I was listening to the Bookworm podcast and the next book that the hosts will be talking about is Storyworthy, by Matthew Dicks.
I wasn’t interested in the book at first, as I’m not a storyteller, but then I thought there could be some useful tips in here for writing. Anyone who reads my writing knows I need all the help I can get.
So, I picked up a paperback copy of the book and gave it a shot. Was it good? Well, I finished it (although I skipped a little here and there), so that’s a good sign.
As you would expect, Storyworthy, is about creating good stories, so obviously, the book was full of stories. Not long stories. Rather, short, easy to read stories (that didn’t stop the author from plugging the long versions that are available on the website and YouTube channel).
As far as storytelling/writing tips, I was able to abstract a few that I found could be useful for elaborating in some of my writing.
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Every story should have a five-second moment. This is the moment when the story contains a turning-point. A transformation.
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Every story must have an Elephant, which is a part of the story that is obvious. This may be a clear definition of the problem, or mystery. It signifies where the story is heading.
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Always provide a physical location for each moment of the story. This gives your audience something to visualize.
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The ideal connection between sentences is “but” and “therefore” including synonyms. Don’t use “and”. When your paragraphs can be connected by a silent “and”, then it feels like rambling. Instead, each should flow into the other.
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Stories about failure are more engaging than those about success.
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Your story must reflect change over time. Otherwise, what’s the point?
I admit, at times I got lost and didn’t understand the point of what was said. I’d have to reread parts or look back (or forward) to see where the actionable advice is.
There are also a few very short chapters in the book that didn’t have any rhyme or reason for being there. They felt like filler text to make the book a bit longer.
Although I found some parts of the book tedious and disjointed, I found Storyworthy had enough practical advice, with examples, to help strengthen my non-technical writing.