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.
Now, if you don’t want to do the writing yourself, you can always hire professional biographers like those at Legacies & Memories, who will gather your stories and write, edit and produce the books. It is not that different from hiring professionals to take care of other matters in your life.
Still not convinced your story is worth writing?
Think about the importance of stories in each of our lives and how relating our individual experiences help us to better know and understand one another – and ourselves.
Even if you are not fully convinced that you can write your life story or that it should be written, then at least set aside some time to reminisce, remember, reflect, and review your life. You may gain new perspectives on your life, your experiences, your stories – and the value and meaning they have for you and your family now and future generations. Then, you may decide to write.
Remember, new perspectives come not only with the passage of time, but with age. Just ask the noted singer, Tina Turner, who was quoted in the newspaper in the 2000s as saying, “I wasn’t as smart then as I am now. But then whoever is?”
Writing your life story is not something you do for yourself, although you will almost certainly enjoy the reminiscing and storytelling. In 25-plus years in the biography business, I have never had a client who did not enjoy that part of the process. Each of us loves to talk about our life – and tell others the stories that make us who we are.
Remember, writing your life story – or having a biographer write it – is really a gift for your family members. So do it for them.
