How to write your life story

Here, she shares tips for anyone wishing to write their own life story. 

• Chat with relatives and friends and look through photographs together. Read diaries and letters, listen to music and visit old haunts to jog your memory. 
• Start by describing an experience you remember well - perhaps your wedding day, a special birthday or holiday. 
• Evoke detail - describe the weather, what you wore, what you ate, the music of the time, snippets of conversation. Most importantly, describe how you felt. 
• Write from your own point of view. It is your story and your take on life and this is what makes it so unique and personal. Use your words and expressions so that your personality shines through.
• Be clear who you are writing for. Is your story for your children, grandchildren or friends? Make it speak to them and keep them in mind as you write.
• There’s no need to write about everything that has happened in your life, just focus on the important episodes. You don’t have to write about painful experiences, write only about what you want to share.
• Get the words down first and worry about grammar and punctuation later. You don’t have to be a perfectionist. 
• Keep to a routine that suits you. When are you at your most creative? Are you a morning lark or a night owl? Where’s the best place for you to write?
• Be prepared to put your story to one side for a while, then come back to it and make changes.
• It’s useful to have a fresh perspective on what you have written, so ask a trusted friend to read your story and give you feedback. 
• Find someone good with words to proofread your story. 
• Finally, divide your story into chapters with suitable headings and complete your project with a great title.