Personally Authored & Intelligently Told. What's Your Story?

Telling Your Personal Story: 5 Key Points to Consider

Telling a personal story can be a powerful way to connect with your audience, whether you are writing a memoir, delivering a speech, or just sharing an anecdote with friends. However, crafting a compelling narrative requires more than just recounting events. Here are five key points to consider when telling your personal story.

1. Authenticity

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It's about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” - Brené Brown.

Being authentic means being true to who you are and expressing your feelings and experiences honestly. Your audience can tell when you're being genuine, and they will connect more deeply with your story as a result.

2. Structure

“Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.” - Robert McKee.

Like any good story, your personal story needs a clear beginning, middle, and end. Set the scene, introduce the characters, build up to a climax, and conclude with a resolution. This structure helps your audience follow along and stay engaged.

3. Details

“The devil is in the details.” - Gustave Flaubert.

Details bring your story to life. The smell of your grandmother's kitchen, the texture of your first pet's fur, the sound of your favorite song — these small details can evoke powerful emotions and make your story more vivid and memorable.

4. Lessons Learned

“The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.” - Brandon Sanderson.

What did you learn from your experiences? How did they change you? By sharing these insights, you give your audience something valuable to take away from your story.

5. Connection

“The shortest distance between two people is a story.” - Patti Digh.

Ultimately, the purpose of telling your personal story is to connect with your audience. By sharing your experiences and emotions, you invite your audience to empathize with you and see the world from your perspective.

In conclusion, telling a personal story is a powerful way to connect with others. By being authentic, structuring your story, including vivid details, sharing lessons learned, and striving for connection, you can craft a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience.