FAMILY STORY GUIDES
How to make a memoir book for your parents
Start with a conversation your parent actually wants to have. A book can come later.
Ask before you make it a project
Some parents enjoy talking about their childhood. Others would rather start with a job, a recipe or a person they miss. Ask what they would like to keep, and whether they want you to help. A memoir is their account of their life; it does not have to include every difficult moment.
Start with one ordinary scene
Try “What was breakfast like in your house?” Then listen. If your parent mentions a neighbour, ask about that neighbour. Save the long list of questions for another day. Ten comfortable minutes are often more useful than an hour spent trying to finish a questionnaire.
Review the words together
A transcript is a starting point. Check names, dates and places before turning it into a chapter. Leave uncertain details uncertain. Read a paragraph aloud and ask: does this sound like you? If the answer is no, change it.
Choose photographs after the story
A photograph does not need to be perfect to belong in a family book. Record who is in it and what the storyteller remembers. If a picture is restored or recreated, label the alteration rather than treating it as an untouched historical photograph.
See what a short chapter looks like
Our fictional sample includes the source notes beside the finished writing. You can compare the two before starting your own interview. The sample is an illustration, not a customer testimonial.