What single word sums up your life so far?

Isn’t that a temptingly thought-provoking question?

As a writer I often ask it of various people, some of whom live inside my head.  For example, when I’m working on my novel (just two more chapters to write!) I use the ‘single word question’ at crucial points, to help me pinpoint what a character should do next.

In the real world, I use variations of it when I’m working with companies and job-hunters: what single word sums up your approach/what single word describes what you want potential employers to know about you?

And when I work with people who want to tell their life stories, I’ll ask it to help them narrow down a potential theme for their book.

One word, one mission

One client furrowed his brow for a few moments, then replied “Lucky”.  This word didn’t only become part of his book’s title.  It also gave us a clear hook to hang the rest of his story’s up-and-down events upon.

The ‘single word question’ is effective because it slices through the clutter.  I use a combination of questionnaires, spidergrams, and lists to help me gather the information I need to include in my writing work, but it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by their detail.

If you’ve written or have ever tried writing a book, you might know how this feels!  There’s so much to write about, that it’s hard to find the right starting-point, or identify what should go where.

If you’re trying to write your life story, so much the worse.  You know your life so intimately, and in such complex, intricate detail, that explaining it simply – let alone engagingly! – seems like an impossible challenge.

Organise your story

Along with the ‘single word question’, I ask life-story writers to create a chronological list of headline events.

These events indicate what absolutely must be included in the story.  Your list doesn’t need to be overly detailed; it just has to make sense to you.

(A client once scribbled her list on the back of a healthcare pamphlet she’d been given at work.  One of her events merely read “crazy breakfast argument.”  I’ll admit I was intrigued!)

Once you’ve got your headline events, you can use the ‘single word question’ to help identify a theme that pulls them together.  Then, as you write your story, your list can act as a handy living guide.  You can cross out each event once you’ve included it, and/or add notes as your freshly-poked subconscious whispers a few more memories…

…which it most definitely will!

Need a little help?

I created my first online course, How to Write Your Life Story, for people who want to record their lives compellingly on the page, but can’t afford or don’t want to work with a ghost-writer.  The course features short video lessons and/or a PDF download, so you can use one method or both, whichever works best.

You could also join my next Wondrous Writing Hub in April.  This is a six-week in-person course in which you choose a project to develop, alongside a deliberately small and supportive group.

What else?  I offer personalised writing mentoring, and an intensive, one-off 90-minute planning session that plucks your idea out of your head and puts it clearly onto paper.

(In short, if you’ve been putting off writing your story because of a lack of experienced support, you now have no excuse!)