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Tell your story

TELL YOUR STORY

I’m looking for stories based on the theme of "root stories". They might be inspired by the Memory Journal Starter Kit, or they might be stories you’ve created entirely independently and that are looking for a home.

Your submission could be (but isn't limited to):

  • Stories sparked by the smallest fragments of memory—the barest trace of what was once reality.
  • The roots of your life, recorded in photographs, audio and video recordings, letters, etc.
  • Traces of your past that are unrecorded and exist nowhere but your memory.
  • Memories and stories you’ve inherited or that have affected you in some way.
  • Stories of people long gone that persist in folk and family mythology.
  • Memories triggered by seemingly unrelated places, people, smells, objects, conversations, etc.

Full name, first name, pseudonym, anonymous, etc.
If you have a website you'd like to link back to, let me know the address here.
A brief introduction to you, including why this story is important to you.
You can either submit the text of your written story, or a description and explanation of another form of creative work, and how it relates to the theme of "traces". Be sure you save a copy of your work before pasting it into the form.
Click or drag files to this area to upload. You can upload up to 5 files.
If you are submitting a photo or illustrated story, you can upload up to five images. If your story consists of more than five images, select those that best represent your story and include details of the rest in your story proposal.
Click or drag a file to this area to upload.
Upload a single audio or video file of up to 5 minutes & 10 MB Accepted formats .mp3 or .mp4.
You’re welcome to post content on RootStori.es that you’ve published elsewhere, as long as you have the rights you need to do so. By posting content to RootStori.es, you represent that doing so doesn’t conflict with any other agreement you’ve made.

By submitting content to RootStori.es, you give us a nonexclusive license to publish it on our website, including anything reasonably related to publishing it (storing, displaying, editing, reformatting, and distributing it). You also give permission for RootStori.es to make edits to your submission prior to publication. We may also use your content to promote RootStori.es, our products and content. We will never sell or distribute your content to third parties without your explicit permission.

You’re responsible for the content you submit. This means you assume all risks related to it, including someone else’s reliance on its accuracy, or claims relating to intellectual property or other legal rights.

You’re welcome to post content on RootStori.es that you’ve published elsewhere, as long as you have the rights you need to do so. By posting content to RootStori.es, you represent that doing so doesn’t conflict with any other agreement you’ve made.

Click here to tell your story

MY ROOT STORIES

My early memories are minimal—a few staccato moments without context. Having packed my life into boxes for a move several years ago, I never had the space to unpack my books and photos. I lost my tenuous connection to my own memory. I lost myself.

I stopped writing.

Three years later, I bought a wall of bookshelves. I spent days unpacking, sorting and filing memories—finding snippets of myself from pre-teen to young adult in a forgotten album. I started to write again—short pieces inspired by photos—recovering insignificant days or moments which collectively add up to me.

Posts in the “Roots” section of the blog are part of an ongoing project to recover and tell these memories.

Now I want to help you tell your stories.

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TRACE STORIES FAQS

Your story can be about anything that relates to the theme of root stories. The roots of your memory and your life, family history, or the traces left by or uncovered on a personal journey, etc. Interpret that how you will …

Stories can be told using whatever medium works best for you. You can write a personal essay or poem, use photographs, video or illustration, submit an audio story, a Twitter-stream, or any format that we can somehow present on the RootStori.es website.

If you're submitting a written story, copy and paste the entire content of your story into this box.

If you're submitting any other kind of story, tell me anything you think I need to know about your story and how it relates to the "trace memories" theme.

Throw it at me and let’s see if it sticks. I’m very interested in less traditional storytelling forms and keen to explore ways to present these.

At this time, I’m not looking for pure fiction. If you have something that crosses the line between memory and fantasy, I’m still interested. As long as your story has at least one foot in your own version of reality.

Audio and video submissions can be up to 5 minutes and written stories up to 2,000 words. Photo stories can be told in up to 12 images.

Don’t feel your story has to be that long. If you can tell your story in eight words or in a single image, then do. If you have anything longer than this that you think fits the other criteria, let me know and we’ll see if I can accommodate it.

If you have something that’s not a video or a written piece, tell me how long it is on the submission form, how many images it consists of, etc. and I’ll let you know if I’d like to have a look at the full version.

If you're submitting a written story, upload a minimum of one main image, or a maximum of five images that illustrate the whole story.

For a photo or illustrated story, upload a maximum of five images. If your story consists of more than five images, select those that best represent your story and include details of the rest in your story proposal.

Accepted formats .jpg, .gif, .png.

The maximum file upload size for images is 1MB. Images should be of good quality and a minimum of 1,024px width.

The maximum file upload size for audio & video is 10MB. Unfortunately, I can't accept full length video files via the form. Please submit an short edit and if selected, I'll arrange transfer of the full length file.

Final video files should be at least 720p and no more than 250MB.

Double-spaced, font size 12 in a commonly used font, such as Cambria, Calibri, Times New Roman or Arial. Legibility is the most important thing.

You’re welcome to post content on RootStori.es that you’ve published elsewhere, as long as you have the rights you need to do so. By posting content to RootStori.es, you represent that doing so doesn’t conflict with any other agreement you’ve made.

If your content has been published elsewhere, please provide a link to where in your submission form.

Please only submit one story at a time.

When you submit your story using the online form, you’ll receive an on-screen ‘thank you’ confirmation.

Please don’t send us another identical story, "just in case". If you think something has gone wrong with the form, please just email me at submissions@rootstori.es and I’ll check for you.

I aim to get back to you within one month from the date of submission. If you haven’t heard from me after this time, email submissions@rootstori.es.

Send your proposal and thumbnail attachments to submissions@rootstori.es. And let me know there’s a problem with the form.

If your story is written, please include a photo or illustration that is either your own or that you have permission to use.

Eh, not so much.

I know, I know. Plenty of people have told you that your story/opinion is less worthy because you mis-spell accomodate, recieve and seperate, but that’s not my priority.

I’m interested in good stories, well told. Colloquialisms, grammar “errors” etc. say much about who you are and where you come from. They are often an integral part of your voice and your identity.

Just be aware that when spelling and grammar go seriously awry, it can fundamentally change your meaning. If you’re worried, ask someone you trust to proof read your submission, but don’t let anyone edit out your voice.

I’ll edit submissions if necessary, but will run any substantive changes past you before publication.

Sure. As long as your website isn’t a front for arms dealing, the drug trade or prostitution, I’m happy to support you getting your voice into the world.

Start by unlocking the traces of your own memory with the Memory Journal Starter Kit.

Still not sure? Sign up for the Find your Story course, launching in 2020, and learn to turn your memories into stories.

Subscribe to the RootStori.es email list to get regular guidance on storytelling and learn more about the kind of stuff I’m looking to publish. I post regularly on all manner of storytelling-related subjects that will help.

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