A Simple Three Step Template To Write That Special Story

“I am a rescuer of stories hidden among the ordinary.  I give these stories voice as a template to inspire others with untold stories so that they will know the satisfaction of rescuing their own stories.”  – Nancy Cullen

This BLOG began as a place where I could record and share stories.  Stories stemming from four areas outlined on THE STONEBRIDGE About page.  This is my version of a Sacred Bundle, a practice begun by my father.

Capturing, or as I like to say, rescuing, stories from our thoughts, memories, and obscurity is a learned skill.  There are processes, template frameworks, and yes, a bit of discipline involved.  These are not apparent but run in the background like a good operating system in a computer.

Although, not complex, nonetheless, they must be identified and adapted to your style.  Once in place, becoming a hero at rescuing stories feels natural.

My Hero Model Template

My father was a quiet example of a story rescuer.  His method was quite simple, as were the tools he used:

Template
My Father’s “sacred Bundle”
  • his thoughts and observations
  • a quiet place to think and write,
  • paper
  • a manual typewriter.

My tools are the same, except I have replaced the typewriter and paper with a laptop and this BLOG.

Dad wrote during quiet hours in the office at “The Shop”, his place of business where he sold new and used auto parts.  He stored his writing in a dark blue vinyl satchel.  Occasionally he would let one of us read these musings.

I write in my “vision room”, in the W.B. Alliston house next to our historic landmark home.  I store them on this BLOG for the world to read, comment on, and, I hope, received some inspiration from.

Find Your Personal Why

How can you become a Hero At Rescuing Your Valuable Stories?  First, define why rescuing stories is important, then why it is important to you.  This is a great assist to not only begin but to remain consistent when life conspires to derail your efforts.

The “why”, for me, arrives from either discovering some delightful piece of information lost or losing a significant person in my life, then realizing how much passed with them.

https://wp.me/pbH2qy-1uKAn example of the former was an entry in the family bible about my maternal great-great grandfather’s journey from Germany to Kansas.  It was discovering a piece of my own history.

Of course, the loss of a person from this earth is sorrowful, but the loss of their stories for lack of recording only adds to that sorrow.  Taking the time to write these things down is a way to preserve their legacy.

There are many “whys’ in rescuing stories.  Find yours.

Your Hero Model

Second, think about what kind of stories you want to record.  Your personal observations of daily life, family events or conversations, or even the story behind particular objects and what they represent.

For instance, a collection of seashells.  Where were they collected?  What was the occasion? Who were you with?

Third, assemble your own simple tool kit.  Decide a time, place, and means where these rescued stories will be recorded and stored.  Look for ways to fit into your life routine, for example:

  • Use a voice recorder during your daily commute or walk
  • Journal each morning, evening, or even once a week, with thoughts and details on your chosen topic
  • Catch ideas as they fly by on a digital voice recording or App such as Evernote or OneNote

A Place To Start

Below is a template, an aid in deciding what kind of stories to rescue along with some suggested ways to begin “storing” them.

Click here for your free PDF download and start today!

I inherited Dad’s writings, and have compiled them into a book.  It is an example of what is possible with humble tools.  It can be viewed and purchased by clicking on this link.

What kind of story will you rescue this week?  Please share in the comments

I am a former air traffic controller, pilot, Aircoupe owner, married 42 years to a great guy. We live in a 125+ year old historic Victorian, enjoy cats, vintage anything, precious friends. My passion is Giving Lost Stories A Voice – Giving Found Materials Fresh Form and Purpose!

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