I suppose chipping them would help.
Also the biodynamic folks (at the Josephine Porter Institute) sell something called Pfeiffer Biodynamic Field and Garden Spray and also Pfeiffer Biodynamic Compost Starter. (both very similar) The field and garden spray says:
"Its use accelerates the breakdown of organic matter without tying down nitrogen and leads to the creation of healthy soil with abundant humus."

plus, it's easy to use -- none of the typical hour of stirring that most biodynamic preps "require"

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: compost starter

Sticks? Hugelkultur!

Or you might take a bottle of blackstrap molasses, mix it with a few gallons of rainwater, spray it on the woody material. While the normal composting practice is to avoid putting soil on top of a compost pile, you could treat this like a German Mound (Hugelkultur) and top with soil.

Since I started with bokashi this year, I would add two layers of that fermented material in the mound if available.

Go out to eat on any monies you saved not buying the compost started stuff.

Pee on that damn stick pile, stupid stick pile break down already!!