Hello friends,

Let me start off by telling you that Elysha and I are producing ANOTHER virtual edition of Speak Up Storytelling on Saturday, September 26 at 7:00 PM EST. If you're far flung from my Connecticut home and would like to see one of our shows, this is the perfect chance to check it out. 

Join our star-studded cast, which includes Speak Up veterans Jeni Bonaldo and me, Matthew Dicks, alongside alongside Speak Up newcomers Sean Wellington, Sue Schmitt, and Carol Moore.

Hosted, of course, by Elysha Dicks.

Though the show is virtual, our Zoom room has a limited capacity, so get your tickets now. Don't be stuck on Saturday night without a chance to see this fantastic show!

Just $10 per household.

A portion of our proceeds will be donated to COVID-19 relief.

Purchase tickets here.

I also have a storytelling master class on Sunday, September 20, in collaboration with Story Jam Studios! 

DETAILS:

Story Jam Studio is thrilled to offer this rare chance to spend five whole hours with the famous Matthew Dicks.

In this workshop, Matt will draw from his signature storytelling methods while sharing the latest story crafting concepts from his forthcoming book. 

Six "participants" will get to work on their stories closely with Matt; and others will be able to learn as "observers" at a lower price. All guests will have the chance to comment, pose questions, and absorb Matt's brilliant approach. 

Matt is a master teller/teacher who is passionate about making his students the best they can be. Every single person who attends, whether as a participant or an observer, will leave this workshop with improved storytelling skills. 

This workshop runs from 12pm-5pm EDT.

Join us for an immersive day of storytelling fun!

Purchase tickets here.
 

The universe works in mysterious ways.

On Saturday night, I told a story in my solo show about doing a back bend after a couple of relentlessly enthusiastic and unbelievably supportive fifth grade girls convinced me that it could be done.

I did not believe them until it actually happened. I still didn't believe it even after it happened, so I did a second back bend while one of my students snapped a photo of the moment.

I still can't really believe it. When the sun casts my shadow on the ground, it looks like a rectangle with a square on top. Charlie has said that I look like I was built from Minecraft bricks. I'd never done a back bend in my life. I can barely turn to swing a golf club.

Yet I did a back bend. Several, in fact.

Prior to the show on Saturday, I went on a bike ride to tell myself the back bend story and work out the kinks. While riding on the other side of town, I crossed paths with a group of teenagers who were also riding bikes. As we passed through an intersection in opposite directions, one of the boys asked, "Can you pop a wheelie?"

I didn't respond. I didn't think he could be speaking to me.

He repeated, "Can you pop a wheelie?" This time he stared at me. Made eye contact.

"No," I said, surprised by the question. "I can't."

"Keep trying!" the boy shouted, sincerely and earnestly as he disappeared around the corner.

I couldn't believe it. While working on a story about children convincing me to do a back bend, a teenage boy - a complete stranger -  encouraged me to keep trying to pop a wheelie. Out of the blue, some random kid offered me the same kind of ridiculous positive encouragement that I was going to describe in my story two hours later.

Bizarre. Right?

I've been working on popping a wheelie ever since.

THIS WEEK'S LESSON