Question 1

What are the risks of sharing a personal story publicly in the app?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

Who will have access to my stories?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

If I decide not to use the app anymore, what happens to my data?

Accepted Answer

It is removed per GDPR and similar regulations.

Question 4

What’s the difference between a story title, topic, and theme?

Accepted Answer

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."

Question 5

What’s some other examples of a story’s title, topic, and theme?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

Does it matter in what order I answer the six factors in the hexagon?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

Is there an easy way to remember the six aspects of finding a story?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We like the acronym MAPMAT2:
Message
Audience
Purpose
Mindset
Audience again!
Theme + Topic

Question 8

What does mindset mean?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

What is an example of how a mindset changes by the end of a story?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

What's a more modern example of a mindset change?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 11

What are some mindsets we see in stories?

Accepted Answer

• 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.

Question 12

Can you provide examples of Storyweaver stories?

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