What to do when you have too many memory-keeping ideas

Don’t let all those memory-keeping ideas swirling around your head overwhelm you. Instead, take some time to hone in on which stories to tell first—here's how.

family history, memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeMarch 27, 2023life story book themes, how to decide what stories from my life to write about, how do i know what to write about in my memoir, overcoming family history book overwhelmComment

Two great resources to help you write an ethical will

Ethical wills—also called legacy letters—are great ways to pass on values and life lessons to your descendants. These two books will help you create your own.

reviews, memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeMarch 6, 2023how to write an ethical will, resources for writing your own legacy letter, preserving your stories for the next generation, book reviewComment

Write the way you talk—your family will thank you

Any life story book passed down to the next generation is a gift—but it's an even better gift if it sounds like the real you: Write with your authentic voice.

memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeFebruary 6, 2023write memoir with your authentic voice, finding your voice when writing life story, writing in your own words and voiceComment

Why you should stop researching your memoir now

Research and fact-checking are integral parts of creating your memoir—but there's a good chance that it may be getting in the way of your actually writing it.

memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeJanuary 23, 2023researching my memoir, how to write my memoirs, do i need to conduct research to write my life storyComment

The low-pressure, high-yield memory-keeping project I’ve recently started

I might not have time for the full-fledged memoir I want to write, but I can make time every day for this easy and significant journal exercise—and so can you.

dawn's musings, memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeDecember 5, 2022journal writing, journal writing prompt, memory-keeping made easy, life story writing promptsComment

Don’t put your memoir on your bucket list.

If writing your memoir means enough to you to put it on a bucket list, please read this—I’ll help you easily move it from future project to present-day endeavor.

memoir & writing, why tell your stories?Dawn M. RoodeNovember 21, 2022how to start my memoir now, writing my memoir, steps to write a memoirComment

A fun—and easy!—exercise for generating new autobiographical writing

Want a life writing prompt that gets your pen moving AND delivers a trove of future ideas for your memoir? Here it is—and bonus, it's a fun one!

memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeSeptember 26, 2022autobiographical writing prompts, life story writing promptsComment

Stop waiting, start writing: Why now is the right time to begin your memoir.

Ignore those naysayers who warn that you must be passed middle age to begin writing your life stories: Start your memoir now, no matter how old you are.

memoir & writing, why tell your stories?Dawn M. RoodeAugust 29, 2022what age should i write my memoir, preserve family history before it's too late, writing life stories at a young ageComment