How to write a story beginning

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How to Write a Success Story: Steps
A success story is described as a narrative—typically between one and two pages—that highlights the accomplishments and development of a program or activity by the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) of the CDC. A success story can show how a program has improved over time and how valuable its activities are. Success stories, when presented well, may be a helpful tool for informing your stakeholders about the results of your work and the accomplishments you are making.

Understanding the value of success stories
It is crucial that you take the time to document the successes your program achieves as you carry out the activities for it.

When politicians or other stakeholders make decisions that have an impact on your program, being open about your successes will give you an advantage. They are more inclined to support your program if they are informed about its objectives, strategies, and results.
The following reasons specifically pertain to creating and disseminating success stories:
• Informing decision-makers on your program's effects.
• Showing stakeholders how to use resources responsibly.
• Sharing "best practices" with other initiatives receiving comparable funding.
• Getting new collaborators on board.

Selecting a project or activity to emphasize
The Division of Oral Health at the CDC created "Impact and Value: Telling Your Program's Story," from which the material below has been modified.

Remember that most programs go through several stages of capability, maturity, and accomplishment when choosing a program or activity to promote. When your program/activity is just getting started, for instance, you might want to describe the proposed activities and the anticipated outcomes, highlight the partnerships that are formed, track significant policy changes made as a result of the program, or show the audience that the program is intended to serve. When emphasizing successes in early-stage efforts, emphasize immediate results.

You could have some encouraging tales and instances of early changes to offer as your program/activity develops. Although the long-term objectives have not yet been met, you are on the correct route, and you want your partners and funders to be aware of it.

Your program may have some early results that demonstrate your undeniable development. For instance, you can show how and how well your program is helping or reaching a particular group.

The program progress examples that follow serve to highlight how outputs, immediate results, and long-term results differ from intermediate results. They are not meant to limit or suggest what should be in your success story.

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