Answers · By Sun Yi, creator of the Myth Sandwich

How do I structure a personal story?

Short answerA personal story has 3 parts: the old you, one five-second moment, and the new you.

The 3 parts

• Start with the old you. Sun's example: "I used to pretend to laugh at my boss's lame jokes."
• Then the exact moment where something changes, the part you can draw a picture of.
• Then the new you, what's different now.

Pick one moment

• A whole life story is an autobiography, not a story. Zoom in on one five-second scene.
• Know where you were, who was there, what time it was, and what someone said.
• "I used to feel like an imposter, then I did yoga and now I'm confident" is a synopsis. It has no moment.

Make it real

• Add the juicy details people don't say out loud. That's what makes them think "I thought I was the only one."
• Keep the long version to about 2,000 characters or less, and keep cutting to the essence.
• Find one clear lesson. Telling it out loud to your small group shows you the holes.

In Sun's words

Start by telling the story out loud in your small group. Don't overthink it. Just say it as it happened. Let people ask you questions — where was the trigger? Can you give me an example? Those questions will show you the holes. Then work together to find the one lesson. That's where most people struggle — connecting the dots to a single clear point. Once you have it, write the story out in full, long form. Then keep cutting. Ask yourself: what's the essence? Aim for 2,000 characters or less. And don't turn it into a carousel — none of my carousels are personal stories. Keep it as straight storytelling. Make sure you have a clear five-second moment: what happened, when, where, and who was there.

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