Tell Your Story, Change the World

Helpful Storytelling Tips for Unruly Artists

Maybe you’re feeling empty. Maybe you’re uncertain or afraid. Maybe these words are reaching you in agony. I have a secret. You’re not alone.

Maya Angelou eloquently said, “there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” And she said it for a reason. Stories are potent.

Maybe you’re ready to tell your story. Maybe you’re an artist who has an innovative approach as to how to share. Whatever the case, you’re moving in the right direction.

Still, you probably have questions. How do you begin? How do you structure your story? How do stories drive political change? Luckily, I have insights.

I recently taught a virtual workshop on the power of politicizing your personal story. This post draws from some of the core elements of my presentation. Please let me know if it resonates by liking, commenting or sharing this post.

What Makes a Personal Narrative So Powerful?

We like to think of our experiences as happening in isolation. In actuality, we have more in common with people than we’re even fully aware of. Telling the story buried deep inside you can transform yourself AND others. It can transform the world.

Think about conversations you’ve had with friends, with strangers on public transportation, with parents at the playground, with coworkers and with family members during holidays. Making a political statement or sharing an opinion is one thing. People tend to lose interest if you’re rattling off jargon. Structuring our ideas in story-form is world-making.

Humans don’t think in terms of raw information—they think in stories. As people focus on the narrative, the info naturally comes along for the ride. Your personal story is meaningful because we aren’t just statistics and numbers; we’re living, feeling beings, and that emotional resonance is what truly connects us.

How Are Stories, Codes?

Stories can function like cultural codes that shape norms. For example, the concept of the “knight in shining armor.” These ideas, often taught through childhood bedtime stories, become ingrained conditioning. Without questioning them, people may continue living by oppressive codes. I mean, even Trump likes to think of himself as a knight in shining armor. His followers think he’s come to save the day, to slay the dragon, to conquer their fears.

Other cultural codes can cause people to wallow in isolation. Folks feel ashamed for being in medical debt because they haven’t “pulled themselves up by their bootstraps”—which can lead to isolation, powerlessness, and even suicidal thoughts.

On the other hand, “codes of liberation” turn shame into solidarity, fostering righteous anger and a collective will to fight unjust systems while treating each other with empathy.

Elaborate on a “Code of Oppression” vs. a “Code of Liberation”

There are many oppressive “codes” used to uphold toxic masculinity, white supremacy or to prevent the working class from recognizing our power.

One example is the narrative that people go into debt because they “live beyond their means.” An organization I work with, the Debt Collective, counters this code by reminding people that they aren’t actually living beyond their means, they’ve been denied the means to live. This flips oppressive code on its head. It reveals a deeper truth: we deserve access to universal, public, and reparative goods. And forcing people into debt for housing, healthcare, and education is a profound social failure.

Ok, I’m Ready to Tell My Story. Where Do I Start?

Just start. You might want to free-write in a journal without judging yourself, or tell your story to friends and family you trust. If you’ve participated in a debtors’ assembly, that’s also a great space to openly and cathartically share debt experiences—simply voicing these stories is a crucial first step. An open mic is another option. After the initial stage, organize your thoughts. You can try recording a voice note and transcribing it so you can see the words written in front of you.

What Are the Elements of a Succinct Story?

Once you’re ready to share your story with the wider public, once you have a goal for why you’re doing it, you’ll want to make it concise.

Setting, Characters, Conflict, Plot, Rising Action, Resolution, etc

These are elements of a story. An effective story needs a strong hook at the beginning and a clear call to action at the end—people often forget the middle. Remember, every story typically has characters, conflict (what drives the story?), and a setting.

What If I’m Nervous About Sharing My Story?

It’s natural to feel nervous since society often shames the most marginalized. We’re shamed for being artists, working class people, femmes, queer folks, people in debt, and more. That’s why it’s helpful to tell your story among those you trust before you share publicly (for instance, in an op-ed or online), make sure you’re ready, as it will remain accessible indefinitely.

Even if you never publish, writing down your story can still be transformative for your own wellbeing.

What If People Ridicule Me?

Although it would be ideal to live in a completely respectful world, we don’t yet.

Be prepared for the possibility of negative reactions when telling your story. Remember people are creatures of habit. If they’re living by an oppressive code, hearing a liberating code may feel threatening or unsettling. Sometimes folks will critique your story. But respectful feedback can be an opportunity to help people unlearn and bring folks onto your side through dialogue.

If you post your story online, you might encounter trolls, bots, or those determined to misunderstand you. Feel free to block anyone engaging in bigotry or inappropriate behavior—there’s no need to waste energy on them.

Prompt (If You Choose to Accept It)

Write about a significant life obstacle—maybe a health crisis, divorce, breakup, or move. Tell a short story.

1.) Describe the central conflict and the moment you knew it was serious.

2.) Use sensory details to show its impact. Who was involved, and where did it unfold? Compare its urgency to something in nature, like a tsunami of emotions. Did you find a resolution, and what did you learn?

3.) Finally, connect your experience to a broader social or political issue—perhaps include a statistic—to show how your story fits into a larger societal narrative.

Here’s an example: “My divorce rocked my world, but it also opened up my world. 50% of marriages end in divorce. How does this impact women? I know myself enough to choose healthy, reciprocal relationships.”

Don’t be surprised if you encounter challenging emotions such as grief, anger or fear. Remember that these emotions should be temporary. This is all part of the excavation process.

Let me know how it goes.

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