The King of Storytellling: Matthew Dicks on Writing, Creativity, and the Art of Telling Stories
Nov 3, 2024
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Matthew Dicks, an internationally bestselling novelist and storytelling champion, shares his wisdom on writing and creativity. He discusses the transformative power of personal narratives, emphasizing their role in building connections. Dicks delves into the differences between fiction and nonfiction, advocating for flexibility in writing styles. He also highlights the emotional impact of handwritten letters compared to digital communication. Throughout, he encourages aspiring writers to embrace their creative journeys, even amidst life's chaos.
Matthew Dicks emphasizes making storytelling accessible, encouraging people to learn techniques for personal reflection and connection from home.
Dicks asserts that any story can be impactful if it holds emotional significance for the storyteller, challenging the notion that only dramatic experiences matter.
He highlights the power of pauses in storytelling as a means to enhance communication and engage listeners more effectively.
Deep dives
The Purpose of Writing Storyworthy
The motivation behind writing ‘Storyworthy’ emerged from Matthew Dix's desire to make storytelling accessible to everyone. After conducting workshops in Connecticut that attracted participants from afar, he realized that not everyone could afford or find the time to travel for storytelling lessons. Therefore, he aimed to create a guide that encapsulated the essence of his teachings, enabling people to learn storytelling techniques in their own homes. With this book, Dix invites readers to enhance their lives by mastering storytelling, whether for personal reflection or connecting with others.
Understanding What Makes a Story Worth Telling
According to Dix, a story becomes worth telling if it holds significance or emotional resonance for the storyteller. He emphasizes that anyone can narrate what matters deeply to them, even seemingly trivial events can be transformed into impactful stories. This insight challenges the misconception that only grand or dramatic experiences are worthy of storytelling. By sharing personal anecdotes, Dix inspires individuals to recognize the rich narratives in their everyday lives, making storytelling more inclusive.
Effective Communication through Storytelling
Dix highlights that storytelling is an invaluable tool for effective communication across various aspects of life. He recounts how storytelling can enhance relationships, improve teaching methods, and even assist in dating scenarios. By recounting his wife's reflections on their early relationship, he demonstrates how personal narratives can foster connections and understanding. This ability to convey emotions and messages through stories is presented as a pathway to becoming more persuasive and relatable in personal and professional settings.
The Role of Silence and Pausing in Speech
Dix advocates for the strategic use of pauses in storytelling instead of filler words like 'um' or 'ah.' He believes that silence can be a powerful tool in effective communication, allowing both the speaker and the audience to process information more thoughtfully. By practicing deliberate pauses, speakers can promote a clearer conveyance of their messages and maintain listener engagement. This approach not only improves storytelling but also encourages speakers to regain control over their thoughts and narratives.
Embracing the Creative Process with Imperfection
Dix encourages aspiring writers to adopt a mindset that embraces imperfection as part of the creative journey. He believes that the fear of failing or producing subpar work often prevents individuals from even starting their writing endeavors. By sharing personal anecdotes of his own evolution as a writer over decades, he reinforces the idea that progress comes through continuous effort rather than striving for perfection. This perspective empowers individuals to pursue their creative passions without the emotional burden of needing their first attempts to be flawless.
Matthew Dicks is an internationally bestselling novelist, a storytelling champion, and the author of 2 non-fiction books that had a big influence on me.
One is Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling -- a book that inspired me to start this very podcast in 2021.
The other one is Someday Is Today: 22 Simple Actionable Ways to Propel Your Creative Life -- a book that turned me into a more confident and productive creator.
I admire Matt.
He's a kind man who's dedicated his life to creating, teaching, writing, and connecting with others through stories (check out his YouTube channel below).
I invited him to discuss storytelling, creativity, the art of writing, and other things that writers and creatives may find interesting and useful.