Rising Action

“I slip into my pale-blue t-shirt and prepare to step out of the water closet. As I look in the mirror I reflect on the simultaneous feelings of fear and freedom from wearing a t-shirt displaying my hidden ill identity. Pictures and recordings will be taken all afternoon with me in a t-shirt, a t-shirt I allow myself to be seen in. In this shirt I cannot hide. In this shirt I am revealed.
In this shirt I am a visibly ill person, at least for one day.”
-Dr. Nicole L. Defenbaugh
“Revealing and Concealing Ill Identity: A Performance Narrative of IBD Disclosure,” 2013.
Dr. Nicole L. Defenbaugh is a communication scholar living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

It is time to begin crafting your story. Take your time- you might spend a day thinking before you start.

For now, let’s spend fifteen minutes looking and thinking about what you want to tell in this story.

Storyteller Beverly Kay has developed some techniques that might help you begin:

Look for Patterns

Think about repeating themes in your experience. Perhaps you have gone through a series of frustrating moments as well as points of victory. What are themes that have shaped who you are and how/why you are here?

Look for Consequences

Have you had good or bad outcomes with past efforts? Examine how those compare with the way you now choose to live. Think about how these good and bad results impact the way you develop relationships.

Look for Lessons

Recall a turning point and reflect on a lesson you learned. This could be a time you feel you made a mistake, or a time when you are glad you made a certain choice. Looking back, are there things you would do differently or do the same?

Look for Utility

Think about a story that has made a significant impact on you. How does it relate to your story? Weave the stories together as you tell your story.

Look for Vulnerability

Examine emotional moments in your life. When was the last time you cried, or even the last time you did a victory dance? This could be something humorous or a touching moment with a friend or family member.

Look for Future Experience

What do you imagine for your future? Think about your daydreams of what life could be like. You can include friends and family members as characters.

Look for Story Recollections

Do you have a favorite movie or book that has special meaning to you? The meaning you take from this story can be blended with the meaning of your experiences. Recreate the story from your perspective to produce a unique retelling.

Beverly Kay’s techniques were adapted in “The Story Factor” by Annette Simmons (2016).

When you are ready to begin

You can write it on paper, type it out, or even record yourself. You may be more comfortable writing parts of it out, or it might be easier for you to talk through it. The content of your story is important, and so is the process of telling it. Don’t set a timeline for this, especially if you are going through a rough patch in your mental or physical health. Don’t worry about getting your story “perfect” on the first try, you can revise it later in the process.