Youshare Launches New Kind of User-Generated Storytelling Website, Global Community of Learners

Columbus, Ind., January 19, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Online publishing platform youshare (http://www.youshareproject.com) publishes true, personal stories in the form of nonfiction essays, short stories, and poems; audio and video essays; and photo essays. Registration is free and is not required to browse the website. Site users can comment on the stories and their themes by signing in to youshare, or via a Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or WordPress account. Youshare’s goal is to become the premiere place for people to learn about other people, places, and ideas.

Watch the youshare video: http://youtu.be/6R6oy6Fzcok

"Already we are seeing overwhelming, global support for youshare."

Ashlee Brown Blewett, Co-founder

Story topics vary widely and include experiences that have affected a person’s character, well-being, or relationship with others, and provocative opinion pieces that serve as conversation starters. Anyone over the age of 18 can submit a story to youshare.

“We believe everyone has a story worth sharing,” says youshare co-founder Nick Blewett. “We also believe the most powerful stories are told by the individuals who experience them firsthand.”

Submission guidelines can be found on the website (http://www.youshareproject.com/submission-guidelines). The recommended length for stories is between 500 to 1,000 words for print pieces (shorter for poems); a 2-minute minimum for audio and video essays; and a 5-photo minimum for photo essays. Submissions should be substantive and thoughtful. Submissions that meet the guidelines will be published on the website.

In addition to serving as a platform for storytellers to share their stories, youshare provides a safe space for people to engage in open, positive dialogue. Youshare editors do not tolerate defamatory, obscene, abusive, or threatening comments. Such comments will be deleted immediately. The purpose is not to censor conversations, but to foster a safe space for people to share ideas, learn, and achieve personal growth.

Website features include the ability to like (and save) individual stories, subscribe to comments, and follow and receive updates about favorite authors. Users can search stories by category, by region, or by clicking on the “I Feel Lucky” tab.

More than 40 stories are currently published on youshare, and at least two new stories will be published each week. Topics vary widely and range from commentary on current events to universal issues like parenthood and bullying.

“Already we are seeing overwhelming, global support for youshare,” says youshare co-founder Ashlee Brown Blewett. “To date, we have received more than 60 story submissions from people living in 16 countries and territories on 6 continents.”

Adds co-founder Nick Blewett, “Our goal now is to drive traffic to the site and encourage others to join the conversation and share their own stories.” 

About Youshare

Youshare is a global community of storytellers, readers, and contributors, who initiate open, positive dialogue on a myriad of topics. It’s a place to swap personal stories, get answers to questions you never knew you had, and connect with people around the world. Youshare co-founders Nicholas Blewett and Ashlee Brown Blewett believe that exploring different perspectives—and talking about our commonalities as well as our differences—will make the world a more enlightened and accepting place.