Forever Young Autobiographies

Best life stories of 2020: Award-winning books to read this holiday season

What books a life-story coach is reading and reviewing into 2021

If you want to be a better writer try reading a book.

And if you want to be a truly better writer read the best books!

Indeed that’s the mission I’ve set myself for the latest Forever Young Autobiographies life-story reading list.

The best life stories of 2020 list features writers from Australia, United Kingdom and the USA.

And it includes first-time writers and bestsellers.

Plus the best bit is I’ll be writing a review for each book during 2021 with tips to help us all when we sit down to write.

So dive in and take a look at what autobiographies, memoirs, biographies and other life-stories made the cut for the best life stories of 2020 …

Book review: New York Times Best Seller The Yellow House by Sarah M Broom

A quick and easy review of the Grove Press memoir set in New Orleans East

The Yellow House by Sarah M Broom rounds out the Forever Young Autobiographies book review series for the year.

And what a way to finish!

This bestselling memoir was put out in 2019 by Grove Press and tells the story of many people, many families but one house – the Yellow House.

Indeed Broom’s family home in New Orleans East became the centrepoint of many worlds from the 1960s to its drawn-out demise after Hurricane Katrina.

Most notably the story won the National Book Awards 2019 for Nonfiction, was a New York Times Best Seller and named one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2019.

So let’s find out more about Broom, The Yellow House and what we can takeaway as life-story writers …

How to document family stories: This might be the best way in 4 steps!

Everything you should know about recording your family stories and family history (plus Black Friday 2020 deal!)

One of the most popular questions I am asked as a life-story writer is how to document family stories?

And the answer is there are many different approaches!

However, I’ve come up with a simple system after many years as a journalist interviewing and sitting down to write different people’s stories.

Most importantly this system is fun, rewarding and repeatable!

Furthermore, these steps are perfect if you want to record family stories for key events or any time of the year.

And they make a great foundation to start other life-story projects like an autobiography, memoir or biography.

So let’s take a look at four steps to document family stories (and keep reading for a great Black Friday 2020 deal on the Your Family Stories System!) …

Gift giving for writers 2020: See how easily you can get gift giving sorted

How to get ideas for Secret Santa and Christmas wish lists in record time

It is the time of year when birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas begin to roll into one.

And it is also the time of year when we swap our writers’ hats for elves’ hats.

It has been one crazy year with Coronavirus quarantine and we all deserve a bit of cheer and gift giving in our lives.

Therefore I’ve come up with a few present ideas for yourself or the writers in your life.

These gifts would be perfect for those sitting down to write an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

And are helpful no matter how far along a writing journey: planning, writing, editing or publishing.

So spread a little joy with these gift giving ideas to suit all price points …

Book dedication: How to do book dedications in 5 minutes

Amazing secrets about dedication meaning and book dedication examples

We are giving thanks this week as Thanksgiving Day and Christmas holidays loom.

So today’s life-story article is dedicated to … dedications!

Indeed it’s funny how important things can fly under the radar.

Certainly when sitting down to write there is much to think about and consider.

For example, planning, writing, editing and polishing our autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

However, it is important to remember to write a dedication before printing.

So let’s take a look at what exactly is a book dedication, why it’s needed and how to craft one.

Book review: Pulitzer Prize winner The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart

Biography of a Rhodes Scholar and the father of the Harlem Renaissance by Oxford University Press

The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart is a formidable biography on the life and influence of this leading professor, art critic and aesthete.

The book is a solid but illuminating read at 944 pages and was first published by Oxford University Press USA in 2018.

Stewart is a Professor of the Department of Black Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

And is well equipped to lead us on the journey of Locke’s life during the 1800-1900s in segregate America.

Indeed, the biography has won huge acclaim, most notably as winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Biography and winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Nonfiction.

So let’s take a look at what this model life-story on the father of the Harlem Renaissance is about and what we can takeaway to improve our own writing …

Case study: Hang-glider star pens memoir The Phoenix Rising about traumatic brain injury and survival

Life story by nurse Helen Ross Lee shines spotlight on the amazing power of brain neuroplasticity

Helen Ross Lee is living proof that what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.

In 2008 the former high-achieving female hang-gliding competition pilot from Queensland, Australia, suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

The sportswoman, nurse and mother’s life was changed forever.

Over the past 12 years, Lee has slowly re-networked her brain to think, talk and walk plus found love again.

But one of her greatest rewards has been publishing her life-story book The Phoenix Rising.

“In writing my book, I have learned the art of survival. It has not been easy,” Lee said.

“I’ve learned some valuable things and I’ve had to let go of some things that were holding me back.

“I’ve learned that there’s a vast difference between knowledge, understanding and wisdom.”

So keep reading to find out more about Lee’s inspiring and extraordinary life-story journey …

Ask Nicola Q&A: 4 tips to remember when turning a book into an ebook

What life-story writers ought to know about creating a hyperlink, how to make a PDF + more!

G’day and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

As a life-story coach I’m asked many questions about planning, writing, polishing and publishing life stories for family and friends.

And in this Q&A series I explain how I help writers just like you who are sitting down to write an autobiography, biography, memoir or other life-story project!

So this edition answers the question:

How can I make an ebook? Is it as simple as saving my Microsoft Word manuscript as a PDF file format? What other things do I need to think about?

Case study: Daughter helps retired Brisbane dad write his autobiography

Retiree editor uses surefire way to record father’s life story

First published June 14, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.

Beginning a life-story project is often about timing.

Certainly this was the case for former editor Jan and her father when they sat down to compile his autobiography in Brisbane, Queensland.

Indeed both were retired and considered the idea unbeknown to each other!

“I had been thinking about some sort of record of his life story for a while but hadn’t got any further than thinking about it,” Jan said.

“Once dad retired it seemed the time was right.

“While he now has spare time he seems to be really enjoying being retired but he enjoyed his life-story project and put a lot of effort into it.”

Jan started the life story with help from the Your Family Stories System and today gives us the lowdown on how the project unfolded plus what she found most rewarding …

Best online writing tools: Story writing apps and writing programs to try and love

How to write a life story using best writing software (online dictionary, Grammarly, Rev + more!)

First published July 26, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.

Hands up if you or your spouse are bad at reading maps?

Indeed the experience can be stressful, frustrating … and perhaps a tad funny!

Thankfully bad map readers are a dying breed given new tools like in-car navigation systems and smartphone map apps.

But technology is not just for the car.

Certainly it can help us pull into the fast lane to fix spelling and grammar during the writing process.

Therefore, here are my best online writing tools to keep you on track when you sit down to write an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

So rev the engine and let’s get started …