Video
Is this course for you? I answer a few questions, and end with comments by former students.
Course Overview
-
1
Welcome to: Write Your Life Story
-
It's very nice to meet you
FREE PREVIEW -
Passion and purpose for stories
-
Walk through the course interface and format
-
Instructor notes about the class format
FREE PREVIEW -
You will need...
-
Download the storyboard printable template
-
Join the conversation!
-
How to storyboard: full-color PDF booklet
-
What are your writing goals?
-
-
2
Why writing your life story matters
-
Introduction: why writing your story matters
FREE PREVIEW -
Why tell stories? Stories bind families
FREE PREVIEW -
Why tell stories? They are the only way we will be remembered.
FREE PREVIEW -
Why tell stories? To understand meaning from events.
-
When you tell your story it changes the ending.
-
What is your canon of stories?
FREE PREVIEW -
Homework - catalog your values
-
-
3
How to start writing your story
-
Chapter intro - the basics of getting started
FREE PREVIEW -
What type of story are you writing? Memoir, autobiography, life story, family history, or...therapy
-
Immutable laws of memoir
-
What is a vignette?
FREE PREVIEW -
Stitching
-
Just get started now, and it will be enough
-
Start at the beginning with genesis stories
FREE PREVIEW -
Why we do free writing exercises
FREE PREVIEW -
Assignment: Free write exercise - Genesis stories
FREE PREVIEW -
Definitions
-
More rules for writing memoir
-
-
4
Building blocks: writing tips and techniques
-
Chapter intro - building blocks: tips and techniques
FREE PREVIEW -
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
-
-
5
Character arc and theme
-
Introduction to writing characters, arc, and theme
FREE PREVIEW -
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
-
-
6
Storyboarding
-
Intro to storyboarding
FREE PREVIEW -
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
-
-
7
Telling the truth - journaling, diary writing and morning pages
-
Intro to telling the truth, journaling, and morning pages
FREE PREVIEW -
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
-
-
8
Interviewing and oral history
-
Intro to oral history and interviewing
FREE PREVIEW -
Music and your story
FREE PREVIEW -
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?
-
Listening: affirmation, validation, empathy
FREE PREVIEW -
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
-
-
9
Creativity, procrastination and resistance
-
Intro to topics of creativity, procrastination, and resistance
FREE PREVIEW -
What feeds your creativity?
FREE PREVIEW -
Use the subconscious
-
Do you believe in the Muse?
-
Procrastination
-
Restoring broken commitments
FREE PREVIEW -
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
-
-
10
Sensitive subjects and writing about the hard stuff
-
Intro to sensitive subjects and writing about the hard stuff
FREE PREVIEW -
Why you should write about the hard stuff - Alice Ann's story
-
Family stories tell us we can do it: From Sheri Dew, CEO of Deseret Book at RootsTech
-
Why write about the hard stuff? The unburdening effect
-
When not to share the hard stuff
FREE PREVIEW -
Confidentiality and ethics
-
Free write exercise
-
-
11
Researching, digitizing and organizing
-
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
-
-
12
Editing, feedback, and publishing
-
Intro to editing, writing groups, and publishing
FREE PREVIEW -
Publishing vs. Printing
-
Book printing options
-
Another printing option - picture books
-
Formatting your book
-
Microsoft Word template for a full book
-
Editing your own work
-
Read your story aloud
-
Ground rules for giving feedback
-
-
13
Final words of advice
-
Throw a party when you finish!
-
Do it now and it will be enough
-
Final homework
-
The act itself of finishing will change you
-
-
14
Taking the next steps
-
Before you go...
-
FAQ
-
How long will this class take me?
It is patterned after my 4-week in-person class that spans 8 hours of class time. There are fun exercises to do on your own. You could finish it in a day, a weekend, or a month.
-
Is this self-paced?
Yes. You can start or stop whenever you like and work on a schedule that is comfortable for you. The lessons are organized in short, bite-sized chunks to make it easy to start and stop.
-
What level of writer should I be?
This is meant to be an introductory guide to give an overview of the whole writing process with practical tools along the way. Many beginners take this class, as well as people who have already done a lot of work on their stories.
-
How much of this course is video?
About two-thirds of the lessons are short videos (mostly 3-5 minutes). Some are formatted like it's you and me together one-on-one, some are from a half-day class I filmed specifically so it would feel like you're there in a group, and some are tutorials narrated by me. The other lessons consist of exercises and additional reading. You can preview lessons above to get an idea.
Teaching and Presenting Experience







