Zoom into the moment with the PAST framework
PAST turns a summary into a scene your listener can see: Place, Actions, Speech, Thoughts. StoryCoach's AI feedback checks every draft for all four—and shows you exactly where to zoom in.
Every completed draft earns points toward new levels and extra AI credits.
From "it was a tough day" to a moment people remember
Most personal stories stay at arm's length—the writer summarizes instead of showing. PAST pulls you back into the moment with four concrete details.
Place
Where is this happening? Name the location naturally—one detail is enough, no need to over-describe.
Actions
What's physically happening? Walking, typing, staring, waiting—specific actions put the listener in the room.
Speech
What were the exact words? Swap "she told me I'd been let go" for the line she actually said.
Thoughts
What went through your head? Keep it raw—messy, irrational, and honest, not polished or professional.
Summary vs. scene
Before
My manager called me in and told me the project was cancelled. I was pretty upset about it, but I realized it was an opportunity to learn.
After PAST
I'm sitting in the glass conference room on the fourth floor, picking at the label on my water bottle. Dana closes the laptop and says, "We're pulling the plug on Atlas." All I can think is: eight months, and nobody's going to see any of it.
What else makes a PAST story land
A five-second moment
Build toward the instant something clicked—the brief moment that triggered a realization.
A transformation
Show what changed. Who were you at the start, and who are you by the end?
One focused takeaway
A single, clear point. If your story is teaching three lessons, it's teaching none.
Start with action and location
Skip the background and setup. Open in a place, with something happening.
How StoryCoach coaches you on PAST
Ask for feedback on any draft and StoryCoach reviews it against the PAST framework—encouraging, honest, and focused on your biggest opportunities.
Spot what's missing
See which PAST elements your draft already has, which are missing, and where you could zoom in further.
Turn summary into dialogue
Get flagged when you summarize a conversation, and a nudge when your thoughts sound too polished to be real.
Concrete revisions
Get specific suggestions for one or two key moments, plus a read on your transformation and takeaway.
Need help with the shape of the whole story, not just the scene? Pair PAST with the CART framework.
Write one moment. Make someone feel like they were there.
StoryCoach is built for short daily practice—3 to 5 minutes is enough to ship a real draft.
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