Superscribe!
Are you keeping your staff and customers up to date with the daily news of your business?
It can be a daunting task! We’d love to help.
Charlotte Squire Coms have over 50 years experience between them as wordsmiths, photographers and designers.
They can take care of the stories and help you keep your website (aka your online front door) fresh and up to date with your latest news and images.
All enquires welcome.
Charlottesquirecoms@gmail.com
0275257455
My father once escaped, naked, from a prison camp with another guy. Actually, he was taken prisoner and escaped twice, with others. He was a soldier in the British army. And that’s all I know.
I don’t know where he escaped from or what year it was. I don’t know who he escaped from, or who he escaped with.
Why? Because every time I asked him to tell me more, he said, ‘you don’t want to know more about my life, my life’s boring. It’s just my life.’
Oh Dad. Your life was pretty damn interesting, to me and I think it would have been to my sons, and eventually, their children. But I don’t have your story.
I grew up to be a writer and fifteen years ago my big, tough on the outside, but soft on the inside Daddy suddenly died.
I carry snippets of his stories within me and will share them the best I can with my kids. I’ll talk about him for the rest of my life, because for me this keeps his memory alive.
So what about your story? Have you gotten it down on paper or recorded it somehow yet? Why not? Do you think it’s boring? Do you think those details don’t matter? I’ve got news for you – your story does matter. The details of your life, all of them, are important.
One day someone may want to know the date that your Aunt Molly died, or the gritty details of that car accident, or just why on earth you sold that house? They may want to know exactly how you met your beloved – what he or she looked like, what drew you to them. They may want to know what your mother was like, what you remember about her … her smell, her food, her funny sayings.
These small details are precious and make up our heritage. They matter because they were leading towards us – our very existence. And in some small way they have influenced who we are – our passions and dreams.
I write people’s life stories, and it is a heartwarming privilege to spend time alongside another humans, hearing about their life. Our stories connect us to each other – people are interested in other people’s stories because we all have them. I am no exception. I love knowing how people see the world, and why they see it that way. I love knowing their backstories, their successes and so-called mistakes. They all matter. And so I’m lucky enough to witness them and transform them into written stories for other people who care.
Where have you come from? Who were your parents, grandparents, great grandparents? Who did you want to become? What helped you or stopped you from becoming that person? What are the important things that happened to you through your life? What brought you the most happiness? What did you grieve? Who did you love?
These are the details that we must preserve, so that we can connect with you when you’re gone. These details help us reach back to the past, to more clearly understand our present.
Charlotte Squire writes people’s life stories, AKA memoirs. With 20 years experience as a writer, she runs a small communications agency in Golden Bay, New Zealand. charlottesquire.wordpress.com
charlottesquirecoms@gmail.com
I write people’s memoirs or biographies and lately I’ve come to realise our lives are so intertwined with others that it’s hard to follow one person’s story, without threading into the stories of those around us.
Isn’t that a beautiful thing? We’re inately social beings.
I’ve noticed that once the subject of the memoir has shared his or her story with me and I share the draft with family, more pieces of the story arise. One person’s memories can trigger another’s. One person’s perspective of an experience can differ from another’s.
That’s history for you – or her-story. Someone’s story. The beauty of a memoir is it can be a bunch of people’s stories, woven into one. I have my ways to contain each person’s story, within the larger story.
Get in touch if I can help you preserve your stories too.
Charlotte Squire, superscribe.
Charlotte has 20 years experience as a writer, author and journalist sharing extraordinary stories about everyday people. She lives in the Nelson Tasman area of the top of the South Island, New Zealand. Contact her at: charlottesquirecoms@gmail.com.
By Charlotte Squire
The newlyweds sit down outside the weather beaten shop. Their shoulders visibly drop as they gaze at a horizon of hills, feeling the sun on their faces. They make eye contact with a nearby elderly couple who are doing the same, and before long the four have become life long friends over tea and scones.
This is a common occurrence at the Langford Store says owner Sukhita Langford, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
She and husband Will Hutchison left jobs in the Wellington film industry to take over shop in 2008, after Sukhita’s second cousin Lorna Langford asked her to.
Lorna had inherited the shop from her Grandfather in 1947. This year the Langford Store will have served the Bainham community as a post office and store for 90 years.
At this historic destination you will find an ever expanding vintage collection, an art gallery, a café, a post office complete with second hand books, a collection of home made Kiwiana bucket hats that Sukhita herself makes and much more.
Not too many things have changed since Lorna ran the shop, including its country pace. Sukhita and Will have lovingly preserved it, while adding the odd modern touch such as a coffee machine and art.
“People can have an experience here. You can hunt for treasure, the whole place is a treasure. You can buy a $300 piece of art or a $25 fine bone china trio,” said Sukhita.
Tea is served in vintage china tea sets, complete with Grandmother style tea-cosies.
“I sold some old champagne glasses the other day and I got to thinking about the china cups and how many discussions would have been had over them since they first came to New Zealand with the settlers, how many cups of tea, and who drank out of them. Everyone says ‘Oh that’s the best cup of tea!’ It tastes so much better in the china.”
“I love the old stuff because it was made with love and intention and not mass produced. I can drop one of these tea-cups and it won’t break.
“People want this. They want to feel connected. They do here. They don’t feel like they’re being pumped through a factory, which I love.”
The Langford Store is open from nine to five seven days a week through the summer. Check out their site for winter hours.
Although interesting things happen daily in our businesses, we don’t always have the time or skills to share the stories that make our work so special.
Sharing regular stories, or advice, with your customers via your website, social media, or e-news letters is a great way to build relationships, spread the word about what you do, and grow your business.
Or you may simply have a story to share.
She is passionate about sharing inspiring stories, and helping people and organisations strengthen relationships with positive communication.
Charlotte has written thousands of stories for both online and print media. She has worked for daily, weekly and monthly newspapers and magazines. One year she wrote a blog per day for 365 days straight for her website happyzine.co.nz. In 2016 she completed her first fictional novel, about Waikoropupu Springs, called The Springs.
“Successful projects are based upon positive, clear, honest communication – this underpins everything.” Charlotte.
Charlotte would love to share your story with the world. She offers you support with:
* Blogging and articles
* Social media
* Press releases
* Memoirs and oral histories
* Pitching your story to the media so they listen
* Journalism photography
* PR and Launches
* Event organisation and stage management
* Emceeing
* Social media – Facebook and Twitter
“What’s the secret to telling a good story? KISS – Keep It Simple, Sweetheart.” Charlotte.
Some of Charlotte’s favourite stories:
Award winning growing herbal tea business has tiny carbon footprint – Climate love, December 2017
When Emma Heke came home from a film-making trip around New Zealand with her son Connor, she set herself the challenge to create a business from her south facing, terraced property in Nelson.
Ten lessons I learned living in a Tiny House – This NZ Life, 2017
Golden Bay writer Charlotte Squire learned a lot about life in downsizing her family into a 27sqm home
Planning proceeds for new cycle route – GB Weekly, March 2017
A Golden Bay shared cycle and walkway could soon become reality …
The Rainbow Connection – The Press, November 2014
The Rainbow Valley Community has just marked its anniversary. Charlotte Squire talks to its residents about its past and its future.
Love transcends language barrier – Nelson Mail, April 2014
Love bloomed in a Mongolian desert for a Golden Bay woman. Now she and her husband are creating a new life in New Zealand. Charlotte Squire reports.
All it takes is a paddock – Nelson Mail, October 2012
Claire Webster doesn’t buy onions. In fact, the last time she bought an onion, or a carrot, beetroot, garlic, potato, or any other vegetable, was about five years ago.
Want to know more? Call Charlotte 027 525 7455
Or email: charlottesquirecoms@gmail.com
