Posts Tagged ‘the moth’
My first comic books. Too bad I can’t show my kids. Or my students. Or anyone squeamish.
Last year, I had the opportunity to work with Double Take comics on their new comic book series based upon the original Night of the Living Dead film. Double Take asked a handful of Moth storytellers to consider writing stories for their zombie-filled universe, and I decided to give it a shot. The result was two…
Read MoreMy former students discover that their teacher is still alive (and maybe doing cool things) thanks to The Moth
In the last two days, The Moth – the preeminent storytelling organization in the world – has oddly brought me in contact with two of my former students in fairly bizarre ways. Yesterday, a former student who was in my class 15 years ago texted me this photo, which was sent to her by another…
Read MoreA not-so-disappointing disappointing night at The Moth
It’s always disappointing to drive almost three hours to a Moth StorySLAM and have your name remain in the hat for the duration of the night. I went to The Moth StorySLAM at Housing Works in New York on Tuesday, and sadly, this happened, I had a good story, too. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen too…
Read MoreMy son, the storyteller. I had no idea.
My three year-old son made up a story about traveling to New York to visit his cousins Ari and Zoe. If you listen closely, it actually many of the all of the elements of an excellent story. The story is concise. The story is simple,. It contains mystery and genuine surprise (critical for creating an…
Read MoreThe secret to great storytelling: Make the big moments incredibly small. Or find your tiny moments and tell just them.
Last night I was fortunate enough to win The Moth’s GrandSLAM in Somerville, MA. I told the story of my decision to confess to a crime I did not commit after a $7,000 deposit went missing from the McDonald’s that I was managing in Bourne, MA, and a police officer made the decision that I…
Read MoreThe Moth brought me and my elementary school principal back together
Earlier this month, I told a story at a Moth GrandSLAM in Brooklyn about a time in my life when I had to face down the principal as a third grader. After stealing a classmate’s stamp catalog, I was forced to admit to the theft or risk allowing my entire class to be punished for…
Read MoreThe best worst magic show ever
Last week I told a story for The Moth at the beautiful Brooklyn Academy of Music about the armed robbery that I survived back in 1993. The story opened with an anecdote about a magic show that had taken place just a few days prior to telling the story. I managed to record a little…
Read MoreResolution update: February 2016
PERSONAL HEALTH 1. Don’t die. I finished my physical therapy last week. This, in combination with a lowering of my cholesterol by almost 40 points, is a good indicator of future health. A recent health survey also indicated that I can expect to live until 95. I’m killing it. 2. Lose 20 pounds. Seven pounds…
Read MoreThe Moth: A Strip Club of my Own Making
I have never entered a strip club. Sitting beside my male friends and watching women who want nothing to do with me remove their clothes has never appealed to me. Unified public, unsatisfied arousal is just not my thing. I attended a bachelor party at a strip club once, but when we arrived at the…
Read MoreThe Moth: Death by Bee Sting
The following is a story that I told at a Moth GrandSLAM at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville, MA in March of 2015. The theme of the night was Once in a Blue Moon. I told a story about a bee sting that changed my life. I finished in second place.
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