This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »
Engage people in sharing stories through StoryASKING, where the asker poses questions or ideas and asks others to share their story .
I am planning to design a deck or a notepad with StoryASKING topics for people to use to generate their personal stories, either written or oral about a specific topic of interest. I would love to hear ideas that anyone has for what to ASK about and respond to this idea.
Topics:
creative writing memoir storytelling
Fritzie Reisner 100+
On another part of that site, there are photo prompts, which might give you an idea of visual cues you could use for your card deck.
The second thing that came to my mind was a card deck I used to use in class called something like the Ungame. I have misplaced it, but again, these are prompts that could launch reflection, discussion, or storytelling. There was one deck with less challenging questions and one with more challenging questions (challenging in the sense of digging more deeply into feelings and beliefs).
Diann Martin
Fritzie Reisner 100+
In reference to the picture, it is painted (not by me!) from a photograph of my now three year old English Bulldog.
Gail . 50+
I like to start with the oldest ancestor my client remembers. Perhaps it is great grandparents or a great grandmother. What did she look like? What do you remember about her? Did you ever stay at her house? What did it look like. Describe the kitchen. (those old-fashioned kitchens make such wonderful stories, as do stories about the out house and life without toilet paper and one-room schools.)
Progress to grandparents with the same types of questions.
Introduce your parents (how did they meet? Are there any special stories you have heard about their wedding?
What is your very first memory?
Walk it through a little at a time. Ask them to describe their childhood neighborhoods and compare it with today's neighborhoods (where children do not play in the streets). What games did they like to play? What did you do before computers, video games, mobile phones, DVDs, things like that.
As you get to the middle years, bring up religion, school memories, clothing, dance, etc.
I think you get the picture.
If you want to read a couple of my sample memoirs, let me know and I'll send you a link. They might inspire you. Let me know if I can help.
I also suggest that the writing part of the page begins with Dear _(fill in name)__. If a person is writing a letter to a grandchild, that love will flow through the writing, intimidation goes away, and the writer will use simple words to tell the story. Writing at a 5th grade level is really ideal for what you are describing.
Ken brown 30+
That sounds really interesting,would you post your links here?
Diann Martin
Gail . 50+
Linda Taylor 50+
These questions are best asked "Tell me about a time when you..." or "Tell me anything you would like about when you experienced ..."
People also structure their stories differently. Some are chronological and some are event focused and some are meaning focused. Why are you doing this? If I may ask.
Diann Martin
Linda Taylor 50+
Stories teach about how to walk in the world. I hope you keep that central to your work.
My research centers on stories so I am glad you are keeping the practice of stories for the next generations to come.