Storyworthy audiobook cover - Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling

Storyworthy

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

Matthew Dicks

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Communication SkillsCreativity

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Key Takeaways from Storyworthy

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Mind Map

Storyworthy
Core Ingredients+
Structuring the Narrative+
Delivery & Performance+
Immersing the Audience+
Language & Content Rules+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to Matthew Dicks, what distinguishes a great story from a mere anecdote?
  • A. A great story features extraordinary or harrowing events, while an anecdote is just a funny moment.
  • B. A great story involves some type of change over time, whereas an anecdote does not leave a permanent mark.
  • C. A great story focuses on the experiences of others, while an anecdote focuses strictly on the storyteller.
  • D. A great story must reflect personal improvement, whereas an anecdote can just be an entertaining romp.
Question 2 of 7
What is the primary purpose of the 'dinner test' in storytelling?
  • A. To ensure the story is long enough to last through a meal with friends.
  • B. To gauge whether the story includes enough poetic flourishes to impress an audience.
  • C. To determine if the story is told in a natural, conversational way rather than as a theatrical performance.
  • D. To check if the story's climax occurs precisely at the five-second moment.
Question 3 of 7
What does the author identify as the 'heart' of every good story?
  • A. A five-second moment where something in a person's life changes permanently.
  • B. A dramatic, near-death experience that instantly hooks the audience's attention.
  • C. The first five seconds of the narrative, which must immediately establish the setting.
  • D. A brief moment of theatrical flair that demonstrates the storyteller's passion.
Question 4 of 7
How does the author suggest you determine the best way to begin your story?
  • A. Start with a rhetorical question to immediately engage the audience's curiosity.
  • B. Begin with an exciting piece of dialogue to drop the audience right into the action.
  • C. Look at your story's ending and start with a moment that represents its complete opposite.
  • D. Introduce the main characters and their celebrity look-alikes to paint a clear picture.
Question 5 of 7
Which technique does Dicks recommend to deeply immerse your audience in the story?
  • A. Addressing the audience directly to make them feel involved.
  • B. Telling the story in the present tense to create a feeling of immediacy.
  • C. Asking rhetorical questions to encourage the audience to think deeply.
  • D. Using carefully planned hand gestures to mime the actions taking place.
Question 6 of 7
Why does the author advise against using extreme vulgarity or graphic descriptions of bodily functions in storytelling?
  • A. It usually makes the story too long and distracts from the five-second moment.
  • B. It prevents the audience from visualizing the scene properly.
  • C. It often disgusts the audience rather than helping them create a mental image.
  • D. It causes the story to fail the 'dinner test' by making it sound too rehearsed.
Question 7 of 7
Why should storytellers avoid using celebrity references to describe characters?
  • A. It is a lazy shortcut that fails to reveal true depth and risks alienating parts of the audience.
  • B. It takes the focus away from the storyteller as the protagonist of the narrative.
  • C. It often leads to copyright issues when the stories are recorded for podcasts or radio shows.
  • D. It breaks the rule of using the present tense by forcing the storyteller to reference past movies or shows.

Storyworthy — Full Chapter Overview

Storyworthy Summary & Overview

Storyworthy (2018) explains how to craft a story for maximum impact. From intriguing beginnings to satisfying endings and everything in between, these blinks provide simple and effective tips and techniques for engaging your audience and bringing entertainment, authenticity and immediacy to your storytelling.

Who Should Listen to Storyworthy?

  • Anyone wanting to improve their storytelling skills.
  • People looking to get better at public speaking.
  • Shy wallflowers wanting to brush up on their communication skills.

About the Author: Matthew Dicks

Matthew Dicks is the bestselling author of novels such as Something Missing and Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend. He is also a performer and teacher. He is both a Moth StorySLAM and GrandSLAM champion.

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