Hook, detail, twist, hand it back.

Story formulas for four settings. Dinners: hook-twist-punchline, ordinary day then one day, expectation versus reality, small disaster big lesson, start in the middle. Dates: how I got into it, laughing at myself, why I love it, a moment in a place, a story that opens a question. Work: situation-task-action-result, problem-approach-result-learning, before-after-bridge, failure-fix-lesson, the difficult person resolved. Toasts: past-present-future, one detail one moment one wish, rule of three, callback ending, anecdote-point-link.

Almost everyone does — they're just told in the wrong shape. A missed train, a cooking disaster or the first time you tried something new can all become great stories with a hook, one vivid detail, a turn and a clear ending. The cards help you find and shape the ones you already have.

In conversation, about a minute is usually plenty. Start close to the interesting moment, keep one or two vivid details, and end on a clear line. People will ask for more if they want it — and shorter stories leave room for them to share theirs.

Yes — cards 11-15 are built for work and interviews. Only use true stories, though: interviewers often ask follow-up questions, and invented or stretched details tend to come apart under them.

Leave out private details they wouldn't want shared, and aim humour at the situation or yourself rather than at someone who isn't there. For toasts especially, keep it kind and free of anything that would embarrass the person or their guests.