The Making of a Story

Remembering a story is a little like taking a box of photos off the shelf, lifting the lid, and spreading the pictures out on the table. Each, a moment frozen in time. One by one, we pick them up, study them, compare them. Often the subjects overlap or the same scene has been captured from another perspective. We discover we can't always place the pictures--or the story--in a linear sequence. Rather, they represent multiple layers of experience. They illustrate the observations and perceptions of both participants and bystanders in the story. As we sift through the photos, we recall each occasion. Emotions come rushing back. And as time passes, we try to comprehend how each picture, each story, fits with the others in our lives.

So, how does one go about writing a story?  What is the process of recording memories, thoughts, and passions? I like to think of a story as a snapshot. One moment frozen in time. What led up this picture? Who are the people? What are they doing? Why? What are they thinking? Feeling? Hearing? Seeing? Tasting? Smelling? What are the implications of what is represented? What will happen next? Who or what is missing? How does the image affect you today? What could or should have happened? How does the snapshot affect the future?

One picture. One story.

Your snapshot may be an actual photo or an image indelibly fixed in your mind. A longer story strings any number of pictures together like an old-fashioned filmstrip, one scene at a time.

Perhaps you've always wanted to do a little writing. Or, maybe this is a new thought for you. Here's an opportunity:

Got wisdom? Why not share it through your writing?

 

Join Sherry Boykin, founder of But-Kickers: Growing Your Faith Bigger Than Your "But," for a fun writing workshop on how to identify your story, how to address a specific audience, and how to write memorable material.

 

Free and open to all.

 

Friday, April 17 at the Scranton, PA Steamtown Mall, Library Express,

10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Click here for more information and to register.

 

Perspective

Sweet Sixteen. How did sixteen years slip by so quickly? I'm not sure, but this birthday needed a celebration. So, with a little brainstorming, our daughter and I came up with a plan to celebrate with a few of her girlfriends.

What teenager doesn't want to take great photos to post on facebook or share with family and friends? So . . . on the appointed day, we asked each guest to bring a camera. Kim, our photographer friend (PS Impressions Photography), gave some tips on how to take a good photo. She talked about lighting and how to work with shadows. She discussed balance and the law of thirds. She also gave some insight into viewpoint or perspective. "Choose one subject," she challenged the girls, "and take four photos from different perspectives. Rather than just shooting from eye-level, consider photographing from the side, from the back, from high above, from ground level, from far away or close up. Be creative. See what you can do."

And they did!

After a trip to the local drug store to develop each one's photos, the girls gathered around our dining room table. Each used an 11 x 14 inch canvas, paints, ribbon, buttons, etc. to create a background for their four prints. What a diversity of finished products! Each one captured her subject from various perspectives with wonderful creativity.

I think the way we view life is a little like those four photos. The same "subject" or circumstance can be seen in various ways, depending on our perspective. Will we look through the lens of gratefulness or drudgery?  Will we work to see the positive or settle for the negative? Can we intentionally view our life stories from another angle? A higher perspective, even on the days when everything looks grim?

The next time I take a picture, I want to remember what I learned about photos--and perspective. Elisabeth Elliot wrote, "The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances" (Keep a Quiet Heart, page 20).

What's your perspective?