Memoir writing tips:
■ Read other memoirs.
■ Interview older family members and have them annotate old photos.
■ Make a family tree as a starting point. Templates are available on www.ancestry.com and www.familytreetemplates.net.
■ Decide who or what you will write about - the entire family, one side, one person.
■ Determine the audience for whom you are writing and what you hope to learn.
■ Make a list of what you remember from the past - let your mind wander and memories will come as you write them down. Write what you know and remember.
■ Start small. Write short impressions on what you remember of a person, place, or event.
■ Join a memoir writing group at a senior center or library, or take a community education class for feedback, tips, and inspiration.
■ Try to write each day at a clean desk and with purpose.
