How To Write Your Life Story

"Write what should not be forgotten." Your life is something that should be remembered. Everyone has a story to tell, even you. No matter how 'normal' your life may seem to be, your account matters. There might be someone out there who needs to hear your story, someone whose life will change if they listened to your story.

You may want to write your memoir or biography, but the question is 'how do you get started'? With a lot of time on your hands since retirement, you have a unique chance to finally do what you always wanted to do - write the story of your life.

In this article, we will offer some practical tips on how to get started writing your story. Telling your life story may bring back a host of memories, both good and bad, so you need to know where to start.

Beginning your Story

Writing a personal story of your life puts you in a very vulnerable position. Fear of rejection, ridicule, and so on may flood our resolve leading us to choose silence. The first step to success in writing your life story is this, believe in yourself.

Accept that people will have good and bad things to say about your story and it's ok. Life has its ups and downs; people who inspire us and put us down so your account should be the same. Realize that you are telling an authentic story that is in the past so whatever people think or say doesn't matter! What happened, happened whether they agree with it or not. This is your life and your story so they can take it or leave it.

Another thing to do before you get started is to get in contact with your emotions. It is easy to decide to write from a third person, disconnected, heartless point of view in an attempt to save yourself from painful memories. Resist this urge. If you are to connect with others and make a difference, you need to touch their hearts which means sharing your emotions. You need to accept the different feelings you have had throughout your life and share them authentically.

Savour the process of writing your story. Remember, you are not a professional writer who wants to make millions from their book. Write at your pace, stop when you have to, but continue to put your story down in writing. Cherish the memories you are reminiscing, cry if you have to- take everything in before moving forward.

Lastly, make a list of all the turning points in your life and take it from there. There is no need to start from the beginning at your birth and try to write everything chronologically. The most intriguing stories begin somewhere in the middle at a crossroad in your life and go back in time. Every time you remember an essential event, list it down.

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10 Steps to writing the story of your life

Now that you have the necessary tools to get started let's talk about ten ways to put these suggestions into action.

1. Think about your audience

Like with any piece of literature, you must take into consideration your target audience. Who are you writing the story for? Do you plan to keep it small within the family and friends circle, or is it for public circulation? Is there a specific age group or audience you want to impact?

Along with these questions, you will need to decide whether to change people’s names or not and whether your story will be written in fiction form rather than biography form.

2. Start writing as soon as possible

Don’t be afraid of mixing stories up or not writing in chronological order. The important thing is you get your stories and experiences down in writing as soon as possible. The more you delay the process, waiting for that epiphany, the higher the chances of you never get started. Many writers will attest to the fact that writing becomes more comfortable and words flow more freely once you get started.

3. Write down memorable scenes of your life

Think about those vivid memories you have about your childhood, teenage years or adult life. It may be a graphic scene of you sitting by the dining table with the rain pouring outside while your home is filled with the smell of baking bread in the oven. Get all your senses involved and try to relive these scenes as you write them down. You may use different sheets of paper or index cards for each stage so you can arrange them in the order you want afterwards.

4. Decide on the order of your story

If you're going to write your life story in chronological order, then go ahead. Or perhaps you prefer to stick to one aspect of your life, like your love story. Or maybe you like the idea of going back and forth switching from the old days to the present time. When you decide what order you want to write your story, arrange your experiences accordingly.

5. Consider using a theme

If you're going to share information about a specific subject, then you will need to write your life story in a way that surrounds that theme. For example, if your fondest memories are growing up on a farm, you may want to share your experiences through that theme. Just make sure that this theme is a prominent feature of your life and not just a passing scene.

6. Get help from your family about the details

You will likely find yourself in a situation where you are not so sure about the details or the timeframe of an event. When this happens, get help from family or friends to clear up things. Another benefit from understanding the opinion from others is it may give you a different perspective on the matter. We all tend to look at things or remember events in a certain way which may be one-sided. Getting all your family and friends together to reminisce not only provides valuable insight to your past but is a great chance to bond.

7. Make use of old photos

Take down all those old photo albums and start reminiscing events. As the saying goes, "A picture paints a thousand words." Your brain is likely to remember facts and people with the help of a visual aid so use those old photos to your advantage. If you have a shortage of photographs, you may start visiting old friends and looking at their pictures instead. If you have old diaries or notebooks that you have kept, read them and see what insight you can find. The secret is to dig into your past using any means possible.

8. Share various emotions

Nobody likes to read a depressing story that only has heartache and suffering as the theme. Even if this is the story of your sad life, look for moments of happiness and share them as well. Remember that you want to inspire not depress people with your account so search through your memories for funny moments, happy ones, hopeful events, and sad ones. Keeping a wide range of emotion will make your story more realistic and easy to read.

9. Try recording instead of writing

If writing on pen and paper or typing on a computer is not your thing, don’t lose hope. Make use of technology and perhaps record your stories through audio or video. You can then hire a writer to type your stories in the order you want. You can even work with the writer as they write your story for you. Look for ways to let your account be heard.

10. Look back at your life with fondness

Many who have written their life stories find the process to be therapeutic. There is nothing like taking a trip back in time to remind you of how beautiful your life has been. You will come to realize the general theme of your life has perhaps been funny, sad, or maybe a little of everything. The act of writing your life story can be emotionally and psychologically therapeutic, and if you are touched, others will be too.

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Conclusion

Writing the story of your life may be one of the greatest legacies you leave for the next generation. You don't have to have an adventurous life full of love, romance or action to feel that your story needs to be heard. Remember that some of the greatest lessons in life come from simple, ordinary things. No two experiences are the same, so your story is guaranteed to be unique in more than one way.

There is no better way to spend your golden years than to leave a footprint in the sands of time. If you are hesitant about starting this journey, look deep inside for a reason to do so. You may find that once you muster the courage, you will find a new pride in the life you have led.