Story Ideas and Development

STORY IDEAS & DEVELOPMENT

If it is your first time writing for us - the most important decision is your topic.  If you are feeling stumped we have some samples for your to peruse with tips to consider while developing your story.  Once you are inspired by a topic, you can use the prompts to help to develop your story.  

SFU PROGRAMS

If you have completed the Co-op program, participated in campus clubs, or had a great volunteer experience sharing your experience with others is valuable to inspire them.  Consider including:

• Which programs, clubs or organizations were you involved with? • What inspired you to join? • What were some of your most memorable experiences, and why? • Do you feel that participating in the programs, campus clubs, or a volunteer program gave you a competitive advantage when entering the workforce? • Do you feel that this experience played an important part in where you are today?

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

If you are sharing your personal and career planning stories or experience, you may consider writing about any of the following topics:

• What steps you took to prepare for your career? • Do you do any volunteer work or have you joined any professional associations/clubs? • Did you have any mentors during or since university? • What advice do you have for undergraduates about how to succeed in such a competitive job market?  • What advice do you have for students about to launch their careers?  • If you had the opportunity to live your undergraduate career over again, would you choose to do anything different?  • What has your career trajectory looked like?

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Did your SFU experience take you somewhere internationally? Whether you embarked on a semester abroad, a field school, an International co-op, or an overseas volunteer experience, International articles and blog series make great additions to the OLC. Consider including the following:

• Where did you go?
• What did you do on your trip?
• Did working or studying abroad change your perspective of your education at SFU?
• Share your favourite or most challenging moments
• Were there any major cultural barriers you had to overcome?
• Would you recommend the experience to future students?

MULTIMEDIA

There are so many ways to share a story using video, audio, images, gifs or a comic you design yourself! <<< Comic  • Video • Audio • Gifs • Images

 HOW-TO [EDUCATIONAL/INFORMATIONAL]

• What new skill/strategy can you share with your peers? • What tip did you find most useful? • What resources were valuable? • Did peers/colleagues/educators aid in your skill development? • Try using bullets or numbers for each unique point

Q & A or INTERVIEW

Know someone interesting that has a great story to share?  Interview your peers, colleagues or yourself...

• Prepare a list of questions in advance • Provide them to the interviewee in advance • Capture the interview via document, audio or video • Listen to the interveiwee to hear their unique story and ask follow up questions  • Prepare the story in the Q & A format & share with the interviewee for their approval

TAKE A RISK

INDUSTRY/ORGANIZATION STORIES

Share a story or review of an industry, organization or opportunity (scholorship or grant) that you are involved with to provide additional insight. 

Be Creative!

If there is a specific topic you are extremely passionate about but are not covered by the OLC yet, please reach out and tell us about it! We'd love to work with you on making it happen!