Communication

Storyworthy: 8 key ideas

by Matthew Dicks

The core ideas of Storyworthy, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.

1. IDEA 1 OF 8

   Everyone has stories worth telling

   Dicks, a teacher and champion storyteller, argues that everyone has stories worth telling.

   He teaches how to find and shape true personal stories for live audiences. In his view, the skill is in how a moment is told, not in how grand it is.

2. IDEA 2 OF 8

   Notice one moment each day

   Dicks describes his daily habit, called homework for life, of writing down the most story-worthy moment of each day.

   This helps him notice meaning in ordinary life. He says the habit builds a store of material to draw on later.

3. IDEA 3 OF 8

   Stories turn on a moment

   Dicks argues that great stories centre on a five-second moment of change, when the teller realises or feels something new.

   The rest builds towards it. In his account, the change in the teller is what gives the story its point.

4. IDEA 4 OF 8

   Live storytelling is an art

   Dicks describes performing at events such as The Moth, where people tell true stories to audiences.

   He has won many such competitions. In his view, standing before a live audience teaches a teller to keep a story tight and honest.

5. IDEA 5 OF 8

   Stakes keep listeners engaged

   Dicks argues that stories need stakes, something the teller might gain or lose.

   Stakes create suspense. In his view, if nothing is at risk for the teller, listeners have little reason to care how it ends.

6. IDEA 6 OF 8

   Endings and beginnings connect

   Dicks advises starting a story near the opposite of where it ends.

   This highlights the change. In his view, if a character starts as one kind of person and ends as another, the listener feels the journey.

7. IDEA 7 OF 8

   Stories must be true

   Dicks stresses that personal stories should be honest.

   Small details make them believable. In his view, listeners can tell when a story has been stretched, and trust falls away. A true story told plainly can be more powerful than an invented one.

8. IDEA 8 OF 8

   Ordinary life is rich

   Dicks argues that stories come from everyday moments, not only dramatic events.

   Paying attention reveals them. In his view, small events like a conversation, a misunderstanding or a small win can carry big feelings when told well.