1. Helpful Hints & Tips To Remember 1 As a Patient and Family Advisor, you represent: Yourself, Your World, Your Experience

2. Writing check-list – part 1 Organize yourself Set a dedicated time and place to write. Set this time aside in your calendar and stick to it. Try and have realistic expectations. Like a map, a timeline can help you get direction. Just draw a line on a piece of paper, choose a starting date—perhaps the day of your diagnosis—and then fill in some noteworthy or significant events that lead to the other end of the line, which is where you are today. This can help kick start your creative process because it gives you a visual to work from. Brainstorm Just write or type whatever comes to mind. If your fingers can’t keep up with your thoughts, then use a tape recorder. Don’t worry about how it sounds; just go until you stop. Resist all temptations to evaluate what you’re writing (or saying). Remember to pace yourself. You want keep your story simple and succinct. You can’t capture all you want to say in a single session of impassioned writing, so take a break, reflect, and then return to your story. Remember: creativity needs time to hatch. Be yourself In writing honesty is everything. The best writing comes from the heart, and when you write about what you know, you write with authority. Use an active voice. A good story doesn’t just tell what’s going on; it shows the reader through words!

3. Writing check-list – part 2 Ask others what they think Set a dedicated time and place to write. Set this time aside in your calendar and stick to it. Try and have realistic expectations. Like a map, a timeline can help you get direction. Just draw a line on a piece of paper, choose a starting date—perhaps the day of your diagnosis—and then fill in some noteworthy or significant events that lead to the other end of the line, which is where you are today. This can help kick start your creative process because it gives you a visual to work from. Go for the Emotions Give yourself permission to let go and write straight into the emotional centre of your story. It’s all about being present and available for your reader; by doing so you get to the heart of your story. Make it colourful “a picture is worth a thousand words” Read your story aloud This is, hands down, the best self-editing technique out there. Reading your story aloud exposes any awkward spots the moment the words come out of your mouth. Read every word out loud and keep doing so until nothing trips you up. When you get to this point, your story is ready to move to the next step.

4. Knowing Your Audience When, where, and for how long do you want me to speak? What do you hope will happen as a result of me sharing my story? Who is the audience? How many people will be there? Is anyone else sharing their story? Will I be answering audience questions? Before you agree to share your story in a meeting, training or presentation, get information about what is expected of you and what you can expect. Ask yourself the following questions:

5. Tips to Remember Only share what you want to share. If you still feel angry about a certain situation or event and do not think you can talk about it in a helpful manner, it may be best not to share that part. You can also talk about it with someone you trust. Ask for ideas about how to share that part of the story in a way in which people will listen. 5 Remember that you are in control. If people ask you questions and you do not know the answer, it is okay to say so. If you do not want to answer a question, it is okay to say that as well. Be prepared for emotional reactions. Expect that some people who hear your story may be deeply moved. Also remember that you may feel emotional when you tell your story. Take time to prepare yourself before you are in front of an audience. Focus on experiences rather than individuals. Try to avoid using the names of doctors, nurses, and other staff. If you talk about another facility where you have received care, please do not mention it by name.