Does Your Scrapbook Have a Story Arc?

By tweaking your scrapbooks to have strong story arcs, they’ll jump off the shelf or out of the computer, fascinate your audience, and tell your family story in a compelling way. Are you ready to take your stories to the next level?

~

“Those who tell the stories, rule the world.” – Plato

~

Why is STORY so Important?

• Expressive writing dates back to 10th century Japan.
• Our brains think in story and don’t distinguish between a story and real life
• Story brings meaning to our lives and puts things we learn into context
• Story is how we gain wisdom from events that happen in our lives
• Stories influence people
• Life storytelling is an umbrella term that includes memoir, personal essay, songwriting, poems, scrapbook pages, and other ways of sharing your life.

~

“If you wish to influence an individual or a group to embrace a particular value in their lives, tell them a compelling story. – Annette Simmons, Writer

~

What is a Story Arc?

A story arc (contraction from “over-arching story”) is a sequence or series of installments which shows a transformation from a particular impetus. The typical 3-point story arc has an Opening, a Climax, and a Resolution.

 

Consider a different story arc – Nigel Watts 8-point arc:

 

• Stasis – Everyday life. Business as usual.
• Trigger – This sparks the story (positive or negative)
• Quest – Seeking to get to a new situation
• Surprise – Possibly multiple surprises, obstacles, pleasant events
• Critical Choice – A big decision revealing personality, not a chance happening
• Climax – Results of the choice
• Reversal – Changes the status of the characters
• Resolution – Return to a fresh “normal” situation, wiser, story complete

 

Tweaks to Include Story Arc in Scrapbooks

• Identify recurring themes or compelling storylines in your past work
• Chronological, but include ups and downs.
• No one’s story is perfect, show your struggles (Marcia Fortunato)
• One word (Ali Edwards)
• Week in the life or day in the life
• Scrapbooking your faith or other topic (Courtney Walsh)
• Create a scene to invite readers in – What did you smell? What did you hear? What did you taste? What did you see? What did you touch? What did you feel (emotions)?
• Pick one moment in time

 

If you’d like to learn how to write YOUR life stories, check out our free webinar: 4 Simple, Proven Methods to Writing the First Chapter of Your Life Story in Just 7 Days.