Passion and purpose for stories

Walk through the course interface and format

You will need...

Download the storyboard printable template

Join the conversation!

How to storyboard: full-color PDF booklet

What are your writing goals?

Why tell stories? To understand meaning from events.

When you tell your story it changes the ending.

Homework - catalog your values

What type of story are you writing? Memoir, autobiography, life story, family history, or...therapy

Immutable laws of memoir

Stitching

Just get started now, and it will be enough

Chapter two checkpoint

Definitions

More rules for writing memoir

Deciding your story's tense and point of view

Point of View/Tense exercise

Discussion of the Tense/POV exercise

Writing dialogue

Write it like a movie

Writing sensory details

Writing prompt

A summary of 5 quick tips to write a great story

Who is this story about? Your main character

Where should you start and end your story?

What to call your main character

How does your hero change?

Flaws vs. quirks

First look at the storyboard

3 main beats of the hero's journey

What is this story about? Theme.

Theme songs

Getting started - you will need to download the free template & booklet

Here's that download - storyboard printable template

Ways you can get the "How to Storyboard" booklet

Here's the free booklet download

How storyboarding will strengthen your writing

Central Problem - internal conflict vs. external conflict

Toy Story - Darkest hour dialogue reading

Callbacks

Closing scene

Instructions for storyboard puzzle exercise

Exercise - Storyboard puzzle for Toy Story

Here is the answer sheet for the Toy Story storyboard exercise

Watch this video of a personal story first

A beat-by-beat tutorial of how I mapped out the previous lesson's video

Exercise: Storyboard the Wizard of Oz

Wizard of Oz storyboard answers

Assignment - storyboard your Genesis Vignette

Bonus - full explanation of how "The Sound of Music" hits all the beats

What is the difference between journaling and writing your life story?

Deciding now what to do with your journals

Bil Lepp - Storyteller and Liar's Champion on telling the truth and telling family stories

Navigating the truth

Rules for telling the truth in true life stories

What if you worry that your life has not been interesting?

Fun journal prompts

She's the spark

Why oral history? The voice is intimate.

Whose voice would you give anything to hear?

The basic kit

In oral history, when do you press for more, and when do you back off?

Ask specific questions

Questions, questions, questions

Printable PDF

Relationship questions - printable PDF

Should you film oral history?

Further reading - how to transcribe audio

Finish your story by telling it

Assignment - interview someone

Use the subconscious

Do you believe in the Muse?

Procrastination

Beware the "but firsts"

What to do if you feel you are not a good writer

My favorite thoughts - a pep talk for creatives

When you feel overwhelmed...

The War of Art

Tricksters and alter egos

Assignment - commit to a writing time

Why you should write about the hard stuff - Alice Ann's story

Family stories show us we can do it

Why write about the hard stuff? The unburdening effect

Confidentiality and ethics

Free write exercise

Chapter eight checkpoint

Intro to researching, digitizing, and organizing

Pro tip: Compile the names and dates up front in your project

Headers and manuscript organization

The "find" function is your best friend

My favorite media resources

Where to find historic context

Methods for digitizing photos and documents

Digitizing with a light box

Digitizing cassette tapes

Saving and backing up files

Publishing vs. Printing

Book printing options

Another printing option - picture books

Editing your own work

Read your story aloud

Ground rules for giving feedback

Throw a party when you finish!

Do it now and it will be enough

The act itself of finishing will change you

Final homework