theFocusOnLife Get Focused

Getting Started with TFOL

TFOL can feel large at first, so this guide breaks it into small steps. Start with one card at a time.

Start Here

If this is your first visit, begin with Stories Worth Saving. It explains why TFOL opens with four featured stories and how to begin exploring. Then read Write Your Story when you are ready to add your own first story.

📖 Stories Worth Saving

Start Here

Discover how personal memories become stories, why the four featured stories are arranged the way they are, and how to begin your own.,

Stories Worth Saving is the front door to The Focus On Life. It is a place to begin with a memory, a moment, a family story, or a small piece of life that deserves to be remembered.

The first two featured stories are simple examples of how a personal memory can become a story. The last two show how one story can grow into a collection, a series, or a larger theme over time.

On a larger screen, such as a computer or tablet, you will see more of the story grid at one time. This makes it easier to browse, read, and get familiar with the site. A phone works well too, but the cards stack vertically so there is more scrolling.

For your first visit, a computer or tablet may be the easiest way to explore. For adding photos, however, a phone may be best because that is where most pictures are already saved.

When you are ready, choose Write Your Story. If you do not already have an account, the site will guide you through the simple registration process and then return you to your story.

Start small. A few sentences about one memory is enough. You can always add more later.

🧭 The Top Bar

Account links and quick navigation

The top bar provides quick access to important TFOL pages and tools. If you see Guest, you are not currently logged in.

What you may see

Guest / Log In / Register | Sort / Refresh / Back / Stories / Websites / Guide

The available links may change depending on the page you are viewing and whether you are logged in.

Try this

  1. Look at the top bar near the top of the page.
  2. Click Stories to open Stories Worth Saving.
  3. Use Websites to explore other TFOL websites.
  4. Use Back to return to the previous TFOL page.

What happens

Each link opens a frequently used TFOL page or performs a navigation action. Account links also let guests register or log in.

Why this matters

The top bar provides a consistent way to reach Stories Worth Saving, other TFOL websites, the Guide, and common account and page controls.

🗂️ The Navigation Menu

Explore the main TFOL sections

The navigation menu helps you move between the major parts of TFOL. On a phone, you may need to tap the menu icon first.

What you may see

  • Get Focused — browse TFOL’s topic websites
  • Focus — explore content about focus and clarity
  • About — learn about TFOL
  • Help — find assistance with using TFOL

Try this

  1. Click About.
  2. Explore one of the available topics.
  3. Use Back to return.

What happens

Each link opens a different main section of TFOL.

Why this matters

Understanding the main navigation makes TFOL easier to explore.

✍️ Write Your Story

Add your first memory

Use Write Your Story when you are ready to add a memory of your own. You can start with just a few sentences and return later to revise or add a photo.

WHAT HAPPENS

If you are not registered yet, TFOL will guide you through registration and then return you to your story.

WHY THIS MATTERS

You do not need to understand the whole site before beginning. Your first story can be simple.

📖 Browsing Stories

Open and read content

Stories are displayed in a grid. Each story usually includes an image, a title, and information about who posted it.

Try this

  1. Find a story that interests you.
  2. Click the photo or the title.

What happens

You will open the full story page, where you can read more and explore related content.

Why this matters

This is the main way to explore TFOL content as a guest or member.

👤 Exploring a Member

See public stories by one person

Each story shows the name of the member who posted it. Clicking that name lets you explore that person’s public content.

Try this

  1. Open any story or look at a story card.
  2. Click the member name.

What happens

You will go to that member’s page and see their public stories and images.

Why this matters

This helps you discover more content from people whose work you enjoy.

📚 Exploring a Story Menu

Browse related stories together

TFOL members organize related stories into menus. A menu may represent a subject, project, collection, or continuing series.

Try this

  1. Open a story.
  2. Look for the words Posted In.
  3. Click the menu name shown beside it.

What happens

TFOL opens that menu and displays other stories organized under the same subject.

Why this matters

Menus let you follow one subject through a member’s collection without having to search the entire site.

↕️ Using Sort

Control how stories appear

The Sort page lets you change how stories are displayed. This can make the page easier to read and more visually pleasing.

Try this

  1. Click Sort in the top bar.
  2. Choose a display order like Newest, Oldest, or Random.
  3. Return to the page and click Refresh.

What you can change

  • The order of stories

Why this matters

Sorting lets you tailor TFOL to the way you like to browse.

🔐 Registering and Logging In

Create and access your TFOL account

Guests can browse public content. Registered members can create and submit stories, upload images, and use their personal content tools.

Basic steps

  1. Click Register.
  2. Complete the registration form and choose a password.
  3. Confirm that you are at least 18 and accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
  4. Check your email and open the verification link.
  5. Return to TFOL, click Log In, and sign in.

What happens

Your account becomes available after your email address is verified. If you do not receive the message, check your Spam or Junk folder. TFOL can also send you a new verification email.

Why this matters

Registration gives you access to TFOL member features while email verification helps protect your account and the TFOL community.

🗃️ Organizing Your Stories

Create menus for your subjects and projects

Menus are one of TFOL’s main organizing tools. Each menu groups stories under a subject, project, collection, or continuing series.

Basic steps

  1. Log in and click Admin.
  2. Click Menus.
  3. Select Add new menu.
  4. Enter a name and description for the menu.
  5. Choose its position and default story order.
  6. Save the menu.
  7. Select that menu when creating or editing a story.

What happens

The menu becomes one of the subjects available for organizing your stories. Visitors can open the menu to browse its related published stories.

Why this matters

Menus turn separate stories into an organized collection. They help you develop subjects over time and make your content easier for others to explore.

✍️ Creating a Story

Write, save, and request review

Once you are logged in, you can create a story, save it as a private draft, and request a review when it is ready to be shared.

Basic steps

  1. Go to the story creation page.
  2. Enter a title and add your story text.
  3. Upload an image if desired.
  4. Select Save Draft to continue working later.
  5. Select Request Review when the story is ready.

What happens

A draft is not public. After you request a review, a TFOL administrator can review the story and publish it.

Why this matters

The Draft/Review process gives you time to develop your story while helping ensure that published TFOL content is ready to share.

📝 Editing and Deleting Stories

Manage your drafts and published work

The Stories page lets you review the status of your stories, continue working on drafts, revise published stories, or delete content you no longer want.

Basic steps

  1. Log in and click Admin.
  2. Click Stories.
  3. Use All, Review Requested, Private, or Public to filter the list.
  4. Select edit to revise one of your stories.
  5. Save it as a draft or select Request Review when the revision is ready.

Deleting a story

Select delete beside the story. TFOL displays a confirmation page where you can cancel or confirm the deletion.

Important

Editing and saving a public story makes it private again. Request another review when the revised version is ready to be published.

Deleting a story also deletes its comments and uploaded image. This action cannot be undone.

Why this matters

The Stories page gives you one place to manage your drafts, review requests, published stories, and revisions.

🖼️ Managing Story Images

Add, describe, replace, or remove an image

A story can include an uploaded image. You can manage that image from the story-editing page without deleting the story itself.

Basic steps

  1. Log in and click Admin.
  2. Click Stories.
  3. Select edit beside your story.
  4. Select Edit alt text to improve the image description.
  5. Select Delete image to remove the image from the story.

Replacing an image

Delete the current image, return to the story editor, and upload the replacement. Save the story when the new image is ready.

What happens

Editing alt text changes the image description. Deleting an image removes the image but leaves the story and its text in place.

Important

Saving changes to a public story makes it private again. Select Request Review when the revised story and replacement image are ready to be published.

Why this matters

Clear images and useful alt text make stories more engaging and more accessible to people using screen readers.

📝 Using the Editor

Format content with TinyMCE

The editor helps you make your story easier to read and more visually appealing.

You can use it to

  • Make text bold or italic
  • Create bullet lists
  • Add links
  • Organize content into readable sections

Try this

  1. Write a short paragraph.
  2. Make one word bold.
  3. Create a short bullet list.

Why this matters

Good formatting makes your stories easier and more enjoyable to read.