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TEXT VERSION OF LESSON 3: GROUPS OF 3

Ok, for today’s lesson, first we are going to do a brain dump, and then we are going to focus in on the number 3. 

We’ve spent a few lessons thinking about, and listening to, other people’s stories.

Now, we’re going to start to think about the types of stories that YOU might want to tell. 

And what’s important here is that you begin to think through stories that are relevant, or connected to, your course assignment. ANd I’ll get into why but the idea is that the work that you do here today will be able to translate into you bigger assignment, later.

But, oh no. Where do you start? Right? That’s the concern. If I was to guess, you either have 1 million ideas floating around in your mind that makes it feel impossible to land on JUST ONE. 

Or you have precisely zero ideas. WHen you put your mind to thinking about it this assignment, your mind goes blank.

In today’s exercise, we’re going to go back to the beginning, have a bit of fun, and then have a bit of fun with the idea, to shake out some of the cobwebs.

Ok, so….depending how your brain works, either use the Google Doc that I’ve created, or, if your brain works better with pencil in hand, hash this out on paper first, and then later you can copy this onto the Google Doc to help you keep track of everything. That part will be important later on, so I don’t loose track of your rough notes if you’re working on paper.

The idea here is to work fast and break things. This isn’t a time to be precious! If you think of something, write it down. And then don’t dwell on it, move on to the next. There will be plenty of time to go over things later.  

One good place to start here is to go back to your core memories. These are the stories about you or your life that keep coming back to you. 

As you’re getting ready, let your brain wander over some examples of:

Early memories

Family secrets

Festive meals, or significant holidays

Your first…concert….outdoor experience…first love...

Ok, set a timer for 60 seconds and get ready to list, of just one-words, a word that triggers a memory or an ideal. There’s no correct number of memories to list out. Just see how much you can think of in 60 seconds…and if you didn’t even get started in the first minute, set another timer and try again! 

The goal here is to open your mind a bit, to think of ideas and recall memories…because those are often part of what personal narrative stories are based on.  

After you’ve completed your one-word list, and you feel satisfied with it, I want you to take a moment and read it over. See what jumps out at you.

This time you’re looking at these words to see which one trigger a bigger memory…or a bigger idea….those are the beginnings of a story.

Now remember that a story is where something happens, to someone. A memory is good, but the next thing you need is some action, or an event, that makes it all come together as a compelling narrative.

Maybe you’ve already pressed pause on this video to get started, because you’re already overflowing with ideas. But if you need a bit of kickstart to get going, here’s a couple of ideas.

Maybe the word you think of is Biryani, this could be a story about your grandmother’s recipe (and how that tells a story of your family)

Or you think: Bus: It could a story of a near death story experience, and what that taught you about life.

Or…you remember looking at some fish…and you recall how a certain scientific finding that you have learned about relates to climate change.

Ok, now that you have those 3 different story ideas listed, and try to go to different places in your mind so that you have some choices here, and not just three slightly different angles of the same thing.

Ok, now that you have those three ideas listed, beside each of these ideas, make another list of 3 places, three locations, where you could RECORD something about this story.

So this needs to be an event, or to go back to a place, or to interview a person.

The location could be in person, or it could be on the phone, or over Zoom…but for each one, try to think of MORE than one way to capture this story.

Now, a new list of 3 for each story: Tell me why the listener would CARE about this idea or topic. Say it in under 5 words, not a whole paragraph.Next, list 3 more reasons HOW, or WHY the listener would connect to the story - the hint here is that you need to have an image of the person that you will tell this story to you in your mind. Make it specific. Think of just one person.

Ok, last thing. Tell me in under 10 words, WHY each of these stories needs to be told. One reason per story. Be concise. Think of that one listener when you imagine doing this.