There is something very powerful in telling real stories. I personally love listening to them, and enjoy using stories to share a message, to let others know we are not alone or to open our world to others’ experiences. This is the magic for me as a listener, as virtually any story can evoke an emotion – joy, sorrow, amazement, wonder!
Last Mother’s Day reminded me that I wish my mum had written stories of her life. She wrote only one but it was short and never finished. I remember a few of her childhood stories that she would tell us but they were not about her life as a woman, mum, friend, wife and so much more. I would have loved to know more about what she thought of so many things.
Story telling for our Indigenous communities, as I read recently, described them as the beating heart to their cultures. It not just a way of recording their history and spiritual beliefs but also to connect individuals and communities to their place, time and each other.
My question now to you what is your story? Do you have a story about yourself you’ve shared or like to share? Do you like listening to others stories? What do you learn or take away from them?
Since I’m in the story telling mode, I’ve researched some quick and easy ways to help tell your stories if you’d like – if you have children, I’m sure like me, that would love to hear yours as I would have my mums.
Quick Steps To Start Writing Your Story.
I’m definitely not an expert in this area, so I’ve googled some ideas with links so you can delve more if you’d like.
Share your life story has some great tips – I like to think it can be a short 5 minute story to a whole book – but importantly enjoy the process. I really liked this paragraph from their blog.
Many would have you believe the past should stay in the past, but the wise know growth is impossible without reflection and introspection. Looking back into our memories enables us to better understand ourselves in the present.
- Keep your readers in mind when sharing your story
- Write, write, write
- Think About Specific Events
- How do you want to organise your story
- Choose a theme for your story
- Get friends and family to jog your memory
- Use photos to relive the memories
- Add emotions to trigger your readers/listeners emotions
- Use a video or audio to record memories
- Enjoy writing your life story
Another I found was from Now Novel
It can be a challenging writing project, but a valuable and creative one. It’s a chance to organise the narrative arc of your life, key impactful moments in your life, reappraise where you’ve been and where you’re going. You’ll also see what life lessons you have experienced and can share that with readers. It can be a rewarding creative writing project.
- Choose your mode fictionalized or non fictionalised
- Choose an approach to time (period of time)
- Set Aside Your Fear
- Gather Key Events to cover
- Let your voice sing true – your authentic voice
- Avoid Preening – the value of truth telling
- Get good feedback – get help pulling it together
If you would like to know more about speaking or coaching I’d love to hear from you here.