8-Step Guide
How to Write a Legacy Memoir

Step No. 1: Make a map

  • Spend two or three hours with your author creating an outline or a “bubble map” of the story

  • Stick to only the high points

  • Draw a simple family tree for your reference

Step No. 2: Collect the treasures

  • Review any written materials—writings by the author, letters, newspaper and magazine articles, online postings

  • Ask for a few meaningful pictures

  • Buy and learn how to use a digital recorder (a cell phone can’t do this)

Step No. 3: Record the interview(s)

  • Come with questions (find examples online), but guide in a relaxed, open way

  • Listen carefully and dive into topics to “feel” meaningful

  • Watch that your digital recorder is recording

Step No. 4: Turn verbal to written

  • Transcribe the interview, or have someone else transcribe it for you*

  • You don’t need every utterance, or even every word

  • Create paragraphs nine to twelve lines long, or when subject changes

Step No. 5: Time to edit

  • Organize the paragraphs chronologically

  • Lightly edit for flow and readability

  • Use one blank line to signal big topic changes

Step No. 6: Share and smile

  • Read your first draft aloud to your author (they’ll LOVE it, believe me)

  • Pause after every paragraph, wait for a response, and ask more questions

  • Note the corrections/additions on your computer using a different font, or take careful notes, or record the session and listen later

Step No. 7: Make it pretty

  • Go through draft one and integrate new material and smooth out the writing with sharpened sentences, deleted repeats, and added transitions between paragraphs and new ideas

  • Go for flow but remember, you’re capturing more than writing

  • Check details like timeline and spellings of names/places

Step No. 8: Print and be proud

  • Print out a three-hole punch version, put it in a binder, and enjoy!

  • Or use one of the many online services to convert your files into a book, and use their book cover generator (lulu.com, bookbaby.com, blurb.com)

  • Use your address for delivery so you can hand the author their finished book. What a moment!

*THREE WAYS TO TRANSCRIBE

  1. Download the interview files to your hard drive and use the control buttons on your keyboard to type out the interview

  2. Innvest in a transcription setup, which is not difficult to figure out (Olympus Express Scribe foot control, $94.)

  3. Use on online transcription service like rev.com or fivrr.com