Storytelling Tips & Tricks
Storytelling at The Moth
Everyone (yes, everyone!) has a story worth telling. But what makes a Moth story so memorable? Here are a few of our most important guidelines.
Must
Hook us in. Make us care about you. Paint the scene. Clearly state your fears, desires, or dilemma. Make us invested in the outcome. Introduce the conflict. Make us worry for you. Impress us with observations that are uniquely yours. Rope us into the moment when it all goes down. Conclude as a changed person: Triumphant? Defeated? Befuddled? Enlightened?
It must be TRUE.
The Moth is strictly nonfiction.
It must be ON THEME.
The story you’ve prepared should be intrinsically related to the theme of the show you’re attending.
It must have STAKES.
What do you stand to gain or lose? What were you trying to find, solve, redeem, repair, or resolve?
It must be YOUR STORY TO TELL.
We are looking for first-person, true stories where your experience is central to the action.
It must be ON TIME.
SLAM stories should be 5 minutes long…(though there is a strict one-minute grace period if you lose your way or need to pause for laughs).
Must Not
Stay away from stand-up routines, repeat stories, stereotypes, rants, essays, how-tos, confessions, lectures, fictions, and gratuitous anything. If your story suffers from any of these problems, please go back to the drawing board. We promise your story will be better for it.
Please don’t caricaturize or “explain” a culture that is not your own. For example, putting on fake accents or telling us about the “customs” of a community you don’t belong to.
Please don’t make another person’s identity, class, gender, race, orientation, body type, etc., the punchline of the story. Your story, your struggles.
Please don’t use another’s identity as a prop or plot point. If you choose to include another person’s race, orientation, physical appearance, or ability, be sure it is intrinsic to the story.
Please don’t celebrate unwanted sexual advances in your story.
Never use racial slurs or hate speech.
Please don’t repeat a story you’ve previously told at The Moth.
Notes and props are strictly prohibited! Just you and your voice!
