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Courses >
Writing & Publishing > Write Your Life Story
Syllabus:
All
courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two
lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course.
You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must
complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new
section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each
month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure
to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
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Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
Has
anyone ever told you that you have an incredible life or asked if
you've written your life story? Are there things that you want to put
in print for yourself, your loved ones, or the reading public? If so,
then this is the class for you! In this first lesson, you'll discover
why only you can write your life story, how to give yourself permission
to do it, and explore some ways to empower yourself.
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| Friday - Lesson 02 |
Where
should you start? The beginning might not be the correct answer. That's
the focus of today's lesson. We'll also talk about becoming an observer
of yourself and others around you. I hereby give you permission to ask
questions and eavesdrop on conversations (without being rude, of
course). What direction will you take with writing about your life?
Will it be a book-length memoir or a collection of shorter essays?
Today, we'll explore the endless possibilities and why you don't have
to make any decisions just yet.
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Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
Writing
a life story is like making a pot of vegetable soup. You assemble all
the ingredients, chopping some or maybe shelling fresh peas and peeling
carrots. Then you find a pot that's the right size and begin putting
the ingredients in it. Next comes the waiting part. You must simmer the
soup for a while or it won't be soup—just cold water with raw
vegetables. Right now, your life story might be just that—a bunch of
ingredients that you need to assemble and let simmer. So, today, we'll
talk about how to select the right ingredients for cooking up a life
story that will satisfy you and your reader.
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| Friday - Lesson 04 |
In
this lesson, we'll talk about the people who have been in your life and
discuss their influence on you. In order to spark your memory and to
pull these influential people into your story, you'll fill out
character sketches on each person. You might even discover some things
about yourself as you reflect on those who have been a part of your
world.
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Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
When
you write your life story, you'll be revealing yourself. You may share
moments few know about. You'll tell your side of events, adventures,
and episodes. You'll make judgments, you'll give opinions, you'll speak
out, and you may allow others to see sides of you that have never been
revealed. We'll talk about—perhaps even wrestle with—these topics in
today's lesson.
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| Friday - Lesson 06 |
Today,
you'll learn quick, easy, and virtually guaranteed methods to spark
memories. You'll do this by investigating your senses and your
memories. This might include looking at photographs, going to movies,
or even eating comfort foods from your past.
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Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
In
this lesson, we'll continue to focus on how to jog memories and find
creative inspiration. First, we'll talk about writing in a journal. I
hope that by the time this course is over, your writer's journal will
be your new best friend. If you're serious about writing the stories in
your life, you will need time to do it. So we'll also cover time
management today. You'll learn where to find writing time and when may
be the most creative times for working on your life story.
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| Friday - Lesson 08 |
Today,
you'll learn ways to preserve your story, your own history. We'll talk
about how to capture your writer's voice or the voice of the person
you're writing about. Everyone has a unique speech pattern and word
selection. Your job is to discover these voices and include them in
your writing. We'll also go over how to get ready to interview others
for information and how to fill in the blanks you may have in your own
story. Then, we'll discuss how to find information you need through
research. The challenge and fun of writing life stories is to write
them as if you're sitting across a table from your reader, telling the
tales. In this lesson, you'll find out how to do it.
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Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
If
you write, at some point you'll have to get information from another
person. This is especially true when you're writing your life story.
So, we'll devote this entire lesson to interviewing. I know, all the
information is in your head. Or is it? Let's say you want to include
how you and a grandparent share the same features, or so you've been
told. By interviewing a friend or relative who also knew this person,
you can get many more details. That's what interviewing is all
about—asking questions to get information. And if you're helping
another person write a life story, most of the information you get will
be through interviews.
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| Friday - Lesson 10 |
Location,
location, location! You need to clearly describe the details of the
locations in your life story. In this lesson, you'll learn professional
ways to describe your location so that it jumps off the page. You'll
gather up the tools to make your story shine. Yes, it's all in the
details. In addition, I'll teach you how to create a mental picture of
a typical reader. You'll find out why, as you write your life story,
it's smart to concentrate on this person and make sure he or she
understands what you're saying.
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Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
Do
I need to know about grammar to write my life story? If you've wondered
that, you can breathe easier because in this lesson, you'll get a quick
review of the grammar you need to know and some tips to make it all
much easier. Really. Then, because writer's block is real, pesky, and
tends to destroy even the most hopeful writer, we'll take it head on.
You'll discover the trick to dealing with this creative brain slow
down: staying focused while giving your mind some serious down time.
That doesn't mean you should give up your project or put it on hold.
Just take some time out. Today, you'll find the answers to questions
that may have plagued you in the past and stopped you from writing.
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| Friday - Lesson 12 |
When
I first began writing, the hardest part was to gently, but relentlessly
edit my own work before I shared it with others. Often, in my desire to
create golden words—you know, the ones that are too beautiful to cut
out of a manuscript—I have sacrificed entire paragraphs. Of course,
after I tried to rework my writing, I always discovered that the golden
words had to go. Today, you'll learn how professional writers self edit
and what they do to make their writing sing. We'll also talk about
selecting titles and including supplemental material—focusing on the
extras that could make your book visually appealing. And finally, we'll
discuss how to work with groups and when to share your work.
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This
course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide
you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your
questions. The instructor for this course will be Eva Shaw.
 Eva
Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer of 1000 articles, essays and
short stories. She’s the ghost or author of 70 books including: Ghostwriting for Fun & Profit, Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers, Write Your Book in 20 Minutes (a DVD), Shovel
It: Nature’s Health Plan, What to Do When a Loved One Dies, The
Successful Writer’s Guide to Publishing Magazine Articles, Writing the
Nonfiction Book, Insider’s Guide to San Diego, The Sun Never Sets, and more. Eva's work has been featured in USA
Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Shape, Woman’s World, Country Living,
Costco Connection, Publisher’s Weekly, Washington Post, the Wall Street
Journal and others. She has won several awards, including the Book
of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin
Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award. An expert on time
management for writers, Eva stays on top of market trends to sell her
own work and to help emerging writers focus on quality writing and
publication.
Requirements:
Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins
(two free and simple downloads you obtain at
http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and
Get Adobe Reader).
Student Reviews:
"After a BA, three Masters and many CE classes, I can
honestly say this was one of the best classes I have ever taken. Thank
you, Eva, for your insights, your encouragement, and for just being who
you are. This class has prompted me to begin to put onto paper many of
the things I have always wanted to write down, and I am finding that
"the truth is setting me free." I am finally beginning to put together
a legacy for my daughters, that will allow them to see who I really am,
and Eva, I have you to thank for that."
"Another wonderful class have ended, but, the stories have
only just began. Eva, you are a master at bringing out the best in your
students. Thank you."
"As a senior citizen, I was a bit hesitant about an Internet
class. I shouldn't have been. This has been my first Internet class and
you have contributed to making it a lot easier than I thought it would
be. I would have loved to meet you face to face, without that though,
meeting you here was a joy for me. Thank you."
"A wonderful class, a superb instructor."
"Eva: As a counselor, I share the same feelings you mention
when one of my clients is ready to launch on their own. As your
student, I am very grateful for the instruction you provided and for
the words of encouragement. I wouldn't have believed it possible that I
could have formed an attachment via an online course but I have. Thank
you!"
"Eva has been the best writing instructor I've ever had,
always providing positive guidance without any form of discouragement.
A simple "nudge" here and "let me point you in this direction" etc., is
quite refreshing from an instructor instead of the raw criticisms that
may hinder one's goal to write and share a personal life story. Thank
you Eva and thank you classmates."
"Eva, I appreciate this class for giving me tools and guided
practice in using them. The class has me already stimulated to frame
certain memories and take notes as triggered by lessons, assignments,
and discussions."
"Eva Shaw is a phenomenal instructor. Her warmth &
caring comes across even in an on-line course. I thoroughly enjoyed the
class, & would highly recommend it to others."
"Eva Shaw's enthusiasm for Writing is clear. Her lessons and
feedback were always informative and encouraging. I enjoyed this course
very much-- thanks a million!"
"Eva Shaw was a delight and I found her course uplifting,
full of good information and references, and just like talking with a
new friend over coffee. Very personal and friendly."
"Eva Shaw was not only an excellent instructor but also
compassionate towards the students. She worked to bring the best out of
all of us."
"Eva, Thanks for all the wonderful resources on the internet
and the books. It is just great. Well worth the money. I am truly
satisfied with everything in this class."
"Eva, Thanks so much for all the great info on how to write
your life story. I hope to keep with it and get it all on paper. But, I
see I am not alone when it comes to falling behind. You have a great
way of getting the student excited about the next assignment, and
encouraging them to continue through all the obstacles they may come
across. To all my fellow writers out there, I wish you well, continue
to follow your heart all the way to the written page. I'll be looking
on the Best Seller's List for all of your Life Stories. Take care!"
"Eva took care to respond to all discussion area questions
and give positive and helpful comments. Really enjoyed this class a
lot."
"Eva was wonderful in offering students help and resource
information. I felt she was actually a part of us in the class. She did
not serve as an instructor alone but as a friend as well."
"Eva: You are a top-notch instructor. Eva, thanks for
knowing and openly saying what needed to be done without being
critical, but encouraging with a gentle nudge. Your techniques are the
best, again thank you all for a successful learning experience."
"Eva, you have an extraordinary gift reaching students of
all levels. You have much to offer all who want to discover and
explore, becoming more aware. As a teacher and writer you have a divine
gift and for me this course has been an answer to prayer. I wish I
could have taken it 50 years ago."
"Eva, your picture pops up every time I enter the classroom
site and I see the word "dynamo" floating around it! The class was
truly wonderful, and I hope to take more! Thank you so very much for
all you did for each of us - you were there for us at every turn with
encouragment, compassion, direction and the occasional 'nudge'. God
bless you and the efforts you make to help those who want and need to
write. With much affection!"
"From one gardener to another. Some six weeks ago I planted
myself in your wonderful writing class, from there you took over and
helped me grow. You fertilized me with just the right amount to make me
bloom, from there you kept me weeded from the insecurities that might
creep in and choke out my roots. Your soil is rich and deep so that I
may fluorish for years to come, your skies always sunny and bright so
that I will try to grow tall and strong."
"Having finished all the assignments and the final exam, I
realize I held on to things as long as possible to make this class
last. I really hated to see it end. Professor Shaw was informative and
a fabulous teacher, Although this was my first ever online course,it
won't be the last."
"I appreciated and enjoyed this class so much that I will be
signing up for one of your Writterific classes. I learned so much. I
especially enjoyed reading the other student's writings along with
getting the feedback on mine. A special thank you, Eva, for all the
great resources you have given, the wonderful way you presented the
material and how you made this class so enjoyable. Looking forward to
your Writterific class."
"I had a hard time keeping up with lessons, but I am proud
to say I made it. I can't wait to start this new adventure in my life.
My parents are in their 80's. This class has helped me to get them to
open up so my children and grandchildren will have fond memories."
"I have learned so much from this course, more than I ever
imagined. My eyes are now wide open to see in inside of the story, to
remember the smells that surrounded me, and to hear my inner voice. All
of us have our story to tell. Now, we should have the courage to put
one step in front of he other and begin. I cannot thank all the brave
folks who shared their work and bared their inner souls with us. Thank
you Eva for this wonderful class, your encouragement and feedback. You
will be seeing me again. I have decided to enroll in Writeriffic the
fall."
"I have taken other business style writing courses. This
course focuses more on opening our mind to the creative, which really
helped me. Being creative is almost opposite of editing, therefore hard
to bridge the gap. It's like switching hats. The tools, bubble method,
character sketch list, childhood memory list and sparking memory pieces
are extremely helpful. Make the process appear so much easier. Very
good course."
"I just want to add my thanks to the "thank-you's" that
you've already received. The course was excellent and your
constructive, warm, and personal comments were greatly appreciated."
"I loved the course. I loved Eva's writing style, and her
devotion to all the students. I loved reading the postings from others,
but was thankful that was not a requirement for me. I was not ready to
be that open with my own writing. Bottom line, I thought the course was
wonderful."
"I realize this class is about writing our life story but a
funny thing happened on the way to my autobiography! I had actually
started a mystery story four or five years ago and became stuck--just
didn't know where to go. Then, thanks to Eva's dialogue assignment, I
came up with dialogue that works for my book--I have been writing until
the wee hours of the morning ever since last week!"
"I think so many people are afraid to take a class like
this, but I am living proof that there is nothing scary about the
class. I am not very comfortable with the computer, but this class was
made very accessable. I enjoyed the instructors upbeat style and
encouraging comments. The other added pleasure was having students from
all over the place. I thought it was going to be a local student
population, so this was a pleasant surprise."
"It may have seemed that I was not participating in the
course but believe me I have read just about every message of sharing
that was written by the students. Like I said when I first registered I
have been in the process of writing my life story and your lessons and
the readings that I have read have helped so much, thanks. Your lessons
and suggestions have opened so many doors for me to follow in my
writing thank you again."
"It was an excellent course and perfect for my needs. Our
Teacher Eva is one of the best teachers that I've ever had. She is very
professional. She helped us a lot. I will recommend this course to all
my friends and may be I will give to a friend this course as a birthday
present. She will enjoy and learn a lot. Thank you so much."
"I've done this class once before and had surprising
results. The class led to my having two stories published in
well-established, nationally published magazine. While that had not
been my original goal, the feedback from our instructor and my
fellow-students, encouraged me to submit my stories. I also have almost
completed a book about my parents' family and have shared it with many
members of my large family. That has opened up a whole new world of
nieces, nephews and many, many first, second, third and fourth cousins.
Being a seventy-seven year old recent widow this has given me the
beginning of a whole new life. This is extremely valuable to me since I
had begun getting hints like "get a life, Mom" from my six adult
children."
"I wondered as we went through the lessons and assignments,
how few assignments we had, and then I realized just now that the BIG
assignment, the most important one for this whole course, is writing
the memoir. And that can't be posted in the discussion area. So getting
us to think about the process and be OK with writing about our lives
and even thinking about how to go about it is the purpose of what we've
been learning this time around. Different from the other courses I've
taken from you, Eva: Writeriffic I and II, The Craft of Magazine
Writing. Those were more specific. This has been fun. I haven't gone
through your DVD yet (the 20 minutes of writing a book), but will do
that before I start anything, and also use it to go further with my
novel. Each course is a little bit different with you, and I get
something major out of each one. We all do. So thank you."
"My sincere thanks, Eva, for a wonderfully inspiring course.
So far I've made money on the Helium website (not much, but I can now
say I'm a not only published author, but a paid one!) and I have my
journal and my bubbles to work with. I've always written, but I was
lazy and lacked discipline and motivation. This course supplied me with
help for all of the above. My sincere thanks, again, and I hope to see
you in another course soon!"
"Once again this has been a wonderful class. You have given
me the courage to begin my life story. I no longer feel confused about
what or how to write the story. Thank you for all the tools you have
passed on. I know I'll take another class in the future."
"Since starting this class, I have three essays published in
a Chinese newspaper that is distributed nationwide in the United
States. It is funny; I'm learning to write in English, but I'm
publishing in Chinese. I guess the writing skills are quiet universal.
However, I know my goal is to publish work in English, so I'll have to
work harder. With all the tools and knowledge I gained in your class,
I'm going to run for a while. I'll come back for more fuel in the
future."
"Taking this class has been an eye opener for me in many
ways. The techniques you taught us Eva were so effective. I want to
especially thank you for helping me to remember good times with my mom.
In one of the first assignments you had us hold an object of special
meaning. I chose my mom's sewing scissors. It stirred up so many
wonderful memories. The last five years of her life she battled cancer
and I was never able to get beyond those sad days until that
assignment. So, thank you so much, I feel like you gave me back a part
of my mom that I had forgotten."
"Thanks Eva for all your kind words and encouragement. I'm
sure it will keep us all writing. I have enjoyed the class and am now
armed with good information, book lists, etc. to get going."
"Thanks Eva. This was just right for my first on-line
course. I learned a lot. I'll be taking another course soon. Thanks for
your encouragement. I think that is so important for beginning writers.
There's plenty of time to be critiqued."
"Thank you Eva and fellow students. You taught me that I am
able to write my life story. The Writeriffic class sounds like a fun
one. I may join in December. Thanks for reminding me that I am indeed
not alone with my dreams, and they can be realized."
"Thank you Eva for a very informative and fun class. I have
long since wished to write the story of my family. Due to a lack of
formal education and writting experience, I have felt inadequate for
the task. Your class has given me direction and the nerve to attempt
it, as well as where and how to begin. For additional help, I have
acquired several of the books recommended in Supplementary Material
section. They should help when I start to doubt my ability. I will face
a few additional obstacles. As in most Post-Communism countries , there
are no records to view nor any geneology sites to research.And by the
sheer elapse of time, few people to interview. For better or worse,
attempt it I will. I owe it to my Grandparents and need it, as a
catharsis for myself. Thank you again - you have been an inspiration."
"Thank you, Eva, for sharing your expertise. I found your
teachings to be extremely informative, encouraging, and enlightening.
And to you fellow students who shared your asignments in the discussion
areas, thank you. This class was a pleasure. "The simplest pleasures
are life's truest treasures." Write on!!!!"
"Thank you Eva for your encouragement. I have found your
course to be stimulating and informative. Reading other persons’
postings and comments with their support will be missed. My daughter is
urging me to try and get some published. My thoughts are to, with her
support, try the magazine route. I have subscribed to Good Old days
(your idea) and Reminisce (her thoughts). She has experience in this
area as well as many in her professional area. I know I have a long way
to go but will, one way or another, write this book. I have found
writing, good or bad, to be fulfilling and would like to see more
seniors giving it a try. With me it is almost like visiting the past.
With one area leading to another I know I have many more life
experience stories to tell. Again, thank you and the other students for
a MOST meaningful experience."
"Thank you Eva,This have been a great class! This was my
first cyber world class and definitely not my last. I was so scared at
the beginning to write down my feelings and thoughts. But you made me
feel so relaxed and comfortable. I feel like I can write my own life
story now. It felt soooooooooo good responding to your assignments. I
felt very confident. Thanks again Eva I will keep in touch."
"Thank you for this class. It was a great way to interact
with others who are struggling to get their words on paper. I found the
discussion area particularly helpful. I've also found that I had a lot
more to write about than I thought---and I'm really enjoying it. Thanks
again."
"Thank you for understanding that an honest attempt is the
beauty of a submission, that feelings shine through grammatical errors
and disorganization, that anyone who puts pen to paper is trying and
has courage, that in oder to grow, encouragement helps more than harsh
criticism, and that the heart is more powerful than academic snobbery."
"The best part of this course is that the instructor allows you to post assignments in the discussion area and get feedback."
"The course went beyond my expectations. Of particular value was the interaction with class members in the discussion area."
"The supplementary guides were very helpful. I liked being
able to interact with others and especially with Eva. I liked being
able to log on and attend a writing course in the privacy of my own
home. Great idea!"
"This course was very informative and clearly designed. I
plan to take other courses taught by the instructor in the future. The
lessons were very useful and will be kept for future reference."
"This has been a wonderful experience. You've really got me
writing. My page a day is often two and three. I've loved the
interaction in the class."
"This has been very helpful to me. I wasn't sure when I
signed up for it but I am very glad I did. Eva has helped spark an
interest that I have had for a long time. I will pursue this new love
of mine even further.Thanks so much Eva."
"This is my first online course experience, and I was
delighted with it. The level of camaraderie among people who will never
meet was truly astonishing. This I think is partially due to Eva's
enthusiasm which shows through at all times. Thank you all."
"This is my third class with Eva Shaw. I wish there were
several more. She does a great job and is loved by all who take a
course with her."
"This was a good course. I actually finished this. It was
really fun reading all the discussion of the other writers. Thank you
for teaching it and for encouraging us to share our stories."
"This was my first online course, and it has been a very
positive learning experience. I felt I got my money's worth and had
enough time to submit assignments and do lessons. I enjoyed the
interaction with the other students as well as with the
teacher/friend/encourager Eva. Well done!"
"Unbelievably cathartic...[your course] allowed me to roam
through the balance of my recovery from a fire to a magnificent
memorial service held on the twenty-fifth anniversary during which I
met firefighters who had rescued me. Writing about the fire and
subsequent imprudent decisions made as a result of fleeing from the
fire--while incredibly painful--lets me now have peace in my world.
Thank you Eva. I never would have written this without your class."
"Well, I guess it really is time to say goodbye Eva. I've
finished all the assignments and the final exam. I think I held on to
things as long as possible to make this class last. I hate to see it
end. It was my first, but not the last. See you again someday Eva, and
thanks again for being the tour guide!"
"What an awesome class. Eva Shaw was a fantastic pool of
information, and I have learned much more then I thought I would. I
enjoyed being in a class with other students who communicated to all of
there peers. How fun this was. Thank you!"
"When I began this class, I was questioning my ability and
confidence. But through the various assignments you gave us, I have
come to love writing with a passion I was hiding from everyone. Rather
than quit the class, I'm really upset it has come to an end so quickly.
I will be searching for those writing assignments, contests, etc, to
work on as I polish my skills. So, thank you again, Eva, for helping me
find a niche in my life that I wasn't sure was there. I will miss this
class and those who were included."
"Wow! It took a little time for me to gather my courage and
begin the Bubble method. What was I afraid of? Either I wouldn't have
enough material to be worth while or perhaps I would have too much. As
it turns out, it is the latter. There is so much story to tell but once
I began working on my circles and sub-topics it is beginning to fall
together like a jig saw puzzle. Without this class I fear my story
would never be told. In reality, this is going to take a matter of time
and won't be an overnight completion."
"You don't know how powerful your positive attitude in your
teaching has been to me. I have learned much and have enjoyed the
interaction with you and classmates. This format is fantastic and not
intimidating in any way. I have begun to think of myself as a writer
now and the pages have been flowing on my nonfiction book. Thanks again
and I will be taking your Writerrific class soon."
"You have given me the start I needed. I've wanted to write
my life story for some time, but couldn't figure out where to begin or
how to make it interesting to someone else. I believe the comments,
encouragement, and stories you and the other class members have shared
have been invaluable to me. Thank you to all of you and best wishes for
good health, happiness and success."
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
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Have
you thought about writing your story, sharing life-altering events?
Does your family really know about their heritage? If you've ever
thought about writing your life story, now is the time. You will have
the satisfaction of telling history your way. You may even find a
lucrative market for your story, just like the authors of the
bestselling Rocket Boys and Angela's Ashes. This course
walks you step-by-step through the process of writing your life story.
It's fun. It's exciting. It's a story only you can tell.