Your Story Matters

Your Story Matters presents a dynamic and spiritually formative process for understanding and redeeming the past in order to live well in the present and into the future. Leslie Leyland Fields has used and taught this practical and inspiring writing process for decades, helping people from all walks of life to access memory and sift through the truth of their stories. This is not just a book for writers. Each one of us has a story, and understanding God's work in our stories is a vital part of our faith. Through the spiritual practice of writing, we can "remember" his acts among us, "declare his glory among the nations," and pass on to others what we have witnessed of God in this life: the mysterious, the tragic, the miraculous, the ordinary. With a companion video curriculum from RightNow Media, this is a "why not" book as opposed to a "how to" book. Leslie asks each of us an important question: "Why not learn to tell your story, in the context of the grander story of God?"

'Like a best friend giving you essential advice. I can’t wait to give this to every writer I know.' Candice Carty-Williams Why do stories matter? I tell stories to make sense of the world as I see it. The world I have lived and experienced, read about and heard about, and what I want it to be. I tell stories to make sense of myself. Nikesh Shukla, author, writing mentor and bestselling editor of The Good Immigrant, knows better than most the power that every unique voice has to create change. Whether it's a novel, personal essay, non-fiction work or short story – or even just the formless desire to write something – Your Story Matters will hone your skill and help you along the way. This book includes exercises and prompts that will develop your idea, no matter what genre you're writing in. It is practical, to the point and focused on letting you figure out what you want to write, how you want to write and why this is the best use of your voice. Accessible and thought-provoking, Your Story Matters will inspire you to keep thinking about writing, even when you don't have the time to put pen to paper.

Your story is bigger than you know. From its tiniest details to its most dramatic events, your story is a sacred gift, worthy of attention. But how do you find and tell that story? In this practical, liberating guide based on her thirty years of writing and teaching, Leslie Leyland Fields will lead you step by step in exploring your past and shaping your memories into vivid, compelling stories. With writing exercises to help you dive deeper into your story, you’ll discover new spiritual truths, reclaim the past, share hope, and pass on your own extraordinary legacy. Understanding God’s work in our stories is a vital part of our faith. Not just a book for writers, this practical and inspiring book teaches us how to sift through our experiences to find the places we have witnessed God in our journey: the mysterious, the tragic, the miraculous, and the ordinary. Find even more inspiration and guidance with Your Story for His Glory, a companion video curriculum—available online or in DVD format. “Leslie was not only my first writing mentor—she continues to mentor me with the way she lives her life and shapes it into an unforgettable story that gives hope and gives God the glory.” —Ann Voskamp, New York Times bestselling author “Leslie has a deep commitment to writing life-giving words. This book promises to prompt the best out of storytellers and creatives.” —Max Lucado, New York Times bestselling author “Personal and profound, inspirational and practical, God-focused and with its feet firmly placed on the ground, this is a necessary and beautiful book for anyone and everyone.” —Brett Lott, New York Times bestselling author, director of MFA program at the College of Charleston

A 40-day faith journey to awaken your soul, guide you to peace, and embrace the person God made you to be. WHISPERS OF REST a detox for your soul, a peaceful journey inward to the comfort that a deeper awareness of God's love provides. This 40-day devotional guide and journal will refresh your spiritual life, enhance your every day, and help you experience transformational joy. Uplifting words of scripture, devotions on themes of identity, calling, and intimacy, and prompts for prayer and journaling, offer a soul-soothing break from your hectic routine to help you experience a greater connection with God. Includes: 40 "Whispers of Rest" from Scripture40 Relevant DevotionsPrayerful Journaling Prompts and Writing SpacePeaceful Prayers for the HeartOne-Word Prayer Anchors for Each Day.

When we read a nonfiction text, what is the difference between one that keeps us interested and one that merely informs? Especially when the topic may be a bit, well, dry? The difference is narrative. The writer who threads a story throughout her text - using the tools of human connection, of narrative - is the writer who brings information to life. The argument she makes is compelling and real, because we care about the story within her story. This writer understands the power of narrative. In Story Matters, Liz Prather provides activities, lessons, exercises, mentor texts, and student samples to help teens learn to seamlessly weave narrative into their nonfiction writing. She provides concrete ideas for using the tools and techniques of narrative, including: - finding stories within any topic - using characters - creating tension - exploring structure - selecting details - crafting words and sentences. Give Liz's ideas a try and watch your students' writing rise to new levels. Because story matters.

Bestselling author, cofounder of Girlfriends in God, and writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries Sharon Jaynes reveals the secret to living a better story: understanding that the worst parts of our past are the very things God uses most. Many people don't like the story God is writing in their lives. The mistakes, failures, tragedies, and circumstances outside of our control linger in our minds and hold us back. How do we come to grips with the pieces of our stories that we wish weren't there? How do we silence the pain of what has been done to us and the shame of what we've allowed to be done through us? In When You Don't Like Your Story, Bible teacher Sharon Jaynes shows us how God untangles our most painful emotions with the fingers of grace, putting his redemption on display. In the hardest parts of our narratives, we get to see God's greatest work--and this changes the ending of our stories. As we overcome shame, offer forgiveness, and use our stories to help others, we find freedom from the past and learn to live in the restoration of the present.

Embrace the power of storytelling with Little Stories of Your Life. Start telling your own story, find your creative self and be more mindful. Combining the wellbeing benefits of mindfulness, creativity and daily photography, this book shows you how to use words and photographs to capture precious little moments and how to share these in order to connect with others. Each chapter explores the different ways you can tell your own stories, considers why you might choose to tell them and helps you to create a patchwork of tiny tales about your life, however small they might be. Throughout the book, Laura shares her own personal stories and research that shows you how to tune out of the bigger picture and focus on the everyday. There are exercises to gently guide you through how to journal and harness your inner creativity, as well as tips on improving your photography, photo challenges and writing prompts to get you started. It’s easy to feel that our own lives are not enough, but real lives are not defined by bright, exciting events: we don’t need a grand narrative arc. It’s the stretches of time in between that matter, the tiny moments and the daily choices that make us who we are.

“Human beings understand the world best through stories. . . . And in this book Heather and Julian are ace story-enablers. A must-read!” —Bill McKibben, New York Times–bestselling author of Falter and Radio Free Vermont Everyone has a story to tell. Sharing that story can change you, your community, or even the world. But how do you start? Discover the tools to unlock your truth and share it with the world: Storytelling coaches Heather Box and Julian Mocine-McQueen reveal how to embrace the power of personal storytelling in a series of easy steps. You'll learn how to share your experiences and invaluable knowledge with the people who need it most, whether it be in a blog post, a motivational speech, or just a conversation with a loved one. How Your Story Sets You Free is the path to finding the spark that ignites the fire and reminds you just how much your story matters. • Features over 100 pages of practical and motivating advice, with quotes from renowned storytellers including Maya Angelou and Marshall Ganz. • Includes specific step-by-step instructions to help you find the words to tell your story in the most powerful and impactful way. “Working with Heather and Julian changed everything by getting me over the hurdle that stood between what was true about my life and what I was willing to share with the world. I’m so grateful they’ve distilled their wisdom and vision into this book.” —Caledonia Curry, artist who goes by Swoon “Heather and Julian are masterful in navigating you through the funny, rocky, delicate, and sometimes scary terrain of sharing yourself boldly, humbly, and unapologetically.” —Rha Goddess, founder CEO of Move The Crowd, author of The Calling