Writing down your own lifestory is a great way to preserve those precious family memories and create a living record of history that can be enjoyed by countless generations to come.

You might not think that you have led a terribly interesting life, but, the chances are, once you start writing it all down, you will be surprised by how eventful it has been. Just imagine if your own grandparents and great-grandparents had taken the time to sit down and write down everything that had happened to them. Wouldn't you be interested in hearing what they had to say?

It's a fun project to get started on, too. Writing your Lifestory may seem a daunting task at first, but once you get going, you'll find the time flies by as those long-forgotten memories come flooding back.

Digging

The first step in writing your Lifestory is to dig out your photographs and documents - become an attic archaeologist. Gather together all the mementoes that mean something to you - your photographs, your tickets and love letters, even your diaries and trade journals, and reminisce to your hearts content.

Structure

Next, you'll have to think about the best way to structure your book. Come up with a loose idea of chapter headings (you can always change them at a later date if you decide they are not working out) and work through the photos and documents that you've unearthed, to decide which to include and where. Then it's time to roll your sleeves up and get down to the next step - writing!

Writing

Writing is the most enjoyable and also, potentially the hardest part of creating your lifestory. As you write, don't worry if what you produce doesn't sound meaningful or polished. At this stage, your goal is simply to get words down on paper. You can always go back and edit them later.

If you get muddled or can't think of what to write next, don't worry. Take some time out, go back to your chapter headings and decide what it is you want to say. If you're really stuck, it might help to draw up some additional prompts to help get you back on track. Once you get started, youll soon find the words are flowing freely again.

Rachel Howells