- Start with the big picture – Think about the overall story you want to tell before diving into the details.
- Choose a structure that makes sense – Your story could follow a timeline, be organised by themes, people, places, events or milestones. There is no right or wrong approach.
- Sketch out your chapters – A simple list of chapter titles provides a helpful roadmap and makes it easier to know what to write next.
- Gather your photos and keepsakes – Looking through photos, letters, certificates or memorabilia can spark memories and help you decide how to organise your story.
- Decide whose voices to include – Consider inviting family, friends, colleagues or teammates to contribute their own memories, photos or perspectives.
- Think about your audience – Are you creating this for children, grandchildren, friends, customers, colleagues or yourself? Knowing who will read it can help shape what you include.
- Choose your level of detail – Not every moment needs to be recorded. Focus on the stories, experiences and memories that matter most.
- Don’t worry about getting it perfect – Your plan is simply a guide. You can add, remove or rearrange chapters and entries at any time as your story evolves.
- Start anywhere or use our prompts – You don’t have to begin at the beginning. Write about the memories you’re most excited to capture, then fill in the gaps later. You can also use our libary of prompts to help get you started.
- Aim for progress, not perfection – Even a few minutes of writing at a time will gradually build into a meaningful story.