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SASQUATCH BOOKS1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 710 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
98101
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PLEASE DO NOT PRINT REVIEW BEFORE RELEASE DATE OF OCTOBER 20,
2015Contact Haley Stocking, Publicist 206/826-4318
[email protected]
When you watch Margot Leitman telling stories onstage, you find
yourself laughing hysterically and somehow feeling less alone in a
world where it seems everyone else got some kind of instruction
manual. And now shes literally gone and given you an instruction
manual.Dan Kennedy, host of The Moth Podcast and
writer-performer
Did you ever wish you could tell a story that leaves others
spellbound? Storytelling teacher and Moth GrandSLAM champion Margot
Leitman will show you how in Long Story Short: The Only
Storytelling Guide Youll Ever Need (Sasquatch Books; $19.95;
October 2015). This practical storytelling guide from Leitman, a
comedian, winner of multiple storytelling competitions, and founder
of the Upright Citizens Brigades storytelling program, breaks a
story into concrete components with ways to improve content,
structure, emotional impact, and delivery. Leitman shows readers
how to get past the fear of having nothing interesting to say and
how to strike gold in the universal
truth of shared human experiences. She also addresses common
questions like what details can I fudge? With an easy-to-read
layout and plenty of sidebars and tips, Long Story Short helps
anyone turn lifes mishaps into story magic.
The book takes a fun, irreverent, and infographic approach, with
personal anecdotes, relatable examples, and practical exercises to
help storytellers of all levels draw in audiences and keep them on
the edges of their seats.
(MORE)
Long Story ShortThe Only Storytelling Guide Youll Ever Need
Margot Leitman
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About the AuthorMargot Leitman is a storyteller, comedian, and
writer originally from Matawan, New Jersey. She is the author of
the comedic memoir Gawky: Tales of an Extra Long Awkward Phase from
Seal Press/Perseus Books, which was called hilarious by New Jersey
Monthly magazine, and really, who doesnt desire to make their home
state proud? For television, she has written for NBC, the Hallmark
Channel, and the PixL network. In print, her writing has appeared
in Playgirl magazine and New York Press, and on websites such as
the Frisky, CollegeHumor, and MyLifetime.com. Margot is a five-time
Moth StorySLAM winner and was the Moth GrandSLAM champion in New
York City in 2011. She travels all over the
world performing her true stories and teaching others to tell
their own. She is also an amateur baker and keeps an avid yoga
practice. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. Visit
MargotLeitman.com.
SASQUATCH BOOKS1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 710 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
98101
206/467-4300 TOLL FREE 800/775-0817 FAX
206/467-4301www.sasquatchbooks.com
Long Story Short The Only Storytelling Guide Youll Ever Need
Margot Leitman
October 2015 $19.95 320 pages Paperback ISBN
978-1-63217-027-9
Available wherever fine books are sold.Sasquatch Books
800/775-0817 www.sasquatchbooks.com
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Praise for Long Story ShortWhen you watch Margot Leitman telling
stories onstage, you find yourself laughing hysterically and
somehow feeling less alone in a world where it seems everyone else
got some kind of instruction manual. And now shes literally gone
and given you an instruction manual. Shesa former hypochondriac,
obsessed with game shows, and asuperfan of hair metaland shell make
you realize your own qualifications and credentials in no time. In
a world of experts, youve found an insightful book about
storytelling from an actual human.Dan Kennedy, host of The Moth
Podcast and writer-performerMargot Leitman is a rare thing: shes a
performer, a writer, andin this bookthe teacher you secretly have a
crush on. Sharp as hell, Leitman teaches you how to tell your own
story. Through sharing her process, telling personal stories, and
giving practical exercises, she will give you the tools and
confidence you need to share your story with the world.Elna Baker,
author and regular contributor to This American LifeFor our improv
show ASSSSCAT the success of the performance hinges on how meaty
the story is that the monologist gives us. Margot always delivers a
nice thick cut of filet mignon.Matt Besser, cofounder of The
Upright Citizens Brigade and author of The Upright Citizens Brigade
Comedy Improvisation ManualMargot Leitman and Michael Jordan are
both naturally good at storytelling/basketball. But theyre not
content to coast on their natural abilities; they also work at
their craft/dunks. But where they differ is that Michael Jordan has
retired and Margot Leitman continues to hone her formidable skills
on the word processor/court. Long Story Short shows her at the top
of her game/game.Rob Delaney, comedian and best-selling
authorMargot Leitman is not only an incredibly skilled and
entertaining storyteller but also a gifted teacher.She is the
person you most want next to you around a campfire, at a grungy
bar, or cheering you on at your first PowerPoint presentation. In
Long Story Short, Margot expertly guides readers through the ins
and outs of a craft essential to all who seek to connect more
deeply with the world around them.Jillian Lauren, New York Times
best-selling author of Some Girls: My Life in a HaremWhether you
know it or not, there are great stories inside of you, and Margot
Leitman is the perfect person to help you find them and squeeze
every drop of humor and emotion out of them when you do. Long story
short, she rules. Buy this book.DC Pierson, author of The Boy Who
Couldnt Sleep and Never Had ToMargot Leitman is hilarious and
vulnerable and real. In Long Story Short, she teaches us, with
great candor and clarity, how storytelling works. This book is
essentiala reminder that the world would be a better place if
everyone knew how to tell a good story.Diana Spechler, author and
seven-time Moth StorySLAM winner
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From Long Story Short: The Only Storytelling Guide Youll Ever
Need by Margot Leitman
Keep it true. Change names and identifying characteristics of
other people in your story if you feel its necessary. Make sure
your story has a universal theme that is relatable, not
self-indulgent or overly personal. Have multiple points of entry.
Dont be heavy-handed with your message. Let the story speak for
itself. If youre not over it, dont tell it. Tell us what you were
thinking at the time of your story. Reveal your inner monologue,
from A to Z. Cut the fat when introducing external characters. Use
composite characters and nickname them when you can. Make sure we
root for you. Be an underdog. Show us your flaws and use them to
your advantage when telling your story. If there are full-circle
connections within your story, be sure to use them. But dont force
a connection. Be the star of your story. Add nostalgia (songs,
television shows, fashion styles from the time of the story). Keep
us on our toes by incorporating the unexpected. Keep it
conversational, not presentational. Cut out anything you wouldnt
say to a group of your friends. You want your story to sound
natural. Make sure you arent just listing things, going on a rant,
or making a political speech. Make sure you get to the meat of the
story. If you care, we care. Passion will take you far. Emotionally
respond to the tale you are recounting, but dont yell at us!
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