Write Your Own Personal History

Having decided to write your own personal history, you probably have in mind an idea of what you would like it to be. Before you begin writing, however, let’s talk about what a personal history is not. A personal history is not a book that is filled primarily with names, dates, and places that relate to people in your family. That is a family history. Your personal history will focus on one individual--you--explaining, illustrating, and teaching your essence.

This website explains ten easy steps that will enable you to complete a top-notch personal history:

1.    Organize and preserve memorabilia into a working archive
2.    Involve your family and friends
3.    Use oral history to collect life stories
4.    Meet with the printer or publisher
5.    Use memory triggers
6.    Write the first draft of your personal history
7.    Add memorabilia
8.    Make your personal history "user friendly"
9.    Edit and finalize your personal history
10. Publish and copyright on a shoestring budget

You do not need to scroll through every page on this website before you actually start. You can read read through and complete the activities described in one step before you begin working on the next step. You can, of course, read through all ten steps initially in order to get an idea of the whole process, from start to finish.

The photographs found on this site are of my ancestors and other important members of my family.

PLEASE NOTE: the material presented on this site is intended to provide general guidance and direction. My book, From Shoeboxes To Books: Writing Great Personal Histories is a comprehensive, in-depth guide to writing personal histories for yourself and others. The book contains numerous forms, lists, and additional supporting material, and is available for purchase here.

LET'S GET STARTED!