The How’s and the Why’s of 100 Rural Years Story-telling
This story guide seeks to provide some guidance for those wishing to write a well researched and substantial contribution to the history of ACRE/RCCs and of their contribution to the development of rural communities. It is only a guide and not prescriptive. A variety of approaches and perspectives add interest and depth to the subject matter for the reader and enable the author to put their own stamp on the story.
There are two kinds of stories in 100 Rural Years:
- The Historical Perspective Story
- The People and Personalities Cameo
The Historical Perspective Story
Key features required for a good story might typically include –
- A short title with a longer sub title
- The local context for the story
- An introduction to gain the readers attention including the historic time period
- Each section to have a sub heading if possible to encourage further reading of the text
- Brief anecdotes, recollections, quotations and mini case studies to add interest and depth to the text (with credits as appropriate)
- References and further reading including precise web links with clear titles
- Around 2,000 words broken down into sections of c500 words (avoiding lengthy paragraphs)
- If possible, video and audio clips, oral history interviews/discussions and images especially of media coverage and historic documents (with the ‘further reading’ link)
- Emphasis on local issues, people, communities, places and events and their challenges and successes
If possible/appropriate (but not obligatory), it would be helpful to review contributions in the light of key challenges, successes and lessons for the future as this will provide evidence of learning when seeking funding.
The Cameo Story
Much of the guidance above is relevant to cameos with less emphasis on issues and historical periods and more on a person, with their own chronology, whether in the form of a biography or autobiography. These might include –
- Early life
- Education
- Working life
- Retirement
Key additional features might include –
- More anecdotes and quotations
- The author’s ideas and opinions based on experience especially of their impact on rural communities
- Bearing in mind possible varying views, citations and attributions should be cited where possible
- Finally a current and future perspective including any lasting impacts of the person’s life on rural communities and rural action and on the author him/herself
Conclusion
Authors are asked to provide a short ‘abstract’ of two or three sentences for references elsewhere. Plus a short paragraph on the person concerned in the auto/biography with a photograph, name and short biographical paragraph.
If authors would like further advice and support, they are asked to contact the email address below.
Contributions
If you would like to write a story for this website, please do get in touch: ruralyears100@acre.org.uk
Thank you
22.06.21