Table of Contents
Foreword Joanna Wiebe xi
Preface xiii
Chapter 1 You Have a Story Waiting to Be Told 1
A Few Beginning Tips 3
Chapter 2 Putting Together the Puzzle of Life 9
Who Is Your Audience? 13
What Is Your Purpose? 14
What Is Your Theme? 14
Chapter 3 Getting Started on Writing About Yourself 19
Where Will You Find Information to Write About Yourself? 19
Getting Motivated 31
Chapter 4 Writing About Other People 33
Why Write a Biography? 34
Main Characteristics of Biography 35
Important Sources to Investigate 43
Chapter 5 Choose a Theme and Plot 49
Chapter 6 Stories Are Always Winners 57
What Is the Subject Matter of Personal Narrative or Story? 58
What Makes a Great Story? 59
What Is a Story? 59
Chapter 7 Becoming Comfortable with Your Family's Story 75
Chapter 8 One Life, Many Stages 87
Stage 1 Connecting with the Early Years 87
Stage 2 Tracing Denning Moments in Adolescence 96
Stage 3 Finding the Markers in Young Adulthood 100
Stage 4 A Look at the Middle Years (Not Middle Age) 107
Stage 5 Retirement and Beyond 110
Chapter 9 History Happens to Everyone 115
Echoes of the Great Depression 115
Exploring War Experiences 122
Exploring the Resources of the 1950s and 1960s 130
Exploring the Resources of the 1970s and Following Decades 134
Chapter 10 Memories Are Also Made of These 143
The Works of Our Lives 143
Writing About the Life Others Don't See 148
Writing About Relationships with People 156
The Best or Worst Time of Your Life 161
Folklore Improves the Flavor 163
Chapter 11 Optional Writing Tasks 173
How to Give Away What Can't Be Counted or Measured 173
Writing Your Last "Writes" 180
Chapter 12 Final Hurdles to the Finished Product 183
Hurdle 1 The Temptation to Quit 183
Hurdle 2 Making Your Writing More Readable and Interesting 194
Hurdle 3 Revising and Polishing 200
Hurdle 4 Publishing 205
Additional Resources 211
About the Author 215
