How to write a memoir, life story, or family history (Personal track)

Zenler Player

Your course is loading. Hang tight.

It's very nice to meet you Preview
Instructor notes about the class format Preview
You will need...
Join the conversation!
How to storyboard: view booklet onscreen
How to storyboard - download booklet
How to storyboard - download template

Introduction: why writing your story matters Preview
Why tell stories? Stories bind families Preview
Why tell stories? They are the only way we will be remembered. Preview
Why tell stories? To understand meaning from events.
When you tell your story it changes the ending.
What is your canon of stories? Preview
Homework - catalog your values

When and why YOU should be the one to write it - a pep talk

Chapter intro - the basics of getting started Preview
What type of story are you writing? Memoir, autobiography, life story, family history, or...therapy
Immutable laws of memoir
What is a vignette? Preview
Stitching
Just get started now, and it will be enough
Start at the beginning with genesis stories Preview
Why we do free writing exercises Preview
Assignment: Free write exercise - Genesis stories Preview
Definitions
More rules for writing memoir

Chapter intro - building blocks: tips and techniques Preview
Terms and definitions in this section
Deciding your story's tense and point of view
Point of View/Tense exercise
Discussion of the Tense/POV exercise
Writing dialogue
Write it like a movie
Writing sensory details
Writing prompt

Introduction to writing characters, arc, and theme Preview
Who is this story about? Your main character
Where should you start and end your story?
What to call your main character
How does your hero change?
Flaws vs. quirks
First look at the storyboard
3 main beats of the hero's journey
What is this story about? Theme.
Theme songs

Intro to storyboarding Preview
Getting started - you will need to download the free template & booklet
Here's that download - storyboard printable template
Ways you can get the "How to Storyboard" booklet
Here's the free booklet download
How storyboarding will strengthen your writing
Central Problem - internal conflict vs. external conflict
Toy Story - Darkest hour dialogue reading
Callbacks
Closing scene
Instructions for storyboard puzzle exercise
Exercise - Storyboard puzzle for Toy Story
Here is the answer sheet for the Toy Story storyboard exercise
Watch this video of a personal story first
A beat-by-beat tutorial of how I mapped out the previous lesson's video
Assignment - storyboard your Genesis Vignette

Exercise: Storyboard the Wizard of Oz
Wizard of Oz storyboard answers
Bonus - full explanation of how "The Sound of Music" hits all the beats
Story structure for The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Finding the angle - my grandfather's World War I wallet
Bonus lesson - further analysis - how every beat in Toy Story I relates back to the theme

Intro to telling the truth, journaling, and morning pages Preview
What is the difference between journaling and writing your life story?
Deciding now what to do with your journals
Navigating the truth
Rules for telling the truth in true life stories
What if you worry that your life has not been interesting?
Fun journal prompts

Why oral history? The voice is intimate.
A primer on oral history and interviewing
Ask specific questions
Questions, questions, questions
Printable PDF
Relationship questions - printable PDF
Further reading - how to transcribe audio
Finish your story by telling it
Assignment - interview someone

Intro to topics of creativity, procrastination, and resistance Preview
What feeds your creativity? Preview
Use the subconscious
Do you believe in the Muse?
Procrastination
Beware the "but firsts"
Restoring broken commitments Preview
Assignment - commit to a writing time
What to do if you feel you are not a good writer
When you feel overwhelmed...
The War of Art
Tricksters and alter egos

Intro to sensitive subjects and writing about the hard stuff Preview
An overall primer to approaching sensitive subjects
Why you should write about the hard stuff - Alice Ann's story
Family stories tell us we can do it: From Sheri Dew, CEO of Deseret Book at RootsTech
When not to share the hard stuff Preview
Confidentiality and ethics
Free write exercise

Intro to researching, digitizing, and organizing
Pro tip: Compile the names and dates up front in your project
Headers and manuscript organization
The "find" function is your best friend
Quickly transcribe letters and journal entries with speech recognition - speech to text
My favorite media resources
Methods for digitizing photos and documents
Digitizing with a light box - quick video
Bonus: Digitizing with a light box - a more in-depth tutorial showing the ShotBox
Digitizing cassette tapes
Saving and backing up files
Where to find historic context

Intro to editing, writing groups, and publishing Preview
Publishing vs. Printing
Book printing options
Another printing option - picture books
Formatting your book
Microsoft Word template for a full book
Editing your own work
Read your story aloud
Ground rules for giving feedback

Tutorial - making video stories
Here's the video I made - World War I Wallet

Throw a party when you finish!
The act itself of finishing will change you
Do it now and it will be enough
Final homework