing it to flutter to the ground at my feet. Then she was off.

I later confirmed that there are nearly 100 rolls of toilet paper in the closet, plus extra rolls under the sink and sitting atop the toilet tank. A veritable bounty of toilet paper. It's almost impossible to stand in that bathroom and not see a roll of toilet paper.

As I said. Not always as helpful as I'd like. 

On a more amusing note, Charlie has named his flip flops Flippy and Flippster. 

I love this so much. 

THIS WEEK'S LESSON


A simple but powerful storytelling lesson for you today:

When you need to offer backstory in the midst of your story, choose a place where time needs to pass in the audience's mind.

Good examples of this are car rides, long walks, waiting for a phone call, hailing a cab, flying in a plane, waiting for a diagnosis, and similar moments when time passes in your story without much to actually say.

This allows the backstory to not only provide the context you desire but also give your audience the sense of time passing by. A ticking of sorts.

Two birds. One stone.  

STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS

  • Our beginner's workshop is designed for anyone who wants to take their first steps into storytelling. This is a low stakes day designed to introduce participants to storytelling. No participation is required. If you want to learn how to tell an entertaining, engaging, and soulful story but aren't quite ready to stand up and speak, fear not. This is an opportunity to learn in a safe environment where you will not be asked to speak a word unless you want to.  
     
  • Our advanced workshops are designed so that storytellers can take them again and again (and many do). Every advanced workshops is completely different from the last, with new strategies and lessons taught each time. Storytellers learn new techniques through specifically targeted lessons, they have the opportunity to watch a story crafted from scratch, and they tell a story of their own and receive a critique. Lessons are then generated from these stories, too. Space is limited in order to ensure enough time and attention for every storyteller.  
     
  • Our storytelling master class is a two-tiered approach to instruction will afford you the opportunity to either work directly with Matthew on the development of a new story or give you the opportunity to watch this exceptionally informative process in action.

STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS 2020
Looking to learn more about storytelling through something more than a weekly email lesson?

Try my book on storytelling:

Storyworthy Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling

Available in paperback, Kindle, and audio, which I narrate myself!

On episode #101 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and Elysha Dicks talk storytelling!

In our follow up segment, we discuss upcoming shows and workshops, all online!

In our Homework for Life segment, Matt talks about nearly missing a storyworthy moment by not recognizing the impact it could have on an audience.    

Next we listen to a story by Ann Guo.

Amongst the many things we discuss include:

  1. Temporal transitions 

  2. Opening sentences 

  3. The power of nostalgia

  4. Pacing and pausing

  5. Vulberability

Next we answer a questions about apps and programs to record stories and Homework for Life.  

Lastly, we each offer a recommendation. 

RECOMMEDATIONS

Elysha:

Matt:

_______________________________________________

Support Speak Up Storytelling through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/speakupstorytelling

Speak Up merch at Cotton Bureau: https://bit.ly/3gc1h35

Purchase Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling: 
https://amzn.to/2H3YNn3

Purchase Twenty-one Truths About Love: 
https://amzn.to/35Mz1xS 

Homework for Life: https://bit.ly/2f9ZPne

Matthew Dicks's website: http://www.matthewdicks.com

Matthew Dicks's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/matthewjohndicks 

Matthew Dicks's blog:
https://matthewdicks.com/blog
PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS 2020

ALL TIMES LISTED AS EASTERN STANDARD TIME
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