Let’s assume that you believe your story is worth writing, but you are thinking, “I’m really not a writer.”

The wonderful thing about life-story writing is that you don’t have to be a “writer” – at least not a professional writer. We are all storytellers, whether we are simply describing our most recent trip, telling our friends about an interesting experience, or writing a letter. (Even writing an e-mail or posting messages on social networking sites can, in essence, be storytelling, depending on the type of message.)    

Legacies & Memories offers a step-by-step guide to writing your life story – even if you do not consider yourself a writer. Of course, you will want to have an editor edit what you write. But even professional writers need editors.

It can seem overwhelming to start writing your life story or writing the biography of a family member. But it doesn’t have to be.

There are many approaches to use – we’ll detail some of those in this article – but the best one is the one with which you are most comfortable. Experiment to determine what works for you.

Like any goal that requires a substantial commitment, it is necessary to think of it not as the whole, but in parts. For example, if you were planning to run a marathon, your training would include gradually adding mileage during your training runs in the months leading up to the big event. The same applies to writing a life story. Focus on the various aspects of your life and write about each one. And remember, you don’t have to be a professional writer. You are naturally a storyteller – and writing a life story is storytelling.

Here are some ideas on how you can get started.

The American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “…The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.”

Your life story, if it is written, would be your gift to your family, now and for future generations.

Although writing your story or having it written is done to preserve your story for your family, you will no doubt enjoy reminiscing and storytelling. As I tell our clients, “How often do you get an opportunity for someone to listen to you tell your entire life story?” As biographers, it’s what we do.

Whether you write or we write for you, you have much to share.