Life Story Tips
Make Time to Write
- I would like to write about my life, but I am so busy; how do I find the time?
- Do I have to give up everything else if I want to write my life story? Do I have to give up my painting and golf?
- I want to write about my mother, but I only see her once a month when I visit her out-of-town retirement community. There isn't time, and she doesn't have the energy, for lengthy interviews. How can I gather the information?
- Summer is flying by and my plan to write my life story is evaporating faster than the water in my birdbath. How can I still accomplish something this summer?
Decide What to Include
- How do I strike a balance between revealing too much and too little?
- What do people forget to include when writing their life story?
- I have mixed feelings about writing about my life. Sometimes I feel very angry; sometimes I feel sad. Meanwhile, I avoid writing, but my kids keep asking me to write.
- I just want to write something short and concise but meaningful. How can I do that?
- I tried to start a timeline, but I have trouble remembering years far in the past. I get frustrated trying to remember and I just quit.
- How do I write about my difficult parents when my children have a good relationship with them? I don't want to damage that relationship.
- You have advised writers to be honest about their struggles and disappointments; however, I don't want to go into embarrassing detail or sound critical or complaining. How do I include these parts of my life?
- For my life story to be meaningful or done "right," do I have to include my very young years?
- In our life story writing class, the stories are full of detail. How much detail is really necessary? My style is just brief and to the point.
Get Started
- I would like to write my life story, but how do I begin?
- Where should I begin my life story? I don't remember much from my early years.
- When I am busy with other things, I have lots of ideas to write about my life; but when I sit down to actually write, I draw a blank.
Organize Your Materials
- How should I organize my stories?
- How can I keep track of all the important dates I want to include?
- Both my husband and I want to write our stories. Is there a way our stories can be combined in one book?
- I'm having trouble with transitions. How do I get from one part of my story to the next part—or from one story to the next?
- In writing my story, I am writing about people in my life. Sometimes their stories come up more than once. For example, I plan to write about my mother-in-law. Then I want to write about my son. Part of my son's story includes my mother-in-law's story. Should I repeat her whole?
- My grandmother lives in another state. I will be visiting her this summer, but I think intense interviewing would be uncomfortable for both of us. Yet, I would like to know her life story. What can I do?
Tell an Interesting Story
- I know you have said that anyone's life can make an interesting story, but I just can't seem to find a story line.
- I am writing my life story and enjoying the process; but when I read back what I have written, it seems tedious. What is the problem?
- How can I give my story a unique twist so it doesn't sound like bragging? Also, I don't want to go into every single detail of my life. Is that possible?
- My stories don't seem like stories. They are like journal entries. What can I do?
Have Fun
- I want to write some family stories, but I want them to have some practical application and be fun. Is that possible?
- I am writing my life story. Because I am including part of my family's story, I can see it is going to take a while. In sorting through family papers, I have found wonderful old photos. Of course, I will use some of them when I put my life story together, but is there anything quick and inexpensive I can do with the photos right now? My family is getting impatient with me.
- I am not exactly computer literate, and I plan to compile my story in a simple three-ring binder notebook. How can I include pictures and old documents if I am writing my story by hand or if I just use a computer for "typing"?
- With a group of women friends, I will be spending a week at a fabulous beachside condo in Mexico. Each of us is taking a project to work on. For example, one woman is a painter. I would like to write my life story, but is that possible in only a week?
- I have heard that life story writing is good for one's health. How can that be?
Use Other Resources
- I want to include the basics such as complete family members' names and dates, but what if I don't have that information?
- I want to include some information about past relatives, or maybe just some general historical information, but I have no idea where to find such information.
- I would like to include some family history such as war records and photos. Where could I obtain some information?