Resources for writing a memoir and other true -life stories:
Aah, the art of family storytelling, writing a memoir and other true-life stories. , biographies. Our favorite topic. We hope you enjoy these storytelling resources to help you either start on a family story or your own memoir. We promise a lot of links and follow-up resources in the classes we teach, so here they are!
(Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links to our own books on Amazon which means if you purchase, we make a small commission. We really appreciate it! This is a tiny part of our income, but every bit helps.)
How to Storyboard – book and templates
If you envision writing a memoir or family history story, check out our storyboard method including our template posters and how-to book. These are available on Amazon. You can get the book, ebook, a package of posters, or a combo pack. Here are the links:
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- How to Storyboard, a full-color, quick booklet booklet in print, by Rhonda Lauritzen. Click here to order the print book on Amazon.
- How to storyboard ebook, the electronic format by Rhonda Lauritzen. Click here to order the ebook on Amazon.
- How to Storyboard Combo Pack: Full-color print booklet + 2 storyboard posters. Click here to order the combo pack on Amazon.
- Storyboards – A package of 3 storyboard poster templates. Click here to order the storyboard template multi-pack.
- Take a class to tell your story – click here
Our favorite storytelling resources – articles at your fingertips:
- How to storyboard
- Story structure – strengthen any story with the tips and examples
- What is the theme of your story?
- What is your purpose and how does it tie to the theme of your story?
- Is your story stuck? Why writing a memoir is possible
- Hard to write about the hard stuff? How to overcome and then write about it.
- The one writing tip we never miss (Why you should read your story aloud)
- Write a personal history – journal ideas and why it’s important
- Is yours a redemption story? (Why it should be)
- Top 11 favorite books on writing, storytelling and memoir
- Procrastination busters for writers (and everyone)
- Oral history interviewing questions, tools and resources
My Life Story: Thoughtful questions to tell your story
This full-color booklet is a wonderful guide for life story interviews, to use as journal prompts, or to spark ideas as you write your memoir.
- Single booklets: If you’d like to order one, here is a link to purchase My Life Story: Thoughtful questions to tell your story or interview someone you love.
Free Printables and Downloads
Each of these links will take you to a page where you can download free printables:
- My Life Story Questions – Free Printable book
- Our all-time favorite questions everyone should ask (single page printable)
- Interviewing Mini Course: This free tutorial covers the ins-and-outs of interviewing, recording equipment, transcribing audio, and even shares some of our favorite questions. It is a printable PDF.
Articles on Storytelling using video and audio
- Storytelling resources – using video to tell your story
- Audio inspiration – a detailed article about how to record, save and edit audio files
- Transcription resources – a detailed article with various methods to transcribe life story interviews or your voice memo notes
Would you like help writing a memoir?
We love helping clients one-on-one. In these sessions we can storyboard your memoir, map out a custom plan to tell a life story, or help you get organized.
- Click here to contact us for a free consultation or to schedule an appointment
- Click here for an overview of the life story services we offer, and our rates
Life story interviews
We conduct professional life story interviews, which are often given as gifts to parents or grandparents. This can be a real breakthrough for anyone writing a memoir, biography or family history story because this is often the easiest way to get it done. Each interview takes several hours of our time, and includes the initial consultation, printed booklet of life story question, approximately 75 minutes of audio recording, audio files on a flash drive, and the interviewer notes.
Life story interview pricing:
- One interview: $137
- Price (each) for 3 interviews: $127
- Price (each) for 6 interviews: $117
- Gift certificates:
Writing a memoir? We love helping clients one-on-one:
- We collaborate with you to map a custom plan for writing your own life story, to storyboard your tale, or to coach you along the way. $107 per one-hour session or $97 each for six sessions.
Gift certificates:
Available in any amount, life story interview gift certificates are a meaningful alternative to buying “stuff.” We have many families give their parents, grandparents or partner a life story interview for special occasions.
Click here to order or print a gift certificate.
(Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links to our own books on Amazon which means if you purchase, we make a small commission. We really appreciate it! This is a tiny part of our income, but every bit helps.)
Do a family history interview
Sign up and we will email you a free, printable download of our mini-course to conduct a great oral history interview. You will be done in a week or less.