Staying active

Memory books can be a great hobby for anyone interested in writing and family history. You can get all the family involved and it can be a great legacy to leave for future generations.

Jackie Waters is age 51 and writes memory books. She says:

“The inspiration came from a winter of trawling through family history records. Oh‚ how I wished Great Nana Beatrice (pictured) had left a book with all her memories in!

It’s rather ironic that I've decided to write memory books‚ especially as I have the memory span of a gnat! But like all us 50 plusses‚ I can remember things from my distant past really quite well.”

 

Top tips for writing your memory book

If you fancy recording your own life story but don't quite know how to get started‚ here are Jackie’s top tips:

• The most difficult part is getting started‚ but once you've done that it’s plain sailing and  FUN! So my tip for getting stared is just relax with a cuppa or a glass of something nice and think of your happiest memory. Write it down or just speak it aloud. There. You've started!
• Recording your life story doesn't have to mean writing. It can mean talking into a  voice recorder or dusting down that Only Used Once A Year Holiday Camcorder. Whatever works for you.
• Memories are like children. They don't always behave and they have no sense of order! Let your memories tumble out any way they like. Just record them. You can sort out the order  later.
• If you are writing your life story‚ don't get hung up on spelling and grammar. Just write the memories as they flow.
• Write as you speak‚ so the reader will get to know the real you.  A bit of dialect or the odd favourite saying really adds to the telling of any tale.
• Make a date with yourself to write even just a few lines‚ every day or even one set day a week. Choose a time when know you can be relaxed and have no other demands on your time.  You will get to look forward to your “writing time”. Maybe even start to journal your daily life in morning pages. It’s therapeutic. Trust me! Try it for a week-you'll be hooked!
• If you have painful memories‚ you do not have to include them in your book. It’s your choice. Just skip over that period in your life with the briefest of reference to difficult times. Some people do find it useful to write these out of their system‚ but choose not to publish ( especially if the content might be hurtful to their loved ones.)
• Nobody can remember everything. If you're struggling‚ it’s a perfect excuse for a family get together and a good old chinwag! If all else fails sometimes it works to go to bed and try and dream your missing memory. Honest! Just remember to have a pen and paper by your bedside to write it down next morning when it does come back to you.
• Reward yourself whenever you finish a chapter. So longer as you go for the odd glass rather than the bottle you'll have your book finished in no time!
• You don't need to pay a fortune for publishing. Desk top publishing is easy and affordable . Bind and decorate your book yourself for that personal touch.
• Top tip. Enjoy the process . It’s supposed to be fun. Use all your senses to remember. Smell.  Taste . Touch.  Sight and  Sound all send you back to a different time quicker than you can say Tardis!
  
  

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