Have you had your DNA analysed to discover your family history?
Certainly the results can confirm ancestors’ origins or come as a surprise (as was my case)!
Indeed results often prompt questions and conversations with older generations.
Undeniably these chats uncover family history but they also have surprising benefits…
Continue reading Family stories: Bonus reasons to talk about family history and ancestry
It was my birthday recently!
And it was special this year because it didn’t get derailed by COVID-19 restrictions.
Also I managed to catch up with family who I haven’t seen for ages.
Certainly we shared some great times and many stories.
So to celebrate I want to share my top your family stories tips for interviewing loved ones about their lives.
Plus keep reading because I have a super Your Family Stories System birthday deal for you at the end!
Continue reading Your family stories tips: Don’t do your family stories before reading this!
Hello and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.
As a life-story coach I’m asked lots of questions around planning, writing, polishing and publishing.
And in this Q&A series my answers set out to help new writers!
So this Ask Nicola edition begins with the question:
Can you please suggest Thanksgiving games or Christmas games that involve family stories?
Firstly, fantastic you want to record stories for family, friends and future generations!
Next let me introduce a fun life-story challenge for the upcoming holidays …
Continue reading Life story challenge: Thanksgiving games and Christmas games to play with family
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!) …
Continue reading How to document family stories: This might be the best way in 4 steps!
First published April 5, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.
We have made it to the final installment of the super stay-at-home family stories writing challenge part 3!
While we are all in lockdown, I suggested bonding with a loved one by compiling a life-story feature article.
Some of you have done this with your parents, grandparents or other relatives and joined forces with your children for a fun quarantine activity. I love this idea!
In part 1 of the challenge we got set for a phone or video interview.
Meanwhile, in part 2 I shared some interview ideas I’ve learnt as a print journalist.
Finally in this writing challenge part 3, I show you how to quickly organise and present your interview material.
All suggestions come from the Your Family Stories System: Easily capture your loved ones’ memories for future generations.
Let’s wrap-up this challenge …
Continue reading Writing challenge – part 3: How to fast track, finish and celebrate your family stories!
First published March 22, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.
Welcome to the fun stay-at-home family stories writing challenge part 2!
As we bunker down in quarantine this Easter period, I’m throwing it out there to connect with someone close to you and compile a life-story feature article.
This could be your parents, grandparents or another loved one and involve the help of your children as a special lockdown activity.
For part 1 of the challenge we got ready for a successful phone or video interview.
In this writing challenge part 2 I share some interview tips I’ve picked up over years working as a daily newspaper journalist.
All ideas come from the Your Family Stories System: Easily capture your loved ones’ memories for future generations.
So get comfy and let’s get started …
Continue reading Writing challenge – part 2: 6 things to remember before you hold a family stories interview
First published March 8, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.
I have a fun three-part writing challenge for readers as we all ‘stay at home’ this Easter.
Most importantly Easter symbolises new beginnings and fresh starts.
Traditionally a time of family get-togethers, it offers us an opportunity to reconnect, bond and help record a loved one’s autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.
Therefore over the next few weeks I challenge you to sit down and write a life-story feature article about your mum, dad, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle or someone else dear to you.
You can do this solo or join forces with your children as an extra special lockdown project!
The tips I’ll be sharing are from the Your Family Stories System: Easily capture your loved ones’ memories for future generations.
The first writing challenge step is getting ready for a successful phone interview …
The past few weeks my family and I have been working and schooling from home.
News about the coronavirus is everywhere and we have been warned to stay inside and self-isolate.
It is hard to know what is going on, to keep a level head and heart.
But in these troubled times sitting down to calmly write seems to help.
Today’s article is all about why life-story writing at home is good for you.
Plus read on for a quarantine discount on the Your Family Stories System: the ultimate guide for easily capturing your loved ones’ memories for future generations …
Continue reading Writing at home: Here’s to writing during coronavirus self-isolation
First published November 30, 2017: This article has been updated and improved.
The recent Christmas holiday season was a terrific time to catch up with family and loved ones.
Getting together for a meal, barbecue or beach trip is an amazing opportunity to share memories: from the newly minted to well-heard favourites and forgotten gems.
If these captured your interest why not keep the momentum going by making it a goal this year to tee up a life-story interview with a loved one such as a parent, grandparent or dear friend.
Keep reading for my top tips and suggestions from the Your Family Stories System to do just that …
Continue reading Life-story interview: How to set-up an interview + family interview tips