Sharing your personal story on our platform can help to inspire and connect with others, but it's important to consider the potential risks. Technology has given us multiple opportunities to share our stories, but our control over those stories has diminished as our digital footprints grow. Once you share your story, either in person or online, you may face several risks. For example, you might receive unexpected negative feedback, or sharing might impact on your privacy or that of others. Sometimes, we simply are not ready to tell a particular story - we say "it's not soup yet." You might consider omitting or anonymizing sensitive details, or shelving that story for another, better time. The good thing about ULUstories is that you choose what to share, when, where, how and to whom
It depends on how and whom you share it with. Any data created within the app is privacy protected. Only you can make the story accessible, either by sharing it orally or via a Word doc or audio/video. You can control access depending on how and with whom you share the story.
It is removed per GDPR and similar regulations.
Each serves a particular purpose in building and sharing a story
Story Title: A string of words at the beginning of a story that names it, and serves as a label to identify the work. Its function is to grab attention, evoke curiosity, and give a hint about the content of the story. It should be memorable and interesting so that it can stand out and attract readers. For example, "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith and "Atonement" by Ian McEwan.
Story Topic: The specific subject or scenario around which the story, providing a specific context. For example, the topic of "Catch-22" by Jospeh Heller is the absurdity and paradoxical nature of war, as experienced by a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier and his squadron mates during World War II.
Story Theme: The central idea or underlying message that acts as a foundation for the narrative and often explores universal concepts about human experience or society. For example, the struggle between good and evil is the theme of Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings."
Here’s three examples.
Title: The Hunger Games (book and movie)
Topic: A dystopian society where a totalitarian government forces children to compete in a deadly survival competition as a means of control.
Theme/s: may include the consequences of absolute power, the disparity between social classes, the impact of media on society, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression.
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Title: The Three Little Pigs (children’s story)
Topic: Three pigs, each building a house of different materials to protect themselves from the Big Bad Wolf.
Theme: The importance of hard work and preparation, illustrating that taking the time to do something well can protect against future adversities.
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Title: Black Panther (movie)
Topic: leadership in the fictional nation of Wakanda
Theme/s: may be identity, heritage, and responsibilities of a powerful nation to the larger world
No. We deliberately provide them in this format so you can start anywhere. Answers to any of them help lead you to possible answers for the others. For example, storytellers often know upfront who the audience is, and the purpose of telling the story, or its message, but may not have thought through the mindset, topic, or theme.
Yes! We like the acronym MAPMAT2:
Message
Audience
Purpose
Mindset
Audience again!
Theme + Topic
Mindset in a story refers to a central value, belief, or attitude you hold at the beginning of the narrative. Your mindset shapes the dramatic arc of your ULUstory, informing how you interpret events, tackle challenges, and make decisions. Mindset can manifest 3 ways:
your values dictate your ethical compass
your beliefs define your grasp of truth
your attitudes color your initial perspective and responses
This mindset is an integral part of the story, which will be challenged or tested as events unfold. As the story progresses, you, the storyteller, may begin to question this initial mindset due to new experiences, conflicts, or revelations.
By the end of the story, typically your mindset either shifts or is reaffirmed. You may emerge with a changed perspective, as a result of a choice you make in responding to a dilemma. Or, your initial mindset is strengthened by the consequences of your choice. Either way, the impact on your mindset drives the transformational power of the story, It is the key element of the dramatic arc: challenge, choice, consequence.
A classic example of this mindset change in a story is Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."
Initial Mindset: Ebenezer Scrooge starts off as a miserly, cold-hearted man. He firmly believes that money, not people, is the most important thing in life. He despises Christmas and views it as a time of year when people spend money foolishly.
Challenges to the Mindset: Scrooge's mindset is challenged by the visitations of four ghosts: his former business partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Each ghost shows Scrooge scenes that force him to reflect on his life and the consequences of his actions (or inactions):
Change in Mindset: Through these supernatural experiences, Scrooge is led to a profound realization about the importance of compassion, generosity, and community. He awakens on Christmas morning with a transformed mindset.
Resolution: Embracing the spirit of Christmas, Scrooge becomes a man known for his good nature and charity. His change in mindset is the core of the story's message about the redemptive power of kindness.
The Lion King provides a wonderful example.
Initial mindset: after fleeing the wrath of his Uncle Scar and his guilt over his father's death, Simba has adopted a "happy-go-lucky "hakuna matata" mindset with his two friends.
Challenge to his mindset: Nala his childhood friend, arrives to tell him of the disaster having befallen the pride, and urges him to return to fight Scar. Simba must decide whether to stay a live a carefree life or return to the kingdom, face his fear, and save the animals.
Change in mindset: He chooses to return to the kingdom, as his beloved mighty father would have done.
Resolution: By the end of the story, Simba has become the lion his father wanted him to be. He is now king, has married Nala, the kingdom recovers and Nala gives birth to a cub. They hold her up at Pride Rock and the circle of life is complete.
Integrity balances self-interest with honesty. Some seek personal gain with discretion, while others maintain unwavering truthfulness.
Compassion: prioritizes personal well-being versus others' needs. Some practice self-care first; others place higher importance on helping others.
Courage: weighs caution against embracing risk. Some value safety, while others see worth in taking calculated risks.
Responsibility: ranges from valuing personal freedom to embracing accountability. Some cherish independence; others fully own their community impact.
Resilience: responses to adversity vary from seeking stability to actively pursuing change and facing challenges independently.
Curiosity: some are satisfied with known knowledge; others constantly seek new information and experiences for personal growth.
Respect: balances self-assertion with valuing others. Some advocate for their own views; others prioritize equality and recognition of others.
Humility: some assert self-confidence; others emphasize teamwork and may downplay personal success for group achievements.
Adventurousness: preferences range from seeking familiarity to exploring the unknown for the value of discovery and diversity.
Independence: some prefer autonomy in tasks and decisions; others value collaborative efforts and shared decision-making.
Pragmatism: balances idealism with practicality. Some pursue visionary goals while others focus on realistic and achievable outcomes.
Tradition: some adhere to established customs for continuity; others push for modernization and adaptability
Optimism: some anticipate positive outcomes; others adopt a more cautious outlook, preparing for various possibilities.
Competitiveness: drives range from excelling over others to focusing on self-improvement without external comparison.
Orderliness: preferences for a structured environment contrast with a comfort for spontaneity and adaptability.
Empowerment: focus ranges from self-development to mentoring others, emphasizing personal growth or facilitating it in others.
​ | ​Piano Lessons | ​S’mores | ​F--- you | ​Shoot |
Who you were | ​I was the dutiful Chinese daughter who spent every afternoon at piano lessons, secretly watching the basketball team practice through the window. My mother had my future planned - music school, then medical school. | I was that dad who always needed things done "the right way." From loading the dishwasher to folding towels, I had a system for everything and constantly corrected my kids. | I was a prim and proper female architect in 1952, always in pressed skirts and perfect language. The men at construction sites would either ignore my directions or make excuses to check with my male colleagues. | I was the new guy in our unit, desperate to prove myself. Fresh from training, I worried my teammates saw me as untested and unreliable in real combat situations. |
​Spark event | ​Coach Martinez saw me shooting hoops alone during lunch and said I had natural talent. But she was clear: "If you want to make the team, you'll need to practice three hours every day. No exceptions." | During our first family camping trip, eight-year-old Joey held his marshmallow directly in the flames until it was completely black and dripping. My instinct was to jump in and fix it, show him the "proper" toasting technique. | One day, a foreman completely disregarded my specifications for a crucial support beam, saying he'd "wait to discuss it with a real architect." The project was at risk, and I was furious. | During a night patrol in Kandahar, we spotted two figures in a field known for IED placement. The moonlight was dim, but something about their movements seemed off to me. |
​Critical choice | ​That night, I told my mother I was quitting piano. She didn't speak to me for days, but I chose basketball. Every evening, I stayed late at school practicing, coming home to find dinner wrapped in foil - Mom's silent way of showing she still cared. | I had to decide: correct him and make the perfect s'more, or let him do it his way. For once, I bit my tongue and watched as he sandwiched that charred marshmallow between graham crackers. | I had to choose between maintaining my ladylike demeanor or finding a way to speak their language. After watching how they interacted with each other, I decided to shock them all - I started cursing like a sailor when things went wrong. | When Johnson started firing and the Sergeant was screaming "Take the shot!", I had to choose between following orders or trusting my instincts. I'd caught a glimpse of a child's size and movement. I kept my finger off the trigger. |
​Impact | ​The hours of practice transformed me from benchwarmer to starter to team captain. My parents never came to games, but my teammates became my second family. When the college scout offered me a full athletic scholarship, even my mother couldn't hide her pride. | Joey took a huge bite, melted chocolate and burnt marshmallow all over his face, grinning like he'd just tasted heaven. His older brother tried it too, and suddenly they were inventing their own s'more techniques, having more fun than if I'd enforced my "perfect" method. | The first time I called a poorly-laid foundation "a damn mess," you could hear a pin drop. Then the foreman laughed, and suddenly I wasn't "the lady architect" anymore - I was just another professional who knew her stuff. Work began flowing smoothly. | The figures turned out to be a farmer and his young son, searching for a lost goat. The Sergeant was furious initially, but later pulled me aside and said my restraint had prevented a tragedy that would have haunted us all. |
​Who I became | ​Now I understand that success comes in many forms. Last week, I caught my mom showing her friends a newspaper clipping about our state championship win. We still don't talk about the piano, but she's learned to respect my choices, and I've learned that love sometimes speaks through foil-wrapped dinners. | Now I catch myself before giving unnecessary corrections. Yesterday, Joey was teaching his friend "his secret s'more technique," and I smiled, remembering how close I came to squashing that creativity. I've learned that sometimes the best parenting means keeping your mouth shut and letting your kids find their own way. | Now I switch easily between boardroom propriety and construction site straight talk. Yesterday, a new engineer questioned my design, and the foreman defended me, saying "Don't mess with her - she knows her sh*t." I learned that sometimes you have to break society's rules to break through its barriers. | Now I understand that true courage isn't about proving yourself through aggression. Last week, a new private asked me how to handle uncertain situations, and I told him: "Trust your training, but also trust your humanity." The team that once doubted me now looks to me for judgment calls in tough moments. |