On episode #18, Matthew and Elysha Dicks talk about finding excellent stories in your everyday life using Matthew's strategy "Homework for Life." They discuss how the stories we find in a day can sometimes be the building blocks of much larger stories. They also hear from two listeners on how Homework for Life is changing their lives. 

Next, we listen to Ron Apter's outstanding story about fatherhood, followed by commentary and critique, including:

1. Building a story from a single moment
2. Stories that take place in narrowly defined settings
3. Strong beginnings
4. Two strategies to create humor in storytelling
5. Vocabulary choice

Then we answer a listener question about using swear words and racial, ethnic, and religious slurs in storytelling. 

Lastly, we each offer a recommendation. 

LINKS

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 

Shoe Thief: https://bit.ly/2JJT4C8

The Diary of Samuel Pepys: https://www.pepysdiary.com

Erin Barker "Good News Vs. Bad" -  https://themoth.org/stories/good-news-versus-bad

RECOMMENDATIONS

Elysha: Last Stop on Market Street -  https://amzn.to/2QMMUWB

Matt: Here's How to Brag Without Making People Hate You-  https://ti.me/2NxdiG2