Life Story Writing

[tneeley]

I'm assisting someone with writing their life story and would like to find on-line courses or more information on life story writing (other than a Google search). Does anyone have any experience with this type writing or know of on-line courses that might be available?

[writerpatty]

When you say they are writing their life story, do you me an autobiography? Or is it more of a novel type story?

[tneeley]

Basically it will be a collection of their life......pictures, memories, favorite things, timelines, etc. Think of it as a scrapbook of their life, basically. I know how to scrapbook and some of that type is incorporated into it, but the work I'm doing is what I think a personal historian does for you...provides questions and formats to trigger your memories and helps put them together in a book to be printed and given to family members to remember you by.

[soar]

I have a son out in New York State going to seminary, and one of his courses that he is taking is how to rite, by a very accomplished writer friend of the family. I can see if she offers it online, or how to get ahold of her.

[lynnmosher]

Tina, I just came across a book on my shelf of writing books that I had forgotten about. It's called Writing From the Heart: How to Write and Sell Your Life Experiences by Marjorie Holmes. It was published in 1993. Check the bookstore and the library. Take a look through it; it may help you.

[tneeley]

Thanks Soar. Thanks Lynn. I'll look for that book today (Tuesday is always fine-free day at our library, so that's the day I usually turn in my books). I know that technically there are no rules to something like that, just go with our own creativity and instincts, but I have found that questions that trigger memories are great to help gather information. I'm particularly interested in weaving stories of faith throughout the project.

I'll be honest with you about how I landed this "project". I was looking at a list of all the things I enjoy doing (writing, scrapbooking, photography, sewing, reading, talking to older people) and praying for a connection to some type of job or side income or even just a free service I could offer. I quickly realized that I could help others, particularly seniors, put together a keepsake of memories for themselves and their families. I knew that I could offer my assistance at no charge to someone in exchange for being able to show an example of the outcome and God immediately laid on my heart a woman I've known for many years at church who is a folk artist and has written some children's books. It turned out to be an answer to one of her prayers as well (no surprise) and we are having a ball just going along with the journey to wherever it leads us.

God is good.

Thanks for your input, friends. I love learning all I can about anything I'm interested in trying and you never know when one thing will lead to another new thing.