Telling your personal story for a cause

When to use this resource: 

• You’re making any kind of pitch on an issue (writing a letter to the editor, speaking publicly, asking someone to take action) and it would enhance your pitch to share a personal story about why you care about the issue

Outline of resource:

• Why storytelling is important
• Structure of a good story 
• Tips for effective storytelling
• Where to tell your story

Key points

1. Telling a personal story about an issue can help you connect with others and motivate them to get involved
2. An outline for a good story is Challenge, Choice, Outcome, Value (you can see an example below)
3. Keep it simple, use sensory details, and tailor to the person you’re speaking to

Why storytelling is important

Humans have been sharing stories for centuries. Stories help us connect with each other and our community, pass on lessons, interpret our feelings, and compel us to keep going. 

When advocating for an issue, sharing your personal story can help you connect with others and motivate them to get involved as well. Paint a picture of why you care about that issue, the challenges you’ve faced, and why you’ve chosen here and now to take action. As unique as your story is, the people you tell it to likely share some of the same experiences or values that drove you to take action, and understanding your passion will inspire them. 

There are many different types of stories, and this resource focuses on how to tell your personal story to establish a deeper connection with your audience. To learn how to tell the story of the issue you’re working on, use this worksheet on how to structure your ‘pitch’ effectively.

Structure of a good story 

Every one of us has a multitude of experiences, and there are many different ways we could express why we care about a given issue. The goal of a good story isn’t to explain every single aspect of yourself, but to hone a single, cohesive narrative that will be most effective in connecting with your audience. 

The key components of a personal story are: 

• Challenge: A specific moment or an overall life circumstance that led to a decision point 
  • Ex: “My son was 5 years old when he had his first asthma attack, and it was terrifying. I never wanted him to go through that again. But the more research I did, the clearer it became that I couldn’t just solve that problem on my own: asthma is exacerbated by polluted air, which means his condition could be triggered any time he went outside.” 
• Choice: The decision you made that led you to where you are now, and how you came to that choice. (Was it an obvious, clear-cut decision? Were you unsure what the right move was? What difficulty did you have in grappling with that decision?)
  • Ex: “The problem felt too big to fathom. Air pollution is so pervasive and it’s baked into the way we travel, work, and consume. I knew I couldn’t possibly fix it on my own, but I also couldn’t stand by and watch my son and other kids suffer if there’s something I can do about it. I decided I had to do whatever I could to fight for cleaner air.” 
• Outcome: The result of your decision; how you got to where you are right now
  • Ex: “It was quite a journey and I had to learn a lot more about air pollution than I ever thought I would. But now I know that the cars we drive are a big contributor to the localized pollution in our city, and reforming the way we travel around town is a big step towards cleaner air for us and our children. That’s why I’ve spent the past three months working with experts, engaging our city council, and rallying my neighbors around a plan for a more walkable, bikeable city.” 
• Values: The moral of the story, the core belief(s) or personal value(s) that led you to the choice you made and keeps you motivated to continue 
  • Ex: “We all care about kids’ health. But it might not be obvious that providing more options for getting around our city can clean up our air and help protect kids suffering from asthma. I hope we can work together to make our city more walkable and bikeable, and a healthier place to live.” 

Use this Telling Your Story worksheet to help brainstorm ideas and organize your thoughts into a cohesive story. 

Tips for effective storytelling 

• Keep it simple: Make one clear point; avoid over explaining or delving into too much detail that pulls attention away from your main point 
• Use sensory details: Descriptive language of key moments helps paint a picture for the audience and pulls them into your story. For example, if you’re talking about protecting nature, describe a protected area you love: what does it look like, what kinds of animals can you hear, etc. 
• Tailor to your audience: Your personal story is rich and complex; as you hone your story, consider different angles and decide which points to emphasize based on the audience you’re sharing it with on each occasion.

Where to tell your story 

Opportunities to connect and inspire through storytelling are everywhere. As you continue to advocate for the issues that matter to you, here are common situations where sharing your personal story can help you make a stronger case and compel others to take action: 

• Public comments
• Letters to the editor
• Talking to media 
• When recruiting others
• Lobby meetings
• At events 
• Emails or phone calls to leaders 
• Talking to friends 
• And more!