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Write Your Life Story And Get It Published: Writing about others

by Ann Gawthorpe

The skills you have acquired writing your own life story can be used to help others write theirs. One good way is to interview them using a list of suitable questions. Either take notes or record the conversation. The information can then be typed up, preferably on a computer. If you use a proper mini-disc recorder the conversation can be uploaded onto a computer and, after any necessary editing using a specialist programme, can be burned onto CDs as an alternative to a printed book.

Although you will have a list of questions, be prepared for the interviewee to go off at a tangent as further memories are triggered. Because of this allow plenty of time, and be patient – memories don’t always come to order.

You may decide you want to write a biography about someone, such as a family member. If they are alive you will probably need their permission and certainly you will need to interview them as well as asking to see any old photos and other documents. If they are no longer alive you will have to do the research.

Writing a biography is the same as writing a life story except it will be in the third person. Follow the same rules for giving it readability by including curiosity and humour.


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