The short video clip that you are watching is a recent presentation by Andy Holliday, CEO of a brand new company calledOurStory!
The sample autobiography that is spoke of here may not betradional, but I know it will grab your interest!
I was very excited to discover it! This is just the thing that Ihad been looking for.
I get many e-mails asking to see a sample autobiography, becausethey want to have something to compare their work to and see allwhat should be included in an autobiography.
Well, OurStory does more than an autobiography and it is a bitoutside of what most people would consider a typical example of an autobiography.
UPDATE:The Memorygrabber lifestory work has been newly updated for 2008. If you are looking for a very interesting wayof recalling memories and writing your autobiography in a less than traditional way, be sure to go to the Memorygrabber E-Bookpage.
After the video has finished,
Click Here
to read my review of OurStory, or use the "Go to OurStory" link below the video, to go directly to the OurStory Website!
I think it will blow you away!
Sample of What Can Be Included in an Autobiography
Additionally, I'm compiling a list, below, of things to include in an autobiography. A few things on the list are ideas to dig up content for your autobiography. Fun stuff, because putting together something like this should be fun and rewarding.
Note: The list below was compiled for those wanting to write their own autobiography or write the biography of another.
1. Create Memory Lists
You may not think yourself a great writer, but anybody can write out a list. Here's an example of how this activity is a real winner:
List each an every vehicle that you have owned and also those that your parents owned
Explanation -- In the long run, it probably won't matter what car you or your parents drove, but this list will help you put together your lifestory or autobiography.
It will help because there is usually a story/memory, or two, attached to every vehicle on your list.
One such vehicle on my list is a 1977 Chevy Nova that my parents purchased in 1977 and it still broke down on us. I was 10 years old and I remember breaking down near Flagstaff Arizona. We were there several days and I remember a hotel room. I don't think the air conditioning was even working. We were miserable. I was anxious to continue on with our vacation.
Some other lists to get your started:
List every organization that you've been a part of
List places that have meaning to you
List all of the pets that you've had
If you like this sort of memory exercise, then you will reallylove my newly updated lifestory workbook entitled
Timeline charts are a cool way to create an "outline" of your life!
Start with the major events (birth, started school, marriage, children born etc) and then fill it all in with the many other events of your life.
3. Use iTunes to Recall Great Memories
iTunes is a great site to go to and listen to all those songs that you remember from yesteryear.
My wife and I have spent several evenings playing "Do you remember this song"? It is amazing how music helps the memories rush back.
An Idea to Try! Sit down with your parents or grandparents. Use the link below, go to iTunes and ask them to name some of their favorites songs from back in their day!
First, you'll immpress them that you can bring up almost any song that they request...especially if they have never been on iTunes before.
This will really get them reminiscing. This is exactly the frame of mind that you'll want them in, if you want them to tell stories from their lifestory.
I did this with my dad. I can tell you that it really does the trick!
4. Have Your Favorite Photos Turned Into a Portrait
Canvas On Demand transforms your pictures, digital photo enlargements, traditional photo enlargements, family portraits, senior portraits and pet portraits into beautiful giclee style canvas prints. Choose from our Photorealistic or Light Brush Strokes techniques as well as various levels of retouching. With regular and express shipping, a photo on canvas makes for a unique birthday gift, anniversary gift, Christmas gift, Valentines Day gift, Mothers Day gift or Fathers Day gift.
Hiring a Professional Biography Writer
is a great option, especially if your work needs to be top-notch. I do not have experience in this area, but my friend Tom Gilbert is a professional writer...and a great one at that!
Don't worry! You don't have to be an artist to do this.
In this activity you mentally "return" to your childhood home(s). Find a quiet place to close your eyes and think back. Walk through the rooms of that childhood home.
Make a simple sketch of your childhood home, from above, kind of like home plans you see in a magazine. Make simple notes and doodles of the things that you remember.
For example, if your dad had a chair that he always sat in after work, draw something that represents that chair.
Treat this as if you were giving a tour of your childhood home to someone who had never lived there and did not know you as a child.
Go in all of the rooms and don't forget to go into the backyard. Then you may want to wander up and down the street recalling memories from the neighborhood.
Other memory maps can be made can be done for your:
Whether you keep a regular journal/diary, use journaling software
journaling software
or write an online journal, it's really your choice. But, regardless of your decision, just make sure you keep one. It's highly beneficial to you and will become very important to your posterity.
8. Fill Out Free Pedigree Charts
Every autobiography should include ones family tree or pedigree chart. Use the links below to download some great-looking family tree charts for free.
We all can use a good reminding, especially when it comes to recalling memories from our past. There are an abundance of them to be found on the Internet.
Some examples are:
1. Who were your favorite teachers in school?
2. Who were your childhood friends?
3. Which is your favorite season? Tell why?
4. Who was the oldest family member that you can remember?
5. How did you meet your spouse?
6. How did your parents meet?
7. What kind of part-time jobs did you have as a teenager?
...and so on!
A great source of
memory prompts
can be found in my newly reworked e-book called Memorygrabber. It is complete with 264 pages of fill-in-the-blank pages.