What’s Your Deepest Story?
Before you jump into writing that first (or second or fifth) draft, ask yourself this question: Is this your deepest story?
Is this truly what you want to say as you reveal yourself and your view on the world? Does it make room for sharing a key part of what makes you the original you are? Would you say it’s at least a 5-out-of-10 in terms of how vulnerable it is?
Or is there a different story yearning to be told now that you’ve gotten your original idea out of the way?
If other ideas are coming to mind, add them to your list of brainstorming ideas.
In 7 years, every time one of my students has chosen to write THAT story — their deepest one — it’s been the better one. The second story ends up being the one worth developing. 100% of the time.
Already wrote a first draft? PERFECT. This section is for you. What’s your deepest story? What more is trying to come out of you to be told?
TIP: Not sure about your DEEPEST story? Write your FIRST story now. It’s the top-of-mind one that you’ve been knowing you’d write about for weeks or possibly even years. Write it as quickly as possible. Bullet points are fine.
Once you’re done, you’ll arrive at the place to know if there’s a second story to be written or if you’re just ahead of the game by your cheetah-like action.
TIP: Vulnerability is one of the keys to an awesome essay. And vulnerability comes from the heart. Step back and reevaluate the ideas you’re considering for your essay topic. Are they coming from your heart or your head? You just might uncover even deeper, richer issues.
If you’ve already created a first essay (and it’s fine if you haven’t), you can ask if the essay sounds like it’s come from your head (analytical, logical, belief systems, facts, identity you’ve created for yourself) or from your heart (feelings, speaks in possibilities, breaks out of old ways of being, full of experiences, shows understanding and insight). Your deepest story will have BOTH your head and heart in it.
So, after once you’re written your essay (and if you haven’t yet, you’ll come back to this thought later) read your essay out loud, ask yourself “Is this my deepest story?” If yes, you’re good to go on this element. If no, what is the deeper story you have yet to tell? Go ahead and write that story.
