Storytelling is definitely cathartic for both reader and writer. I've always loved to tell good stories and even more to read good stories. Thanks for this lovely piece!
Storytelling is the connective tissue between civilizations. You really want to change someone’s life? Tell them your story. Even if you have a shaky voice. Want to understand life from someone else’s perspective? Listen to their stories. Want your message to truly connect with your audience? Tell a story!
You illustrate the magic of storytelling so well in this article. Thank you for these words!
It's funny how what is scariest can be the starting point to become the writers we want to be. Your suggestions seem very accurate to me, after all, your story is the one you know best and when telling it it is easier to convey honesty and that helps to connect too. Thanks for sharing!
Achievements and Failures… a great suggestion for where to get started ✍🏻 we can overthink and over complicate things, resulting in no action being taken at all 😕 but, simplifying it like this is a big help - Thanks Tom 🫶🏻
What important prompt did you give your students? It allowed them to tell their stories, not feel alone in trauma, and get support. Storytelling is an important way to process the pain people have endured. There are several groups I want to join, and I am trying to do one at a time. I hope to become a paid subscriber when I am ready. Thank you
Hey Karen! I'm sorry for not responding to this. I asked them to write about the five toughest moments from their lives, how they overcame them, and what they learned. It really led to some impactful moments.
It was fine. I just wanted to let you know how wonderful this type of writing is for people. The therapist in me has been playing around with this for years. I usually find it true, but I am curious about other people's thoughts.
Story telling is so important. I'm about to take an in depth class on the art of story telling for the first three months of the year. I'm hoping it will improve the way I tell stories (obviously). But I also like that learning to write stories makes us better readers of stories. I always get more out of stories I read when I am learning to write stories and I learn more about writing stories the more I read them. It's a wonderful process.
That’s super interesting Mary. It’s kind of like what happened to me when I went to film school over a decade ago. The way the professors broke down popular movies and showed me the hidden messages directors were placing in them helped me get so much more out of the story!
Have you ever seen the video on youtube where the do a I’ll call it a “false” trailer for a movie. They basically use music and include words like '“ Here would be the action sequence”… etc and you can completely tell how a movie trailer is broken down even though they don’t have any actual footage of a trailer. It was years ago I saw it, but you probably could still find it.
Thank you for your insight. I started to write my Memoir in May 2023, dividing it into blog posts every week, and it has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things I've done. I agree with all the benefits you listed. It is worth while, even if it only helps you but usually it connects you to the most interesting and astounding individuals you never knew you needed in your life. I am so grateful for all the content creators out there who have touched my life through their storytelling, art, music or podcasts. They made me laugh and cry, and made the world a little less lonely. So, I wanted to bring my contribution too. Writing is cathartic, creative and connective. One of the best things I ever did! And the best of all, there's no competition if you write your own story. Everyone is unique and everyone has something to teach you.
Yvette just yesterday I wrote about a moment from 2014 that was a huge turning point in my life. I had so much fun writing it. Next year I plan to publish my memoir here on Substack and see what happens. It should be a good time. :)
In 2023 - 2024, I posted my memoir on Wattpad (with links to it on FB, Twitter/X, Instagram and LinkedIn) but had very little response. This week I decided to write my second draft, improve my text and reach a new audience on Substack and Medium, and I've already reached more people in one week, by posting one chapter, than I did in a whole year on the regular social media sites. So, yes, this is definitely the place to post your memoir. You'll be amazed at how supportive the Substackers are! Send me a link too please, I love to read blogs, biographies and autobiographies. Count me in! And best of luck. I'm sure you're going to love it.
I published my memoir last year and serialized it on Substack. It was an amazing way to involve readers at a different level and make them part of the journey of writing a book.
Now I help other writers do the same and you can make it really engaging by doing things like a book cover reveal, get direct feedback on the book, add polls, launch a beta readers group...
Good luck with your memoir here, it looks like it's going great!
I've only been on Substack a year (since January) and I've already received much more support than any other site. It's really a writer's paradise :D lol
Storytelling is definitely cathartic for both reader and writer. I've always loved to tell good stories and even more to read good stories. Thanks for this lovely piece!
Thanks for reading Mimi! :)
Storytelling is the connective tissue between civilizations. You really want to change someone’s life? Tell them your story. Even if you have a shaky voice. Want to understand life from someone else’s perspective? Listen to their stories. Want your message to truly connect with your audience? Tell a story!
You illustrate the magic of storytelling so well in this article. Thank you for these words!
Thank you for reading!! :)
It's funny how what is scariest can be the starting point to become the writers we want to be. Your suggestions seem very accurate to me, after all, your story is the one you know best and when telling it it is easier to convey honesty and that helps to connect too. Thanks for sharing!
Nobody is more of an expert in your story than you! :) Thanks for reading Estefanía
Achievements and Failures… a great suggestion for where to get started ✍🏻 we can overthink and over complicate things, resulting in no action being taken at all 😕 but, simplifying it like this is a big help - Thanks Tom 🫶🏻
Awesome to hear this Shelly. Good luck! Happy writing!
Agree, Shelly, sometimes we overcomplicate when the most important thing is to take 1 small action and go from there.
What important prompt did you give your students? It allowed them to tell their stories, not feel alone in trauma, and get support. Storytelling is an important way to process the pain people have endured. There are several groups I want to join, and I am trying to do one at a time. I hope to become a paid subscriber when I am ready. Thank you
Hey Karen! I'm sorry for not responding to this. I asked them to write about the five toughest moments from their lives, how they overcame them, and what they learned. It really led to some impactful moments.
It was fine. I just wanted to let you know how wonderful this type of writing is for people. The therapist in me has been playing around with this for years. I usually find it true, but I am curious about other people's thoughts.
So true! A reminder of resilience ❤️
Story telling is so important. I'm about to take an in depth class on the art of story telling for the first three months of the year. I'm hoping it will improve the way I tell stories (obviously). But I also like that learning to write stories makes us better readers of stories. I always get more out of stories I read when I am learning to write stories and I learn more about writing stories the more I read them. It's a wonderful process.
That’s super interesting Mary. It’s kind of like what happened to me when I went to film school over a decade ago. The way the professors broke down popular movies and showed me the hidden messages directors were placing in them helped me get so much more out of the story!
Have you ever seen the video on youtube where the do a I’ll call it a “false” trailer for a movie. They basically use music and include words like '“ Here would be the action sequence”… etc and you can completely tell how a movie trailer is broken down even though they don’t have any actual footage of a trailer. It was years ago I saw it, but you probably could still find it.
That sounds awesome Mary. I’m sure I can find it if I do a little searching. I’ll do that on my way to jiu jitsu today on the metro.
Thank you for your insight. I started to write my Memoir in May 2023, dividing it into blog posts every week, and it has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things I've done. I agree with all the benefits you listed. It is worth while, even if it only helps you but usually it connects you to the most interesting and astounding individuals you never knew you needed in your life. I am so grateful for all the content creators out there who have touched my life through their storytelling, art, music or podcasts. They made me laugh and cry, and made the world a little less lonely. So, I wanted to bring my contribution too. Writing is cathartic, creative and connective. One of the best things I ever did! And the best of all, there's no competition if you write your own story. Everyone is unique and everyone has something to teach you.
Yvette just yesterday I wrote about a moment from 2014 that was a huge turning point in my life. I had so much fun writing it. Next year I plan to publish my memoir here on Substack and see what happens. It should be a good time. :)
In 2023 - 2024, I posted my memoir on Wattpad (with links to it on FB, Twitter/X, Instagram and LinkedIn) but had very little response. This week I decided to write my second draft, improve my text and reach a new audience on Substack and Medium, and I've already reached more people in one week, by posting one chapter, than I did in a whole year on the regular social media sites. So, yes, this is definitely the place to post your memoir. You'll be amazed at how supportive the Substackers are! Send me a link too please, I love to read blogs, biographies and autobiographies. Count me in! And best of luck. I'm sure you're going to love it.
Totally agree with that.
I published my memoir last year and serialized it on Substack. It was an amazing way to involve readers at a different level and make them part of the journey of writing a book.
Now I help other writers do the same and you can make it really engaging by doing things like a book cover reveal, get direct feedback on the book, add polls, launch a beta readers group...
Good luck with your memoir here, it looks like it's going great!
I've only been on Substack a year (since January) and I've already received much more support than any other site. It's really a writer's paradise :D lol
Agree, Yvette, it’s a writers’ temple and it feels so refreshing compared to social media.