Write Your Life Story Other related titles published by How To Books Times of Our Lives The essential companion for writing your life story Awaken the Writer Within Discover how to release your creativity and find your true writer’s voice Writer’s Guide to Copyright, Contract and Law Utterly invaluable... an absolute MUST for anyone putting pen to paper for publication Improve Your Punctuation and Grammar Master the basics of the English language and write with greater confidence The Beginner’s Guide to Getting Published ‘...should be on any beginner’s reading list.’ Please send for a free copy of the latest catalogue to: How To Books Spring Hill House, Spring Hill Road, Begbroke Oxford, 0X5 1RX United Kingdom
[email protected] www.howtobooks.co.uk Write Your Life Story HOW TO RECORD AND PRESENT YOUR MEMORIES FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO ENJOY T H I R D E D I T I O N MICHAEL OKE howtobooks Published by How To Content, A division of How To Books Ltd, Spring Hill House, Spring Hill Road, Begbroke, Oxford OX5 1RX, United Kingdom. Tel: (01865) 375794. Fax: (01865) 379162.
[email protected] www.howtobooks.co.uk All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or stored in an information retrieval system (other than for purposes of review) without the express permission of the publisher in writing. © 2008 Michael Oke ISBN 978 1 84803 311 5 First edition 2001 Reprinted 2002 Reprinted 2003 (twice) Revised edition 2006 Third edition 2008 First published in electronic form 2009 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Cover design by Baseline Arts Ltd, Oxford Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions Typeset by Pantek Arts Ltd, Maidstone, Kent. NOTE: The material contained in this book is set out in good faith for general guidance and no liability can be accepted for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying in particular circumstances on statements made in the book. Laws and regulations are complex and liable to change, and readers should check the current position with the relevant authorities before making personal arrangements. Contents Foreword by Neil Patrick Acknowledgements Introduction 1 2 3 4 xi xii xiii Why Write Your Life Story? 1 Knowing why you want to write Areas of caution Dealing with modesty Listening to the experts Checklist Assignments 1 9 10 12 14 15 Thinking Things Through 17 Knowing your audience Deciding what type of record you want Who Do You Think You Are? The scope of this book Considering external assistance Selecting your writing style Choosing a title Checklist Assignments 17 19 25 27 28 30 32 33 33 Getting Organised 35 Choosing your writing medium Finding your own special place Getting organised Setting provisional targets Checklist Assignments 35 39 40 42 44 45 Planning the Structure 47 Defining the par