SINGAPORE - Readers often tell The Straits Times senior writer Wong Kim Hoh that his stories have moved them and inspired them to do more.

And for him, this is simply their way of saying that the stories have changed their lives.

Mr Wong is best known for penning inspiring real-life stories in The Sunday Times' It Changed My Life series.

The long-running series features stories about lives that have been dramatically changed by events, people or circumstances.

"I get a lot of readers telling me that the stories have moved them, inspired them and galvanised them to do more," he said. "In some ways, I guess what they are telling me is that the stories have changed their lives."

While Mr Wong has always been interested in human journalism, it is telling the stories of people from different walks of life that give him the most satisfaction even after writing for more than 30 years.

He said: "I see my role principally as a storyteller.

"Stories essentially define humanity. And it's through stories that people learn to have hope, people learn to dream, people learn to be more appreciative of what they have."