Story Crafting Process

Guests meet one-on-one with Beyond Stillness once a week via Zoom for an average of seven weeks to share conversation and craft their story.

First Meeting

Beyond Stillness wants to learn about the guest, the day of the stroke, their recovery, and the wisdom that has emerged since. They will also ask questions like:

  • How has your perspective shifted since the stroke? What specific memory prompted your shift in perspective?

  • What life lessons have you learned through recovery? What specific events helped you learn these lessons?

  • What motivates your recovery on the tough days? Why?

  • What do you want others to learn from your story?

The guest will decide on a main theme for their story in this meeting.

Weekly Homework

If the guest is able, Beyond Stillness gives writing homework, two pages per week. They ask the guest to write a specific story the guest shared in a prior conversation.

Beyond Stillness’ homework each week is to revisit the story, edit, organize, write, and offer detailed suggestions.

If typing, reading, and/or writing is challenging for guests, we offer other options.

Next Set of Meetings

Each week, the guest and Beyond Stillness meet to review their written work, revisit the story’s overarching vision, and chart steps forward. The guest spends most of their time in these meetings articulating specific ways their own recovery has taught them the lessons they wish to offer other survivors.

For those who are unable to type, Beyond Stillness will transcribe their thoughts during weekly meetings.

Final Meeting

We record during the final meeting. The guest shares their story via Zoom then Beyond Stillness and the guest follow it with a final interview for publication.

Testimonials

  • Sue

    Meeting Molly Buccola and being a small part of Beyond Stillness was a fantastic journey. Molly is the most supportive, encouraging, and joyful/grateful person. I looked forward to our weekly Zoom meetings as I told her of my stroke and health problems. She asked the right questions, always listening to my heart more than my words. Going through this process and revisiting my stroke all over again strengthened my confidence and purpose. Molly, you truly are an angel on earth. I can never thank you enough!

  • Ray

    It was so easy to share my story with Molly. Not only is Molly one of the nicest people I know, her deep and spiritual soul helps you not only share your post-stroke changes and challenges, but for me I discovered a deeper meaning to the word HEALING. I miss our chats.

  • Shirley

    Once I went within it just flowed out of me and with Molly’s kind encouragement and help with words, it has become a very deep personal story to me and totally my truth.

  • John

    If anyone is on the fence about doing it. I would encourage you. It will help you expunge any pent up frustrations. Molly doesn't bite. She will gently guide you through, never altering the spirit of what you want to say. And the audience is made up of either people who have lived your experience and can relate, or people who need to hear your experience. Don't be scared. You have been through much much much worse.

  • Greg

    Working with Molly from Beyond Stillness was rough but worth it. It was hard to go back through my early days of stroke recovery but Molly gave me a judgment free space to tell my truth. If you are ready to tell your stroke story but don't know how, contact Beyond Stillness. You will not regret it.

  • Anna

    I would highly recommend working with Molly on the Beyond Stillness podcast. The process that Molly takes you through to craft your story is gentle and accessible for all. As a stroke survivor herself, Molly completely gets what you're trying to say and what you want to get across. I loved the whole process of working on this and would recommend going on this podcast. Molly's warmth and kindness shines through in the amazing work she is doing on the podcast to shine a light on survivors and their stories.

  • Humphrey

    I would highly recommend working with Molly on the Beyond Stillness podcast. The process that Molly takes you through to craft your story is gentle and accessible for all. As a stroke survivor herself, Molly completely gets what you're trying to say and what you want to get across. I loved the whole process of working on this and would recommend going on this podcast. Molly's warmth and kindness shines through in the amazing work she is doing on the podcast to shine a light on survivors and their stories.

  • Humphrey Continued

    The weekly meetings with Molly were a way to take something raw, and get it to fit the format. She was a gentle editor. Always positive. Never dismissive (though at times she probably should have been :-)) By the time we reached a finished product, I was very happy with the final result. What had been left on the cutting room floor wasn't because it was invalid. It just wasn't useful for this moment and this time.

  • Phipps

    Meeting Molly Buccola and being a small part of Beyond Stillness was a fantastic journey. Molly is the most supportive, encouraging, and joyful/grateful person. I looked forward to our weekly Zoom meetings as I told her of my stroke and health problems. She asked the right questions, always listening to my heart more than my words. Going through this process and revisiting my stroke all over again strengthened my confidence and purpose. Molly, you truly are an angel on earth. I can never thank you enough!

  • Kristi

    I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I think I’ve learned so much just from speaking with Molly and listening to prior podcasts. I wish I’d have known about this earlier in my recovery. I really would have benefitted from more realistic expectations, knowing I’m not alone in this and feeling reassured I’m not the first or only person to be struggling with recovery. I hope Beyond Stillness will please market this to recovery facilities. Such a great tool for patients from people who’ve been in and through the struggle legit!