How Would You Craft Your Life Story?

Part 1 of 7

This is a very exciting time for Victorious By Design!

We launched our premiere issue of Victorious By Design Magazine earlier this week: a quarterly literary and empowerment haven. It is a literary oasis because it is created for aspiring and established authors and an empowerment haven because we want to inspire people to walk in their God-given purpose.

For today's blog (and the next few weeks), I will explore a literary and empowerment topic that speaks directly to you. It is my hope that at the end of this series, you will become a better writer and/or you will gain clarity on your purpose or life story. Will you join me?

The Character

Every great story has a protagonist or main character. At the beginning of the story, we are immediately introduced to the main character's need. Tension is created because we want to know, "will this character get what he/she needs?" The author frames the tension in such a way that it draws us in and we keep reading or watching to see how the story unfolds. When you are crafting your main character, simplify his/her story to one need that must be fulfilled in order to survive, whether it is to gain status, find a social community or find meaning. This underlying need will be the character's driving force throughout the story and the means by which readers relate to the protagonist's struggle. If the need is not clearly articulated, your readers might not be able to connect with your character from early.

You are the Character

If we see ourselves as the protagonists in our own life stories, we can all recognize that we carry within us a deep need for meaning and purpose. We yearn to know the answers to life's fundamental questions such as 'Who am I? Why am I here? What am I created to do? Where am I going?' Can you feel the tension already? This need can drive us to experiment and to take risks because we simply need to know! We know that we are made for more than our typical routine, especially when we look through the annals of history at the lives of people who left a legacy for us today. It is almost like we cannot be satisfied until we answer these questions for ourselves. Do you feel the same way too?

Join me next week to learn more and dive deeper into this perspective on your life story.

By Kerry-Ann McPherson

Project Manager & Contributor