How to Write a Family Member's Life Story

Passing down family history is one of the most important aspects of life. It seems that whenever someone passes away, those who thought they knew him/her best begin to wonder why they didn’t ask questions such as how they met their spouse or why them moved to a new town. It doesn’t have to be that way, by asking the questions now and writing their life story, neither you nor the generations that follow you will have to wonder anymore.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Write down a list of questions you would like to ask. Some questions to consider are: What is your first memory? What is your favorite memory? What did the house you grew up in look like? Did your parents or siblings have a nick-name for you? How did you meet your spouse? What is the one thing about your life that you would want you great-great-great grandchildren to know?

How to write a family member’s life story

1. Schedule a time when you and your family member can sit down for an hour or so uninterrupted. You may want to have two or three other family members present to keep the conversation going and talk about stories that your subject might have forgotten.

2. Explain exactly what you hope to accomplish. Some of the memories that are brought up may be painful, but by explaining up front that you are trying to preserve history not dig up the past, those talking may feel a little more comfortable.

3. Turn the tape recorder on and make sure that it is set in a place where it can record everyone. You might also consider video taping the interview. Hearing and seeing the stories will make it easier to write a life story.

4. Take notes as well as taping the interview. The notes will help you remember to ask for more details and keep track of the chronology of the story.

5. Write the story, beginning at the start of the person’s life. Make sure to include as much information as you can and be sure to use some exact quotes in the story. This may take days, weeks or months, be patient and work some on it each day.

6. Ask your subject to read the story and find out if there is anything that wasn’t included that they would like to include or anything that isn’t accurate.

7. Make any corrections necessary.

8. Print copies of your story and give them to family members. Also save copies of it on several CDs or flash drives and keep them in different locations.

Tips & Warnings

• If you come upon a subject that no one wants to talk about don’t push the issue.

• If one of the interviewees begins to cry don’t keep asking questions, give them a few minutes to compose themselves and then keep going.