How to Write Your Personal or Family History: (If You Don’t Do It, Who Will?)

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          This is a practical—and encouraging—how-to book from a long-time teacher of personal and family history writing. Katie Funk Wiebe helps beginning memoir writers get started collecting the stories of their lives. She gives hints for recalling distant memories and tracking down family heirlooms. The author debunks budding writers’ fears that their lives haven’t been eventful enough. And she offers timely nudges, gentle coaxing, and constructive criticism along the way.           There are tips on writing, exercises to prod the memory, and advice on looking at the broad scope of a well-lived life. “You’ve been living 24 hours every day, making decisions, objecting to certain ideas, endorsing others, and interacting with family and coworkers,” the author writes. “I plan to convince you that if you took time to reflect, you’d find lots of meaningful stuff going on.” A serious but accessible resource for undertaking your personal or family history writing.

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