Write Your Story

December 30, 2024 Leave a Comment

Every Life has a Story

Every life has a story. Yes, even yours. Your experiences, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned deserve to be celebrated, preserved, and shared. It’s not difficult to do as nobody knows your life story better than you do. For thousands of years, storytelling has been a fundamental way for individuals to connect with others. It’s an inherent, purposeful process. You don’t need any fancy or expensive tools; you can start your project at any age and stage and work at your own pace. All you need to get your project off the ground is a dollop of inspiration, a notebook and a pen.

I’m fascinated with people and their stories, which is why I write. It’s also why I encourage and support others to capture their life stories for themselves, their whanau and friends, and for future generations. In my experience, those that take the time to document their story, do so because they want to leave a sense of who they are for the important people in their lives, and for those who come after. Sharing your experiences, expressed within the context of the time and the cultural and social norms of the day provides insight into a world that is so different to what our children and grandchildren experience today. Reflecting on your experience you may also be in a position to offer words of wisdom and hope to others who may be faced with a similar situation or set of circumstances. Regardless of the nature and scope of your writing project, your story will be memorialized in your own words. How cool is that.

Life is short. Don’t let your life stories go untold. Start today. If you need a hand, reach out. I’d be happy to help. Community Write Your Story workshops and one-on-one personalized professional support tailored to your needs is available. Or tune in to the Write Your Story programme, 11.30am each Sunday on Coast Access Radio 104.7FM when I share tips and examples from my own experience and the experiences of others within our Write Your Story community, who are on a similar journey.

Angela Robertson is a writer, inspirational speaker, and workshop facilitator. Her non-fiction books are available in paperback, Kindle, and eBook formats from online bookstores. Amazon.com: Angela Robertson: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

October 29, 2024 Leave a Comment

Starting Small – Why “Micro” Family History Projects are Perfect for Beginners

Are you intrigued by your family’s history but daunted by the task of documenting it all? You’re not alone! Writing a full family history can seem overwhelming, but there’s no need to tackle it all at once. Instead, think small; consider capturing one person, one event, or one era at a time. Taking “micro” steps can be the key to unlocking your family’s story. By focusing on one manageable project at a time, your small stories can create a compelling, layered narrative over time.

I’ll give you an example based on my own experience. My initial goal was to write the story of my parent’s early life, their courtship and their marriage as a single project. Both of my parents have been deceased for more than 20 years, but I had a stack of letters, some photos, a few newspapers, and historic books on my hometown where my parents met, married, and raised their family. I didn’t want their story to go untold, and now we siblings were the older generation, the grownups, I felt it was our responsibility to do something about it.

With a burst of enthusiasm, I applied for my dad’s service record and paid the requisite fee. It arrived in due course. Although scanty, it proved to be invaluable when supplemented with additional research into the Royal Marines and the Second World War, the details of the ships that dad served on, and a few photographs.

I drafted a rough outline to guide my writing project, shared my intentions with my siblings who live on different continents, and immersed myself in the task. By the time I had written the first two chapters I realised:

a) The boundaries of my project were way too big if I was going to do their stories justice.

I needed to split the massive project into separate smaller projects to make it manageable for me as the writer, and engaging for the family as the readers.

b) Whilst I had a lot of information, I was missing vital data.

I would need to do additional research and reach out to extended family overseas to find out if they were privy to information that I was unaware of.

c) I had not factored in the emotional impact of my learning journey, not only on me but on my siblings, our children and our grandchildren.

Author Elizabeth St John said that writing a family history can be a profound emotional journey for the writer and this certainly was the case for me. Writing my dad’s story was a labour of love, and a treasure for our family.

With the benefit of hindsight, I have huge respect for anyone who takes the time to research and document their family story for perpetuity. These stories are not only valuable for our family, but these stories are also valuable to historians of the future.

If you feel ready to start capturing the essence of your family’s history, try tackling it one “micro bite” at a time. It works. If you need a hand, reach out. I’d be happy to help. Community workshops and one-on-one professional personal support tailored to your needs is available.

June 25, 2024 Leave a Comment

Capture Your Travel Stories – Preserve Your Globetrotting Experiences

Travel stories are like hidden treasures waiting to be shared. But sadly, the memories fade into oblivion if we don’t take the time to reflect on our adventures and document the untold stories. Yes, we may collate our photos, either digitally or in photograph albums, but without the narrative – the who, what, why, when, where and how, the stories and the feelings associated with them, are lost. Documenting your travel stories helps to preserve your unique experiences; the characters you met along the way, the joyful moments, the mishaps, the adventures, the tastes and smells, the scenery and the impact these had on you at the time. In essence, capturing these memories gives the writer a sense of fulfilment achievement that can be cherished for a lifetime.

There are four basic components to consider if you are keen to capture your travel stories.

The Planning Phase
The Reality of the Trip – the adventure
Reflection on the Trip – what you’ll document.
Tips on Structuring Your Travel Story

The Planning Phase

Most of us spend considerable time planning the details for our trips. This includes but is not limited to:

Who we’ll travel with
Where we’ll go and why
What we’ll do on route and when we get to our destination
When we’ll go on this trip and why
Transport options/choices
Accommodation
Budget
Luggage – what we’ll take with us and what we’ll bring back
Travel insurance

If travelling with others there are likely to be countless discussions to refine the details. What is the story behind your trip? Reflecting on the planning stage, what were your expectations once you’d made the arrangements?

The Reality of the Trip – the adventure

What took place? Refer to the memorabilia you would have collated along the way e.g., postcards, maps, tickets, photos etc. Chart your experience.

Reflection on the Trip – what you’ll document

Be selective when choosing what you’ll write about. Consider the plan versus the reality of the trip. Focus on the highlights, the enjoyable moments, the mishaps, and the unexpected. What was interesting, funny, frightening, surprising? Include geographical details, the customs the practices, and the historical background if relevant. Incorporate your personal insights – what you experienced, how you felt, lessons learned, and the impact your travel adventure and the characters you met along the way have had on you. Bring your story to life with colourful examples, dialogue, photos and other pertinent memorabilia.

Tips on Structuring Your Travel Story

Like structuring a speech, a story can be divided into three distinct parts.

The Introduction. This is where you set the scene providing a sense of time, place, situation, and where you determine the focus of your story.
The Body of Your Story (the content). This is where you share your adventures, your personal experiences. The reality of the trip based on your personal insights, reflections and reactions. Capture the essence of your unique experiences using examples and photos. Be sure to eliminate irrelevant and unnecessary information so the narrative is engaging and doesn’t read like a train timetable.
The Conclusion. Conclude with a summary of the highlights of trip, reflections on the lessons learned, and key takeaways – what you’d do the same or differently next time around.

Documenting your travel stories helps to preserve memories of your globetrotting experiences that can be cherished for a lifetime. The purposeful process provides an opportunity to recount the sights, sounds, and the adventures you encountered. It also creates a huge sense of perspective and personal achievement and enables you to share your travel experiences with family, friends and the wider community.

Life is short. Don’t let your travel experiences go untold.

May 22, 2024 Leave a Comment

Why Write Your Travel Story?

We’ve just experienced the trip of a lifetime. After a year of planning the details with family overseas, and only weeks before the departure date, my husband had a minor stroke. The incident happened out of the blue. It was a huge shock. In a moment our lives had changed. We began to take stock of our situation, reflect on our lifestyle, and reprioritise our goals. Luckily, my husband made a good recovery, and eventually we were given medical clearance to travel. When the departure date finally arrived, we set off on our 30,000 kilometre ambitious expedition to visit places we’d previously only dreamed about.

We’ve always found that travel opens the door to new experiences, cultures, and personal growth. As our family is spread across the globe, it’s not possible to spend time with them as often and for as long as we’d like. Wherever we go, each journey is unique, filled with moments of discovery, challenges, and joy. Like many, we take lots of photos, purchase maps, and collect memorabilia. We enjoy soaking up the historical context, traditions, experimenting with local cuisine, and have learned to roll with, and in retrospect, enjoy the unexpected and unplanned events that make the trip unique. But if these memories and mementoes are not organised into a coherent whole, are these boxed up souvenirs and the faded memories enough to savour the experience over time? No. I don’t believe this is the case.

Writing your travel story can be a rewarding way to preserve these memories. It’s an opportunity to recount the sights, sounds, adventures, and the emotions associated with them. It allows you to process your experiences, understand the impact of your journey, and recognize the lessons learned. This introspection can lead to greater self-awareness, and a deeper appreciation of your adventures, and the people who shared these experiences with you. This is especially so in our case. Given the shocking diagnosis, we are so grateful to have been able to make this trip.

Writing your travel story is a rewarding endeavour that allows you to relive your adventures and capture a snapshot of the world as you experienced it. It’s an opportunity to express yourself creatively, connect with a community, and leave a legacy for family and future generations. Don’t leave it until it is too late. Take the plunge and start writing your travel story today!

March 1, 2024 Leave a Comment

Celebrating Community and Creativity: A Recap of Our Book Launch Event

We all get the collywobbles when we put our creative work out there into the wider world. In the lead up to a book launch event, it’s common for authors to question one’s own ability. When the event actually takes place, it’s evident that our stories really do matter – they matter to us, and they matter to our whanau and friends. For many, the compilation of stories in Memories of the Royal Family A Kiwi Collection is even more special as it contributes to our community’s social heritage and illustrates the diversity within our population.

I was thrilled with the turn-out at the community book launch event as family members, friends, neighbours, councillors and staff from the Kāpiti Coast District Council, fellow writers, and book enthusiasts gathered to meet the contributors, connect with one another, and generally join in the fun over morning tea. The buzz in the room was a testament to the power of storytelling, and the strength of our community. It was clear that this collection of stories holds a special place in the hearts of many and generated lively discussion at the tables. It was inspiring to see the outpouring of support from the community, especially when our Mayor Janet Holborow led the impromptu rendition of ‘God Save the King’. It was a reminder than when we come together as a community we can achieve incredible things.

The journey from concept to publication of this book has been a labour of love. Seeing this collection of stories in the hands of the contributors, and other readers was a dream come true. It is a reminder that every story matters, and that our voices have the power to inspire, educate and unite us. A couple of people remarked that this publication, which includes intimate family photos and original newspaper cuttings lovingly preserved in scrapbooks by our community, was collector’s item!

Reflecting on the event I am filled with gratitude for everyone who played a part in making it a success and loved the way in which people got into the spirit of the celebration and dressed up for the occasion. So many people have been involved in addition to the contributors who shared their personal stories. Kāpiti Coast District Council, who administer the local Creative Communities Fund, awarded the grant that contributed to the cost of the design and print of the book for the people that feature in it. Numerous individuals shared their Royal Family memorabilia on the display table at the event for others to enjoy. Family and friends helped me to organise, cater and bring the celebratory event to life, and of course there were people who remained behind afterwards and helped to clean up. Whether it was spreading the word, lending a helping hand, or simply showing up with enthusiasm, the community support made all the difference 😊

Looking ahead, I’m excited to see where this Kiwi collection of stories takes us. Whether it’s sparking meaningful conversations, inspiring others to share their own stories, or fostering community connection and engagement, we know the impact will be far-reaching. Huge thanks go to everyone who have been part of this incredible journey. Ngā mihi nui.

In the coming weeks and months, we’re committed to creating opportunities for our community to engage with the book and with each other in meaningful ways. This will include author talks for libraries, book clubs, service clubs, and community events in various locations in New Zealand. We’ll also continue to offer the popular series of Write Your Story community workshops for men and women who are inspired to capture their own memories for their families and friends.

Copies of Memories of the Royal Family A Kiwi Collection are available from your favourite bookstores in paperback, kindle and e.book formats. Copies can also be purchased directly from the author and at in person events. For more information email Kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

December 28, 2023 1 Comment

Frank’s Way a Remarkable Life Story that Deserves to Shine.

It all started with a phone call.

“My brother-in-law Frank Hocken, now in his 80’s, has led an incredible life. He and my sister Lee are very successful entrepreneurs, and through their business interests have achieved so much together. They were instrumental in retaining and developing Twizel – the South Island town that was constructed as the base for the largest hydro project ever undertaken in New Zealand. Post the project, the temporary town was going to be discarded – demolished. It made no sense. Frank and Lee could see the potential. They took risks, garnered support, challenged the Council and eventually won the case to retain and develop the town. Since then, the town that was close to being destroyed, has been transformed whilst still retaining its charm. The population has grown and given its location, surrounded by beautiful mountains and lakes, it’s a destination of choice for thousands of holiday makers year-round. You’ll have to go and see for yourself. Frank is an amazing storyteller and it’s so important their story is captured for family and friends”.

We met Frank and Lee Hocken a few weeks later. His sister-in-law was spot on when she said Frank was a great storyteller. Handing over a box of notes, some newspaper cuttings and a couple of books we chatted about his early life. Intrigued, we agreed to read the notes and consider the project. It soon became apparent that Frank and Lee’s story was astonishing. Frank was a force to be reckoned with in business, most notably, but not limited to property and community development. It was evident that Frank and Lee’s family, achievements, and business interests, were not restricted to Twizel. Their story, their legacy, would need to be preserved, documented, and read to be believed.

Franks Way – The Story of Frank and Lee Hocken, is an inspirational story of hard work, adversity, and determination. With our one-on-one support and guidance, we had the privilege of capturing this couple’s life journey from their humble origins in rural New Zealand. They met each other on the other side of the world and returned to New Zealand to start a new life together. Their story is full of interesting accounts of family life, business success and failures, and includes their role in the history of the retention of Twizel, the small hydro town that refused to die. While they have business interests all over New Zealand, Twizel has remained central to their family life and business for more than 30 years.

With a nudge from a sibling, Frank and Lee bravely took up the challenge and invested the time to preserve their living legacy.

Working at their own pace, and in their own way, they initially compiled their story for family, friends, and future generations. It’s an enduring finished product that they are proud to share with others. But clearly their documented story is bigger than that; Franks Way – The Story of Frank and Lee Hocken is a significant accomplishment.

Their story shows how they and their family have shaped our environment, and in so doing, they have made an enormous contribution to New Zealand’s social and cultural heritage.

Your story matters. It’s a gift to be treasured. Don’t let it go untold. We appreciate everyone’s story if different. For example, it could be a collection of memories, a career or business story, a family history, a travel adventure, or a spiritual journey. Whatever it is take the first step towards preserving your story for your loved ones. Documenting it doesn’t need to be a laborious solitary experience. One-on-one personalised, confidential support, tailored to your needs, is available every step of the way – from concept to completion. This includes project initiation, guidance on structure, writing structure, writing assistance, and final presentation including publishing options for those that are keen to take this step. Schedule your complimentary consultation today to get started on your legacy project.

Email me at Kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

Testimonials

“I am so very, very grateful for all the amazing work you have done – how you assisted me through the whole process to share my story, compile my chapters, and helped me to advertise and launch my book ‘The Ever-Widening Circles’. I am overwhelmed with praise. Thank you.” – Marg Schrader

“Angela was willing to help us put our stories together. I am very grateful for all her help over the months of meeting together, typing up my handwritten notes, inserting my photos, and compiling the chapters for printing.” – Andy Higham ‘My Thoughts…My Life’

Angela Robertson is a writer, inspirational speaker and workshop facilitator. Her own non-fiction books are available in paperback, Kindle and eBook formats from online bookstores. Amazon.com: Angela Robertson: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

November 18, 2023 Leave a Comment

Emotional Wellbeing: Unlocking Joy Through Your Story

Did you know that it’s possible to unleash the power of joy and strengthen your wellbeing by embarking on a ‘Write Your Story’ project? Your life is a tapestry of emotions—joyful moments, triumphs, and challenges overcome. Writing your story allows you to revisit and celebrate the positive emotions that have coloured your journey. Reflecting on and capturing your happy memories, family history, career/business story, travel adventures or spiritual journey brings both joy and a sense of meaning and fulfillment.

Documenting your story also provides the opportunity to strengthen relationships with family, friends and the wider community that will be cherished for a lifetime. Your narrative can be a source of inspiration, reminding you, and others, of the happiness you’ve experienced and fosters positive emotional wellbeing.

Writing has therapeutic benefits for your physical wellbeing. It’s not just an intellectual exercise; it’s a way to express and release emotions, reduce stress and promote overall wellness. As you embark on your ‘Write Your Story’ project, consider the physical wellbeing advantages—a healthier mind contributing to a healthier body.

Completing your life story is a significant accomplishment. It’s not just words on a page; it’s a testament to your resilience, growth, and the legacy you’re leaving behind. In the first instance, all you need is an open mind, a notebook and pen, and a commitment to your project. Make a list of the topics you’d like to include, then pick the one that appeals the most to you and start writing. Don’t be tempted to edit your work, just write. Don’t let perfection get in the way of getting the job done. You can revise, polish and format your script at a later date.

Documenting your life story needn’t be a solitary endeavor; it can be an opportunity to strengthen your social connections. In my popular series of ‘Write Your Story’ community workshops, men and women meet weekly in a supportive fun environment. As part of the learning experience, I guide participants through every step of the writing journey, from concept to completion, and everyone is encouraged to share their stories. By sharing your experiences, you create bridges to others who may have similar stories to tell. In this way a ‘Write Your Story’ project becomes a catalyst for community engagement, fostering a sense of belonging and enhancing social wellbeing. For those that prefer to work on their own, I also offer professional one-on-one support and encouragement.

It’s never too late to begin documenting your incredible life journey. Your story deserves to shine, and it makes the perfect gift for the special people in your life. Why not start your legacy project today, celebrate your journey, and leave a lasting impact.

Reach out if you need a hand, I’d be happy to help.