On episode #19, Matthew and Elysha Dicks talk about finding excellent stories in your everyday life using Matthew's strategy "Homework for Life." They discuss how small moments with universal appeal can often make great stories. Next, we listen to Valerie Gordon's outstanding story about a surprising encounter with Neil Diamond, followed by commentary and critique, including:  Telling stories that include extraordinary events that are not specifically about or depend upon the extraordinary event The purpose and power of repetition The brilliant use of internal and external dialogue Breaking the "stories must be told in scenes" rule The power of uncertainty  Ending a story with heart  Then we answer listener questions about crafting rhythm in stories and what it's like to be married to someone who shares so much of his life with the world.  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  Strip Club of My Own Making: https://bit.ly/2xYWGfJ Sex With Corn: https://bit.ly/2y0DvSx RECOMMENDATIONS Elysha: Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls -  https://amzn.to/2IpetRO Matt: Patti Smith at the 2016 Nobel Prize Ceremony -  https://bit.ly/2nuDAr8

Valerie Gordon: "I Am I Said"

Learn to tell better stories from the producers of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization. Bestselling author, 53-time Moth StorySLAM champion, and 7-time GrandSLAM champion Matthew Dicks partners with his wife, Elysha Dicks, to share stories recorded from years of Speak Up shows. More importantly, they offer tips, feedback, strategies, and advice on these stories, all in an effort to help you tell your best stories.

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Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

On episode #116  of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and Elysha Dicks are back, talking storytelling! In our follow up segment, we discuss our return to posting new episodes and our upcoming shows and workshops.  August 18: Speak Up at Hill-Stead Museum (6:00 PM EST)  August 20-21: Storytelling Workshop (Phoenicia Playhouse, Woodstock, NY)  August 21: Speak Up at the Phoenicia Playhouse, Woodstock, NY (7:00 PM EST) October 23: Speak Up at The Wadsworth Atheneum (7:00 PM EST) Tickets available soon! December 4: Speak Up at The Connecticut Historical Society (7:00 PM EST)  In our Homework for Life segment, Matt talks about finding stories through contrast.  Next we listen to a story by James Bengiovanni. Amongst the many things we discuss include:  Authenticity of voice Capturing secondary characters in meaningful ways Raising the stakes The art of “the pause” Powers of location Alternatives to the impulse to play jokes loudly The importance of ending in the heart of the storyteller  Next we answer questions about using stories in cover letters and job interviews. Lastly, we each offer a recommendation.  RECOMMEDATIONS Elysha:  Crip Camp Documentary (Netflix)  Matt:   How Walking Can Build Up the Brain by. Gretchen Reynolds (NYTimes)  _________________________________________________________ Support Speak Up Storytelling through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/speakupstorytelling Speak Up merch at Cotton Bureau: https://bit.ly/3gc1h35 Purchase Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling:  https://amzn.to/2H3YNn3 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  Matthew Dicks's blog: https://matthewdicks.com/blog

James Bengiovanni: “Game Show Host”

On episode #115 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and special guest Thomas Krafft talk storytelling! In our follow up segment, we discuss new content on our Patreon page and upcoming shows and workshops.  April 21: Humor in Storytelling (8:00 PM EST) (4 weeks) April 24: "School Days" (7:00 PM EST) May 15: Storytelling workshop (beginners) (9:30 AM EST)  In our Homework for Life segment, Matt talks about the way that a simple statement, when given enough thought and consideration, can produce a story.   Next Matt and Thomas discuss strategies for remembering content for the stage, incluidng:  Memorizing versus remembering Strategies for practicing aloud Strategies for recording Active listening The reverse memory palace  Lastly, we each offer a recommendation.  RECOMMEDATIONS Thomas:  Geocaching   Matt:  Photo rotation _______________________________________________  Support Speak Up Storytelling through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/speakupstorytelling Speak Up merch at Cotton Bureau: https://bit.ly/3gc1h35 Purchase Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling:  https://amzn.to/2H3YNn3 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  Matthew Dicks's blog: https://matthewdicks.com/blog

"Remembering Your Story" with special guest Thomas Krafft

On episode #114 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and Elysha Dicks are back, talking storytelling! And answering your questions!  In our follow up segment, we discuss new content on our Patreon page and upcoming shows and workshops.  April 21: Humor in Storytelling (8:00 PM EST) (4 weeks) April 24: "School Days" (7:00 PM EST) May 15: Storytelling workshop (beginners) (9:30 AM EST)  In our Homework for Life segment, Elysha explains to Matt how one of his Homework for Life entries can make a great story.  Next we answer lots of listener questions! Lastly, we each offer a recommendation.  RECOMMEDATIONS Elysha:  Wandavision on Netflix   Moby Dicks in Pictures by Matt Kish  _______________________________________________  Support Speak Up Storytelling through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/speakupstorytelling Speak Up merch at Cotton Bureau: https://bit.ly/3gc1h35 Purchase Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling:  https://amzn.to/2H3YNn3 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  Matthew Dicks's blog: https://matthewdicks.com/blog Two Little Jewish Dicks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIrItw1hsSI Shoe Thief: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl_gQhsPqXA

Questions Answered!

On episode #113 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and Elysha Dicks are back, talking storytelling! In our follow up segment, we discuss new content on our Patreon page and upcoming shows and workshops.  March 20: "Weddings Behind the Scenes" (7:00 PM EST) April 21: Humor in Storytelling (8:00 PM EST) (4 weeks) April 24: "School Days" (7:00 PM EST) May 15: Storytelling workshop (beginners) (9:30 AM EST)  In our Homework for Life segment, Matt talks about the way that Homework for Life can help illuminate a story that took years to complete.  Next we listen to a story by Donna Shubrooks.   Amongst the many things we discuss include:   Humor strategies in storytelling   Dispensing information without leaving the confines of the story    Spooling   Openings    Avoiding describing scenes after the fact   Next we answer questions about subtle stories and storytelling introductions.   Lastly, we each offer a recommendation.  RECOMMEDATIONS Elysha:  https://www.cookingwithshereen.com  Matt:  Speck of Dust by Sarah Silverman (Netflix)   _______________________________________________  Support Speak Up Storytelling through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/speakupstorytelling Speak Up merch at Cotton Bureau: https://bit.ly/3gc1h35 Purchase Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling:  https://amzn.to/2H3YNn3 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  Matthew Dicks's blog: https://matthewdicks.com/blog

Donna Shubrooks: "Driveway Interview"

In this special episode of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast,  Matthew Shepard and Steve Brouse talk about what it's like to become characters in a book of fiction and other oddities in the  creation of Matt's novel, "Twenty-one Truths About Love," a book written entirely in list form. In this series of 5 episodes, Matt, along with Elysha, several friends, his editor, and the illustrator of the cover, will pull back the curtains on publishing. They'll talk about the writing process, creativity, collaboration, stumbling blocks, and more.   "Twenty-one Truths About Love" is now available in paperback and can be purchased wherever you get books. 

Valerie Gordon: "I Am I Said"

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