What’s one of your fears of relocating to a new country? Mine is finding someone who can do my 4C African hair perfectly. And I know that sounds silly, but how do I move from paying a maximum of $20 for a full head of butt-length braids to paying hundreds of dollars? So I made up my mind. If I ever relocate to the west, I will get my hair locked. Not because that’s what I’d want under ideal circumstances, but that’s the most logical decision.
And for the longest time, I used to feel bad about my thought process, until I met McKenzie. If you have been to any of our Story Luck shows, you might have seen her at the entry. So last year, she got a chance to travel to Kenya from Chicago and we met for lunch. And that’s when she gave me the story of her $1000-dollar hair cut. She’d fly to Japan once a year to get her hair done (well, to visit her family but get a hair cut while at it). And it became a running joke with her friends.
So, this hair story got me thinking about how our geography shapes our reality. And that’s how this project was born.
At Story Luck, we’re starting a small global storytelling project, and I would genuinely love for you to be part of it.
We’re inviting a few thoughtful contributors from different parts of the world to respond to one question:
What is a story that is only unique because of where you are telling it from?
In other words, what experience, moment, relationship, conflict, or quiet reality could only exist in your country, your culture, your economy, your political climate, or your community?
It could be:
- A friendship shaped by local culture
- A creative project influenced by limited (or abundant) resources
- A moment defined by politics, religion, or class
- A social norm that outsiders wouldn’t immediately understand
- A small everyday detail that says everything about where you live
We’re especially interested in how places shape people. How geography, systems, and culture quietly influence the human condition.
Submissions can be:
- A short personal essay or story (800–1500 words)
- A poem
- A piece of visual art (with a short artist statement)
You’re welcome to write under your name or a pseudonym. Selected pieces may be published on the Story Luck platform and possibly featured on the Story Luck Show (with your consent).
Your perspective, from exactly where you are, is the whole point.
If this resonates with you, we’d be honored to hear back from you. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or ideas.
You can reach out to Dan via email: dan@storyluck.org / support@storyluck.org.
You can also write to us on Instagram and Facebook.
