How to be a good storyteller if you are the subject of a family history interview

Have you been invited by a family member to be interviewed about your life? Don't worry—these tips will help you get comfy & be the best storyteller you can be.

family historyDawn M. RoodeAugust 16, 2021how to be a good storyteller, what to do when being interviewed about your family history, how to answer questions during a personal history interviewComment

Life Story Links: August 9, 2021

A bi-weekly roundup focused on ideas and practical tips for preserving your legacy, writing about your life, and reading memoir and biography as inspiration.

curated roundupsDawn M. RoodeAugust 3, 2021recent memoir and biography, leaving a legacy, the best in family storytellingComment

My 3 favorite opening questions to get a personal history interview going

Planning to conduct a personal history interview with a family member? Here are three effective first questions that guarantee their stories will flow freely.

family history, the art of listeningDawn M. RoodeAugust 2, 2021family history interviews, oral history interviews, interviewing techniques, questions to ask parents, family history questionsComment

Life Story Links: July 27, 2021

An array of reads for memory-keepers of all kinds including great autobiographical writing, thoughts on what we remember, and the stories within our heirlooms.

curated roundupsDawn M. RoodeJuly 27, 2021stories of our stuff, memories associated with family heirlooms, first person storytellingComment

Two things no one tells you about writing your own story

Writing about your life can be hard—but it’s still worth the effort. (Oh, and you’re wrong that your family members don’t care about your personal history).

memoir & writing, why tell your stories?Dawn M. RoodeJuly 22, 2021how to share my story with family, challenges involved with life writing, what makes telling my story so hardComment

How to create a life timeline for your memoir writing project

Writing a life timeline is an integral task in any life story project. Here are three simple steps to creating yours, plus thoughts on why a timeline is useful.

memoir & writingDawn M. RoodeJuly 12, 2021how to write a life timeline, chronology of a life, brainstorming milestones from your life, listing milestones and turning points from your life Comment

Life Story Links: July 6, 2021

During this Fourth of July week our roundup includes thoughtful pieces on the nature of memory, how vulnerable to get in autobiographical writing, and more.

curated roundupsDawn M. RoodeJuly 6, 2021how we remember, vulnerability in writing, personal essaysComment

Nuances of memory—and how understanding a bit of neuroscience can help us remember

Understanding the basics of how our brains encode memory can help us both remember the things we want in the future & retrieve precious memories from our past.

family history, why tell your stories?Dawn M. RoodeJune 28, 2021how we remember, memory triggers, how memory worksComment