Here’s an idea you can try at the story-origination phase of your next digital storytelling workshop.
Ask everyone to place their hand on a blank piece of paper and draw round it, kindergarten style.
Ask people to write a line on each digit, in response to this:
Little finger: what’s the best thing that’s happened to you so far this year?
Ring finger: Looking further back in time, name one highlight of your life.
Middle finger: thinking of your family, what makes you most proud of being you? Did your grandfather have a fascinating job? Has your family made its mark in your town?
Index finger: pointing to the future, what would you like to achieve in the next five to ten years?
Thumb: what’s your philosophy in life? recipe for success? favorite saying?
In the case of someone who says: “I don’t have a story”, an exercise like this may help to suggest a theme for their personal story so they can script it or form it, record it and start making their digital story.
Written and first published by Gareth Morlais on 16 June 2011