Inspire, Inform, Connect, and Transform
In the previous article, we gave you a glimpse of the themes that will be addressed on the CREATE platform, namely ‘History,’ ‘Travel,’ ‘Life Experience,’ ‘Fiction,’ and ‘Culture.’ These are fascinating topics that anyone can share a personal story about. But what is the importance of sharing your story? And sharing is one thing, but putting it down on paper is a whole different story. We would like to provide you with a step-by-step plan and tips & tricks so that your story can find its way to the page (or platform).
Emelie Pauwels
The Power of a Life Story
A well-crafted life story has the ability to inspire, inform, connect, and even transform others. It is no wonder that stories have played an important role throughout history in sharing experiences, transferring knowledge, and strengthening communities. A life story can provide:
- Inspiration: A life story can inspire others by showing how someone has overcome obstacles, experienced personal growth, or achieved their dreams. It can encourage others to face their own challenges and bring out the best in themselves.
- Empathy and Connection: Sharing a life story can create a sense of empathy and help people identify with others who have had similar experiences, fostering a sense of connection. It can help people feel less alone in their own struggles and challenges.
- Personal Growth: By hearing or reading about the experiences of others, people can gain new insights and better understand themselves. A life story can prompt self-reflection, self-discovery, and personal growth.
- Transfer of Knowledge and Wisdom: Life stories are often filled with valuable lessons, wise advice, and practical knowledge. By sharing personal experiences, people can inform others and help them navigate similar challenges more effectively. This can range from personal tips and advice to broader insights about life and the world.
- Cultural Heritage: Life stories contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage and the passing on of traditions and values to future generations. They play a role in strengthening identity and understanding the history and culture of a community.
In short, the power of a life story lies in its ability to touch, inform, connect, and help individuals and communities grow on personal and collective levels. It is clear that sharing your life story is of great importance, but how do you shape your story? For that, we have developed a step-by-step plan.
Step by Step
The power of the CREATE platform lies in its ability to allow you to easily share your personal story by following three simple steps. First, choose the theme you want to write about: ‘History,’ ‘Travel,’ ‘Life Experience,’ ‘Fiction,’ or ‘Culture.’ As a second step, choose the focus of your story. Do you want to write about your sources of inspiration? Or are you going for the bucket list? Or perhaps you prefer to start from an experience that has changed your life? Once you have chosen the focus (inspiration, bucket list, or life-changing experience), you can also choose a specific question. This way, you have a theme, a focus, and a question that together form the guiding thread of your personal story. Let’s put it to the test. Suppose you welcomed your first grandchild a year ago and want to share your story about your life as a grandparent. Then you choose the theme ‘Life Experience.’ Now you can choose the focus you want to emphasize. Will you talk about how your grandchild or grandparenthood inspires you? Would you prefer to create a bucket list, describing an ideal day with your grandchild or the activities you definitely want to do with the little one? Or do you simply want to tell how your grandchild has changed your life? Whichever steps you take, your story will certainly inspire, touch, or teach another grandparent. Because in every personal story lies a positive force.
Tips & Tricks
On the platform, everyone can write down their personal story by following these three steps. Still not fully convinced that you can express your story effectively? Don’t worry, the following tips will surely make it a success!
- Identify the Purpose: What do you want to achieve with your story? Do you want to inspire, inform, entertain, or something else? Determining the purpose of your story helps you maintain focus during the writing process.
- Create a Structure: A well-crafted personal story usually has a clear structure. Start with an engaging introduction to captivate readers, then develop the plot or story progression, and end with a strong conclusion or lesson learned.
- Be Honest and Authentic: A personal story needs to be genuine and sincere. Be open and honest about your emotions, thoughts, and experiences. This will help readers to connect with you and your story.
- Use Vivid Details: Employ descriptive language and vivid details to bring your story to life. This helps readers imagine what is happening and makes your story more engaging.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of simply telling what happened, try to bring the events to life through dialogue, actions, and thoughts of the characters. Let readers experience the emotions and experiences instead of just telling them.
- Be Selective with Details: While it’s important to use vivid details, it’s also important to be selective. Choose only the details that are relevant to your story and contribute to conveying your message.
- Maintain Focus: Ensure that your story has a clear focus and avoid tangents that distract from the main storyline. This helps to keep your story coherent and engaging.
- Take Time to Revise: A well-crafted personal story often requires multiple revisions. Take the time to read, rewrite, and edit your story. Check for grammatical errors, inconsistencies, and ensure that your story is logical and well-structured.
- Seek Feedback: Have others read your story and ask for honest feedback. Others can provide valuable insights and help identify any weaknesses or areas for improvement.
Remember that a personal story is unique to you, and there are no strict rules on how it should be written. The most important thing is to find your own voice and style and share your story in an engaging and captivating way.
CREATE your STORY
On the CREATE platform, seniors can publish their personal stories with the necessary support. Do you want to test our step-by-step plan and share your story with us? Send an email to welkom@neosvzw.be for the link.