How your personal story can shape public policy. In a crowded media landscape, personal stories can cut through noise, shift public opinion, and influence decision-makers. In More Than Personal, David Chrisinger offers a practical guide for transforming lived experience into persuasive advocacy. Drawing on his work teaching narrative strategy and public policy writing at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy, Chrisinger shows readers how to craft concise, compelling stories suitable for op-eds, legislative testimony, policy briefs, and one-on-one meetings with elected officials. Chrisinger introduces readers to distinct types of storytellers, explains how audience values shape reception, and demonstrates how effective narratives can expose problems, build solidarity, correct misinformation, and motivate action. Each chapter provides concrete tools: structuring stories using Aristotle's dramatic arc, identifying the central "object of desire," uncovering deeper meaning beneath surface events, and shaping scenes that engage readers quickly. Chrisinger emphasizes clarity and economy, helping advocates develop narratives that fit within the tight constraints of political communication while retaining emotional force. The book also addresses the strategic realities of advocacy: not all audiences respond to the same stories, and understanding values and context is essential to persuasion. Through examples of effective and revised narratives, readers learn how to sharpen their message and align it with specific policy goals. Designed for activists, community leaders, policy professionals, and students, More Than Personal equips readers with the skills to use their own experiences as tools for meaningful political change.
David Chrisinger is the executive director of the policy writing program at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy. He is the author of Stories Are What Save Us: A Survivor's Guide to Writing about Trauma and Public Policy Writing That Matters.
Contents Introduction: Stories Really Can Save Us 1. Start with Structure: The Power of Aristotle's Dramatic Arc 2. Variation on the Arc: Kurt Vonnegut's "Shapes of Stories" 3. Another Variation: Uncovering Your "Object of Desire" 4. Starting Your Story with "One True Thing" 5. Crafting Scenes That Can Move a Reader 6. Rigor and Relevance: Integrating Data into Your Story 7. The Art of Story Preparation: Raw, Cooked & Overcooked 8. Lending Your Story to a Cause Conclusion: Transforming Your Personal Stories into Political Change Appendix: Six Essential Tips for Writing Powerful Personal Stories Index Acknowledgments About the Author
