October 1, 2015
Leitman (Gawky: Tales of an Extra Long Awkward Phase) presents a breezy, conversational guide for creating the types of podcast-ready stories you might hear on public radio shows This American Life or The Moth Radio Hour. She identifies the anecdotes that make for good narratives and supplies multiple prompts to help readers explore different aspects of their personalities and experiences. Interspersed throughout are examples of effective storytelling, motivational quotes, and ample encouragement. Leitman provides framing techniques as well as practical tips on how to whittle a tale down to its essence. The sections presented in Q&A format anticipate the queries novice storytellers might ask. The author, who teaches these same approaches in workshops around the country, also explains how her method might apply to business presentations, job interviews, or networking. Later chapters address how to prepare plots for actual performance. VERDICT Those wishing to create engaging performance pieces from personal experiences will find this book useful. Those seeking to present folktales or works of literature should look elsewhere.--Rebecca Brody, Westfield State Univ., MA
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