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Wondering how to write your story? Don't worry, just write! Imagine sharing your heart with a much loved niece. Be funny, be serious, be snarky, be poetic; whatever, just be honest and be yourself. As you share your story be sure to include the thoughts, feelings, and motivations that were a part of your experience; these are the things that make a story truly relatable. Also, try not to slip into "giving advice" as lessons are generally self-evident within the stories. Human nature being what it is we are all quicker to embrace good ideas when we feel like we came up with them on our own, right? You will most likely find that your story will evolve into a sort of story within a story. First, you have the primary story that gets to the challenge; the drama and/or trauma referenced in the title of the book. This can range from the seemingly mundane but oh-so-important friendship issues to the more extreme but also very relevant issues of sexuality, gang life, self-injury, addiction, and on and on. I've received lots of topic suggestions from girls and they truly do cover the spectrum. (Your primary audience will be from thirteen to seventeen years old so use some discernment, but as you will see by the Book Content Samples this book is genuinely about helping girls, not about avoiding difficult topics.) Next you have the story within the story that gets to the "true power." Maybe you knew it at the time, maybe you figured it out years later, but when you embrace your challenges you invariably discover some of your own power. What do I mean by that? Well, do you know how it is when you are really in tune with your truest and best self? When you are confident in your own value? When you are compassionate towards yourself and others? When you are tapped in to your deeper intuitive wisdom? When you live your life from your strength instead of your fear? The list is ongoing and different elements of true power resonate more strongly for different people. Really try to think about what resonates for you in relation to your story and as you write pay attention to how naturally it weaves itself in to the story. Now, as a general rule the hardest part of writing any story is getting started, so fire up that computer or bust out your favorite pencil/pen/fruit-scented marker and just write. If it flows into a story that you'd like to submit, fabulous! If not, no worries, and I thank you for trying. My hope is that this will ultimately be a positive experience of self-exploration either way. Enjoy! |