How to tell a story

Over the past twenty-five years, the directors of The Moth have worked with people from all walks of life—including astronauts, hairdressers, rock stars, a retired pickpocket, high school students, and Nobel Prize winners—to develop true personal stories that have moved and delighted live audiences and listeners of The Moth’s Peabody Award–winning radio hour and podcast. A leader in the modern storytelling movement, The Moth inspires thousands of people around the globe to share their stories each year. Now, with How to Tell a Story, The Moth will help you learn how to uncover and craft your own unique stories, like Moth storytellers Mike Birbiglia, Rosanne Cash, Neil Gaiman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Padma Lakshmi, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Hasan Minhaj, Tig Notaro, Boots Riley, Betty Reid Soskin, John Turturro, and more. Whether your goal is to make it to the Moth stage, deliver the perfect wedding toast, wow clients at a business dinner, give a moving eulogy, ace a job interview, be a hit at parties, change the world, or simply connect more deeply to those around you, stories are essential. Sharing secrets of The Moth’s time-honed process and using examples from beloved storytellers, a team of Moth directors will show you how to

Foreword by Padma Lakshmi-- Introduction by Chenjerai Kumanyika-- PART 1: EVERYONE HAS A STORY-- CHAPTER 1: WELCOME TO THE MOTH-- Why "The Moth"?-- Why True Stories?-- What Happens When We Listen-- CHAPTER 2: NO NOTES, NO NET-- Your Very Own Moth Director-- The Rules We Play By-- Everyone Has a Story-- Yes, Even You-- PART 2: DEVELOPING YOUR STORY-- CHAPTER 3: MINING FOR MEMORIES-- You Are the Main Character-- The Kickoff-- Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes-- Decisions, Decisions-- Look for the OUCH-- CHAPTER 4: THE FOUNDATION-- Stakes-- The What and the Why-- Internal Stakes vs. External Stakes-- Anecdote vs. Story-- A Big Little Story-- Finding Your Arc-- Your One Sentence-- CHAPTER 5: THE MATERIALS-- Narrative Stepping Stones-- Finding the Scenes-- Details-- Backstory-- Up and Over-- CHAPTER 6: MAGNIFYING THE EMOTION-- Humor-- Are You Ready to Tell Your Stony?-- Telling Stories About People Who Have Died-- CHAPTER 7: STRUCTURING YOUR STORY-- Chronological-- The Elashback-- The Callback as Framing-- When a Smaller Story Carries the Weight of a Larger Stony-- Choosing a Unique Lens-- CHAPTER 8: BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS-- And.. ACTION!-- Coming in for a Landing-- PART 3: TELLING YOUR STORY-- CHAPTER 9: FROM PAGE TO STAGE-- Memorization vs. Familiarization-- Say It Out Loud-- Notes on Delivery-- CHAPTER 10: ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE-- Nerves-- Who Is Your Audience?-- PART 4: THE POWER OF STORY-- CHAPTER 11: THE RIPPLE EFFECT-- Stories in School-- Stories at Work-- Stories with Family-- Stories in the World-- CHAPTER 12: LISTENING-- Stories as Antidote-- Stories Evoke Reflection-- AFTERWORD BY SARAH IHABERMAN-- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS-- NOTES-- THE MOTH PITCHLINE-- STORY PROMPTS-- NOTES ON PROGRAMS-- ABOUT THE AUTHORS--