Prized Possession

Capturing the story of a prized possession can reveal personal insights and meaningful memories, especially if it is a legacy gift you inherited and plan to hand down. This story makes a wonderful gift to the person who gave it to you (or made it possible for you to have). It’s also a keepsake gift to the person you plan to leave it to.

Preparation

• Decide which possession holds the most meaning for you. It could be something sentimental, valuable, or symbolic.
• Before you start the story, reflect on how you came to possess it. Think about how you felt when you received it.
• Don’t just describe the object itself, delve into the memories, feelings, and significance it holds for you.

Audience

Are you writing this story primarily for fun and self reflection, or will your family, friends or associates be the audience for the story? If the story is primarily for your own consumption and reflection, don’t worry too much about structure or flow. Simply reminisce freely without worrying about spelling, grammar or sentence structure. Your virtual biographer will compile your memories into a coherent story for your enjoyment.

If you are writing the story as part of your life story, or to document the history of the possession, give some thought to what the audience would enjoy most about the story. What is the key message you want your audience to takeaway from your love for this possession? Share this insight with your virtual biographer.

Structure and Flow

A story written for others starts with a good “hook” and unfolds with authenticity and emotion. Begin with how you acquired the possession. Was it a gift, inherited, purchased, or found? Life stories can be told both chronologically and thematically. A chronological structure is good for recounting the order events happened. A thematic structure is focused on the ideas, thoughts and feelings of the characters in the story. Your virtual biographer can weave both approaches.

One of the most important choices to make about writing the story is what point-of-view the story will take. Do you want to tell it in the “First Person” (you as narrator) or the “Third Person” (an objective narrator). Most autobiographies, memoires, and life stories are told in the first person because they are character-driven stories. They are more intimate. However, writing and telling the story in the third person offers objectivity and omniscience. Do you want to tell the story in your own voice, from the perspective of how you lived it (first person), or as an impartial observer of how this possession came into your life (third person)?

Answer the Important Questions; Skip Those Less Relevant

The ‘Times of My Life’ app provides you with a Virtual Biographer (VB) to interview you about your prized possession and what it means to you. Yes, it’s an AI bot, but a very smart and intuitive one. Your VB has instant access to similar stories written and shared by millions of other people. It can help you relive events, thoughts and feelings. It can help illuminate the essence of your experience, and then tell a story that is uniquely yours. If your VB asks a question that doesn’t seem relevant to your experience, just skip it and move on to the questions that assist your recall and are important to how you lived the experience.

Add Details

If your virtual biographer fails to ask you a key question about your prized possession, simply tap the “Add Details” icon to add the memory when it comes to your mind. To add a detail, you can type it or use the microphone to record it. The VB will use your answers and the extra details you add to write a great story.

These ideas will get you in the mindset to answer questions and add details:

• Tell the Backstory: Share the backstory and any meaningful events associated with it. Explain why it holds sentimental value or significance.
• Paint a Picture: Use vivid descriptions to bring your possession to life. Describe its appearance, texture, and any unique features.
• Engage the Senses: Incorporate sensory details to evoke emotions and create a deeper connection with your reader.
• Reflect on Memories: Describe specific memories or experiences that involve your prized possession. How does it remind you of significant moments in your life?
• Express Emotions: Write about how this prized possession makes you feel. What emotions does it evoke, and why are these feelings important to you?
• Illustrate with Anecdotes: Use specific anecdotes or quotes from the person who gave it to you. Put sentences in quotation marks to let your virtual biographer know that it is a direct quote, and who said it.
• Personal Meaning: Explain what this possession means to you personally. Does it represent a particular phase of your life, a relationship, or an achievement?
• Impact on Your Life: Discuss how this possession has influenced your values, decisions, or outlook on life.
• Connection to Values: Explore how this possession reflects your values, beliefs, or aspirations.
• Identity: Consider how owning this possession shapes your identity or sense of self.
• Explore the symbolism: What does your prized possession represent beyond its physical form? For example, a worn baseball mitt might symbolize perseverance or a childhood dream.

Don’t Just Tell; Show

Show a picture or video of your prized possession! Adding narration and music might also help you “show” the story of the object. The ‘Times of My Life’ app is excellent at helping you visualize the story in multimedia formats.

Write the Story; Add Media

• After the interview and after you add whatever details you think are important, you will have the option of writing the story yourself, or having your virtual biographer write the story. It only cost $0.00 to have your VB write the story — and will save you hours of work writing it yourself. You can always edit what the VB writes.
• If you prefer to write the story yourself, use your answers from the interview and the details and notes the app captured, to guide your writing. Tips for writing the story yourself can be viewed by tapping the “Tips” icon in the app. Additional tips are listed below.
• After the story is written you will end up at the ‘Enhance Story’ screen. This is where the magic happens.
  • Tap “Add Media” to insert images and/or video clips into the narrative of your story.
  • Tap “Narrator” to choose a narrator. NOTE: A narrator is great if you ask your virtual biographer to write the story in the Third Person. If it is written in the First Person, then YOU are the narrator of the story.
  • Tap “Music” to add background music to your story, assuming you plan to publish it as an audiocast or a video.

Edit and Revise

After the story is written by you or your virtual biographer, you can “share” it for free through he app with friends and loved ones. Their feedback can provide valuable perspective and help you improve your story. After you get their feedback you can go back and edit the story as desired — or ask your VB to rewrite it with the feedback!

Publish Your Story

One of the best features of the ‘Times of My Life’ app is that it will produce the story in multimedia formats.

• Tap PDF to create a nicely formatted printed version.
• Use Audiocast to download an MP3 file.
• Click Video to download a high resolution video, complete with narration (if you choose a narrator), background music, and your uploaded images and video clips.

Sample Outline

Introduction

• Hook: Begin with a captivating statement or question to draw the reader in.
• Introduction of the Possession: Introduce your prized possession and its significance to you.
• Thesis Statement: State the main theme or purpose of your story, such as the emotional value of the possession or the lessons it represents.

Description of the Possession

• Physical Description: Describe the physical attributes of your prized possession in detail.
• Unique Features: Highlight any unique or special features that make it stand out.
• Sensory Details: Use sensory details to help the reader visualize and connect with the object.

Origin and Acquisition

• Backstory: Explain how you came to own this prized possession.
• Acquisition Story: Describe the circumstances under which you acquired it (e.g., a gift, a purchase, an inheritance).
• Initial Impressions: Share your initial feelings and thoughts when you first received or discovered the possession.

Emotional and Personal Significance

• Sentimental Value: Discuss why the possession is important to you on an emotional level.
• Memories: Share specific memories associated with the possession.
• Personal Growth: Explain how the possession has influenced your personal growth or development.

Impact on Your Life

• Daily Life: Describe how the possession fits into your daily life and routines.
• Symbolic Meaning: Discuss any symbolic meanings or lessons the possession represents.
• Influence on Relationships: Explain how the possession has impacted your relationships with others (e.g., family, friends).

Challenges and Maintenance

• Challenges: Discuss any challenges or difficulties you’ve faced in keeping or maintaining the possession.
• Care and Preservation: Describe how you care for and preserve the possession.
• Lessons Learned: Share any lessons you’ve learned through the process of caring for your prized possession.

Reflection and Future

• Reflection: Reflect on what the possession means to you now compared to when you first acquired it.
• Future Aspirations: Discuss any future aspirations or hopes you have regarding the possession.
• Legacy: Consider what legacy or message you want the possession to carry forward.

Conclusion

• Summary: Recap the main points of your story, emphasizing the significance of your prized possession.
• Final Thoughts: Share your final thoughts or reflections on what the possession represents in your life.
• Call to Action: Encourage readers to reflect on their own prized possessions and the value they hold.

By following this outline and incorporating these tips, you can create a rich and engaging story that highlights the significance of your prized possession and its impact on your life.