There are many ways to capture your life story or that of a loved one. An accredited Life Story Writer can help you explore your options and find what will work best for you.
The options for Life Story Writing are only limited by the creativity of you and your Life Story Writer. The classic chapter book approach is a wonderful option to capture a life but sometimes the circumstances of our lives can be captured even more effectively in other formats.
I have worked with clients who want to tell their entire story from birth through all the decades of their life and written 60,000 words or more to capture all the key events and reflections they’d like to document.
I have also worked with clients who have just wanted to tell the highlights, and we have created a shorter style of book that highlights anecdotes and lessons from their life in, for example, 20,000 or 40,000 words. This is often a great solution where the clients’ stamina cannot support multiple interviews over a longer period of time, or there are budget considerations.
Everyone’s story is different and the chronological approach is not the only way. I have helped people develop manuscripts where each chapter is devoted to a key person in that person’s life, so multiple story lines are featured. I have also developed books where multiple perspectives are woven together from a variety of sources. Sometimes we start a project one way and find the story materials asks us for a different approach. I have even included the perspective of valued family pets and given the family dog and cat a voice. An accredited Life Story Writer can both guide and respond to the ‘real’ story that needs to be told in this way.
When we think of a biography or life story, the written word doesn’t have to be the only way.
I have worked with clients who have lovingly selected a range of photos that represent key moments in their lives and then worked with a ‘long caption’ approach to story writing. For every photo we write a description of what is happening, why it is significant, who was there and why they have chosen that photo. It is true ‘a picture can tell a thousand words’ so we spend time bringing those words to the page as a companion to each image. Photos lead the narrative and bring together a visually relevant layer to the story.
There are times where a Life Story is requested and time is of the essence. Shorter stories, other formats such as video or audio story taking can be lovely ways to work with all types of circumstances including end-of-life situations.
In a few hours, a videographer or audio story writer can record key stories and events they edit together into content the family can value forever. Not only are you preserving stories but you are also capturing the tone of voice, the laughter, the tears and the mannerisms in real life, and this can offer treasured insights into a person for future generations.
There are few rules and plenty of opportunities to craft a life story that reflects your unique life, personality and needs.
Check out our Members Page for a complete list of people ready to work with you.
By Lindy Schneider,
Accredited member, Life Stories Australia
Lindy is a deeply experienced Life Story Writer who combines narrative craft, emotional intelligence, and therapeutic insight to create meaningful life stories
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