How to Tell a Story audiobook cover - The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth

How to Tell a Story

The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth

The Moth, Meg Bowles, Catherine Burns, Jenifer Hixson, Sarah Austin Jenness, Kate Tellers

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Categories:
Communication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentCreativity

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Key Takeaways from How to Tell a Story

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Mind Map

How to Tell a Story
Core Philosophy+
The Moth Ground Rules+
Finding Your Story+
Building the Narrative+
Beginnings and Endings+
Stage Delivery+
Beyond the Stage+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
What is a fundamental rule for telling a story at a Moth event?
  • A. It must be a piece of objective journalism.
  • B. It must be true, told out loud in the first person, and feature a transformation.
  • C. It should be carefully read from notes to ensure accuracy and pacing.
  • D. It must explain a cultural phenomenon to educate the audience.
Question 2 of 7
According to the text, what role do 'stakes' play in a story?
  • A. They provide the necessary backstory to understand the characters.
  • B. They ensure the story remains factually accurate and objective.
  • C. They give the tale urgency and energy by establishing what is at risk or desired.
  • D. They offer a detailed summary of events to move the plot forward quickly.
Question 3 of 7
When constructing a narrative, what purpose do 'reflections' serve as stepping stones?
  • A. They immerse the audience in the physical action of a pivotal scene.
  • B. They quickly summarize the passage of time between major events.
  • C. They establish the chronological structure of the narrative from beginning to end.
  • D. They provide crucial internal information about the storyteller's thoughts, emotions, and realizations.
Question 4 of 7
How does the text describe the function of 'backstory' in storytelling?
  • A. It provides listeners with context needed to properly interpret and appreciate unfolding events.
  • B. It is the main driving force that propels the story forward into new scenes.
  • C. It is an unnecessary exposition that typically drags the momentum of the story down.
  • D. It serves as the final resolution that ties up the narrative neatly at the end.
Question 5 of 7
What is the recommended approach for crafting the ending of a personal story?
  • A. It should explicitly spell out the moral of the story so the audience doesn't miss the point.
  • B. It should tie up every loose end perfectly to provide complete and neat closure.
  • C. It should illustrate the transformation that took place without necessarily underlining the point.
  • D. It should introduce a new, unexpected twist to leave the audience guessing.
Question 6 of 7
Why does The Moth advise storytellers against writing down and memorizing their stories word-for-word?
  • A. Memorization often makes the storyteller sound over-rehearsed or robotic.
  • B. Memorizing a story usually causes the storyteller to forget their core message.
  • C. The Moth prefers stories to be entirely improvised on the spot with no prior planning.
  • D. Written stories tend to rely too heavily on props and visual aids.
Question 7 of 7
How can 'The Object Exercise' be used in a classroom setting to help young storytellers?
  • A. It teaches students how to use props effectively while speaking on stage.
  • B. It introduces students to the concept of stakes by exploring what it would feel like to lose something meaningful.
  • C. It helps students memorize the chronological order of historical events.
  • D. It encourages students to practice speaking with different accents and character voices.

How to Tell a Story — Full Chapter Overview

How to Tell a Story Summary & Overview

How to Tell a Story (2022) is a unique guidebook that unlocks the secrets to delivering narratives that captivate audiences and resonate with authenticity and emotion. From finding the perfect beginning and ending to mastering the art of delivery, it equips storytellers of all levels with the tools they need to leave a lasting impression. 

Who Should Listen to How to Tell a Story?

  • Anyone eager to become a better storyteller
  • Writers looking for tips on creating compelling narratives
  • Managers interested in unique team-building exercises

About the Author: The Moth, Meg Bowles, Catherine Burns, Jenifer Hixson, Sarah Austin Jenness, Kate Tellers

Meg Bowles is a senior director and one of the hosts of The Moth Radio Hour. She has been a longtime director for The Moth’s Mainstage, and has helped storytellers in both the US and the UK. She has also worked in television and film, and is an expert in turning small, personal anecdotes into profound, universal stories.

Catherine Burns is an artistic director and one of the hosts of The Moth Radio Hour. She is also a lead director on The Moth’s Mainstage, where she has helped hundreds of people develop their stories. She has also been a producer of television and film, and the director of solo shows on stage.  

Jenifer Hixson is a senior director and one of the hosts of The Moth Radio Hour. She launched The Moth StorySLAM which regularly takes place in 25 cities across the US, UK, and Australia. 

Sarah Austin Jenness is an executive producer and longtime host of The Moth Radio Hour. She launched the Moth’s Global Community Program and has directed stories that have been heard on the floor of the United Nations and on the stage of the Kenya National Theater.  

Kate Tellers is a senior director and host of the live Moth storytelling series and podcast. She has designed storytelling workshops for a number of corporations and nonprofits including Nike, Google, the Gates Foundation, and the US State Department. Her writing has been featured in The New Yorker and McSweeney’s.

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