Happy July 4th and Life Story Prompts

Happy July 4th and Independence Day!

#ProudAmerican

LIFE STORY PROMPT
What stories do you have about July 4th?

PRAYING
Praying for everyone impacted by Arthur. Be safe!

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2008-2014.)

News, Camp NaNoWriMo, and the 1st Four Interview Books

NEWS AND CAMP NANOWRIMO
The total word count due today is 5,100.

As of 936 a.m., I have 5,521 words written. So, I'm going to see if I can kick it up and add 1,700 words to that total. Therefore, I am going to set an ideal goal of 7,221 words. But, at least 6,600 words today.

My Camp NaNoWriMo goal is to write 50,000 words for the month of July. My normal word count is 46,500, so I am kicking it up a notch.

I started writing the 4-Hour interview, when I realized it would be shorter than my 50,000 word goal. The day before, I came up with the idea to do multiple interviews, not just the 8-hour. Consequently, I'm going to try to get a good start on the first four interview books, the 1, 4, 8, and 12 hour interviews.

4-BOOK BUNDLE OF THE 1, 4, 8, AND 12 HOUR INTERVIEW BOOKS
I'm going to finish writing the 4-hour interview and then write the 1-hour interview, then the 8 and 12 hour interviews.

THE PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW SERIES
Whether we're wanting to write our own Life Story, or that of another, the interview can be quite the useful tool. Hence, that's why I'm starting with this series first in the "Remembering Your Present Life Story: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story" books.

Life Story Prompts

Life Story Prompts

List memories in your life about flowers.

Once you get a list written, write out each memory one by one. Include all six senses: taste, smell, touch, sound, sight, and discernment. Also, answer: who, what, where, when, why, how.

As you do that, list any other memories which come to mind, even if they have nothing to do with flowers.

REMEMBERING
Remember this: We remember certain memories at certain times for a reason. Do not let it slip by unnoticed whenever a memory comes to mind. Make sure to stop and take note of it. Why now? That's a question to ask as to why it came to mind then. What purpose did this memory have then, now, and at times in-between? What have I learned from this memory?
Every memory is a story.
Several stories make your overall Life Story.
And, every story, every memory, matters, is important, has significance, and is sacred.
Every story has led you to where and who you are today--and where and who you will be tomorrow.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease 2014.)

Camp NaNoWriMo and “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 4-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

Camp NaNoWriMo and “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 4-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

The writing progress of Camp NanoWriMo and the “4-Hour Interview” is going quite well. I am so excited about it. I’m loving the book and the idea of it.

I plan on putting it to use with my Granny, over the phone since we live in different states. I got an app for my phone where I am recording our call, so I can listen to it later. But, I will take notes as she tells me her story. I will make sure to also note the non-verbals as I go.

At any rate, I’m discovering this book will not be 50,000 words and I cannot do multiple books for Camp NaNoWriMo, so I’ve decided for it, I will do a book bundle of at least books 1-3 below, maybe the 4th as well. We shall see.

So, far, I have 4,976 words out of 3,300 or so words due today. Consequently, I’m thrilled by my progress.

As I’ve been working on writing: “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 4-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story,” I’ve come to realize how incredible of a tool it is. Needless to say, I’m going to expand the interview line.

Books in the “Remembering Your Present Life Story Series”:

1 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 1-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

2 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 4-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

3 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 8-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

4 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 12-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

5 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 16-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

6 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 20-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

7 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 24-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

8 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 28-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

9 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 32-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

10 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 36-Hour Interview: How to Tell or Learn a Life Story”

11 “Remembering Your Present Life Story and How to Write It in Book Form for Yourself or Another” (Autobiography, Biography, and Memoir)

I will see each of these individually, as well as in bundles of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 of the interview books. (For example: Books 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8. 9-10. 1-3, 4-6, 7-10. 1-4, 5-8, 9-10. 1-5, 6-10.) I will sell these as e-books and as paperback books. So, stay tuned.

Life Story Prompt

Life Story Prompt

How do you want to tell your Life Story?
1 Write it
2 Audio record
3 Video
4 A combination of all of the above

If you are learning some else's Life Story, ask them how they prefer to tell their story and do that.

Weather and My Life Story

I'm busy tracking Tropical Storm Arthur.

I've lived in Virginia for three years now and have gone through one hurricane a year. The first was Hurricane Irene and then Hurricane Sandy. Therefore, this Colorado native tends to pay attention a little more than probably necessary. However, it sure doesn't hurt to be prepared. (Speaking of which, I need to start saving ice cubes up in storage bags. Eureka! I almost forgot about that. It was a lifesaver for Irene when we had mandatory evacuations.)

Now, hopefully I can get some writing done of "The 4-Hour Interview."

If there is a hurricane and it strikes here, I will keep everyone updated on this blog.

Updated on 7/1/2014/903 a.m.

New Plan for Book 1

Well... What's that saying... Man makes plans and God laughs... "Or, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray." Well...

I will write the first book, but I came up with an even simpler version, which I want to start with rather than the "Simplified" version. Everything I've written still applies in the "Simplified" version, but I will write a version before it and wills tart to write that first. Then, I will continue with the "Simplified" version.

The new book is: Remembering Your Present Life Story and the 4-Hour Interview.

"The 4-Hour Interview" will be what it sounds like. It's a 4-hour interview you can give yourself for your Life Story or you can give it to another.

Needless to say, I need to start over with Camp NaNoWriMo. The new link is here:
http://campnanowrimo.org/campers/remembering-your-present

Camp NaNoWriMo Day #1: Writing "Simplistic"

Today is the first day of Camp NaNoWriMo and the start of my current writing project.

I need to write at least 1,700 words today so I will have at least 50,000 words of "Simplistic" at the end of Camp NaNoWriMo. My heart starts to race at the thought. It's a nervous excitement.

RYPLS AND LAST NIGHT
"Simplistic" and my new focus and business of Remembering Your Present Life Story had me wound up last night, so I'm living on practically no sleep. (Ugh.) This new focus has grabbed my heart and won't let go. I'm sold on it. I cannot help but get emotional just thinking about it.

EVERYONE SHOULD CAPTURE THEIR STORY
I truly believe everyone should capture their life story, whether it's on the page (written), audio recording, or via video. I think this of every individual, every marriage, every family, and your closest friendships. Think about it. Doesn't your marriage have a Life Story? And, so do the others I just mentioned.
Every story matters.
Every story is important.
Every story has a purpose--for the one whose story it is and for the one who is learning their story.
Every story is sacred.

THOSE WHO SHOULD CAPTURE THEIR LIFE STORY (OR HAVE SOMEONE DO IT FOR THEM)
- Those in a hospice or nursing home
- Those who are dying (cancer, tumor, sickness, etc.)
- Those who have learned some life lessons
- If you have dealt with a struggle
- If you have been blessed
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Married
- Single
- Older
- Younger
- If you've lived a day

Now... Wish me luck with Camp NaNoWriMo.

Instructions for Reading This Blog: Important, Please Read #1

Instructions for Reading This Blog: Important, Please Read #1

READ IN NUMERICAL ORDER
You can start reading any blog post at any time and get a great deal out of it. If you haven't captured your life story, though, or if you want to get the most out of reading this blog, read each blog post in chronological order.

LIFE STORY
To keep things simple, I will use the word 'life story' and not 'autobiography, biography, or memoir' after this point. It's the easiest way to simplify the things for this blog and upcoming books.

YOU
To also keep things simple, I'm going to use the term 'you' for now on, rather than 'they.' If you are writing someone else's life story, whenever you read 'you,' insert that individual's name.

Updated July 01, 2014. 

Whose story do you want to tell? (A Life Story Prompt)

WHOSE STORY DO YOU WANT TO TELL?

Do you want to tell your Life Story or someone else’s? Or, what about yours and someone else's? 

An Encyclopedia

I don't know about you, but I've always found it nice to have everything in one place. I find it a pain, in some instances, to have to look at several links, books, resources, when I could have it all in one. Hence, everything I write here on this blog, and every single book I write, I will combine into one resource: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA.

Doesn't this sound pretty exciting?

There is nothing on the market like this. There is not an encyclopedia for keeping, writing, or recording a Life Story. Hence, it will be the first of its kind.

It will be for audio recording, autobiography, biography, journaling, and/or memoir.

So, stay tuned. More information will come out about this in the days and weeks to come.

What do you think? I would love your input.

Camp NaNoWriMo and Simplified Book

​

SIMPLIFIED BOOK

This is the first book I'm writing in the How to Tell or Learn a Life Story Series. Note that it's the SIMPLIFIED Version. This will be a book about the basics of writing or making an audio recording of your life story or someone else's. Let's face it. Not everyone is a writer and not everyone is vocal. This book will help either style you are as you tell or learn a life story. 

CAMP NANOWRIMO AND SIMPLIFIED BOOK

I'm participating in CAMP NaNoWriMo in the month of July, where I plan to write 50,000 words of this book during the month. No. It's non-fiction, and isn't a novel, but it's a book and I'm going to sue Camp NaNoWriMo (Camp National Novel Writing Month) to help me stay motivated to write this book--and write it fast. 

I will write this and share with you my stories as I work on writing this book. I will do so on this blog (the one listed below--RYPLS), not on my Writings of SD blog. 

Today, I'm going to start to outline it and tomorrow, I start Camp NaNoWriMo. Woo-hoo!

​

You can find my Camp NaNoWriMo site and keep up with my progress here: 

http://campnanowrimo.org/campers/remembering-your-present/novels/remembering-your-present-life-story-simplified-version-how-to-tell-or-learn-a-life-story

--

Stacy Duplease

agodlyvision@gmail.com

rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com

Blog & Website: http://ryplifestory.blogspot.com/

An Introduction

The first book, and blog post series, in this How to Tell or Learn a Life Story Series is called, Remembering Your Present Life Story Simplified Version. 

It is a how-to book to help you write your life story or help you to write another's life story. This book will walk you through step by step. It's the simplified version so it will walk you through the simplest way of learning and telling a life story, step by step.