Make me a story…bespoke stories and their impact.
As any regular visitor knows by now, I LOVE writing stories! Often my inspiration comes at random- an idea pops into my brain and builds until it becomes a character and a storyline that I can build upon. I love when that happens and have confused many a friend and colleague by bursting into class in the morning with “what about an alien who collects feelings?!” or “a hand, a hand who flips his lid!” (Enter Barry 😂)
But often, I'll receive a message or have a conversation with someone who will ask for a specific topic to be addressed. That's when characters take a more bespoke turn- a young man who struggles with respecting personal space and loves dinosaurs gave rise to Derek the dino. A student who loved fairies but would become very upset hearing the words “stop, no” or “don’t” led to Flora the Fairy and students who were struggling with the concept of the long summer break sparked the idea for Otis, the baby owl who misses his friends the stars.
Why do bespoke stories work?
Empathy. A bespoke personal story resonates with the reader. If students can see elements of themselves in the characters it builds their empathy as they relate to the character and their problem.
Relatable. As well as building empathy, a character which appeals means that the listener will be more engaged and is more likely to hear the message.
Targeted. Designing a story for a specific issue means that I can really hone in on the issue and make it relevant for the student. However, it's also really rewarding when my stories, written with a specific student in mind, resonates by chance with others.
How do I request a bespoke story?
That bit is really simple. Either use the contact form on this website or message me on the Facebook page and see what a tailored bespoke story can do for your child or student! Even better, comment below with ideas for future stories!
M xxx