I’m learning that discovering your story is a bit like searching Google. One particular story will result in thousands of details, but it’s up to me to figure out which of those details is important to the story.
For instance, I’ve been writing a short story about my experience trying to get to India to speak at a conference. Those seven days of hellacious travel yielded thousands of details and micro-stories. They’re vivid in my mind and I’m tempted to tell them all.
For instance:
- The former Iraqi general I ran through the airport alongside.
- The Indian wheelchair operator who escorted us.
- The five Starbucks coffees I bought at one airport waiting for my plane.
- The smell on the plane to India from the food in the galley.
- The couple checking in at the hotel that were obviously in the middle of an affair.
Those stories are easy to recall. But sometimes even the coolest details have no relevance to the greater story I need to tell. Getting from point A to point B doesn’t need to be more complex or detailed than necessary.
Not only that, but some of the details don’t follow a chronological order. Your life story isn’t simple.
So how do you do it? How do you sift through the Google search results of your life to find your true story? You look for themes. You look for recurring subjects or topics. Then you weave those together. Then you trim and shave and sculpt until you get a cohesive story that takes you through the real journey.
The theme of my life right now is trying new things. What’s the theme of your life at the moment?
