Write your life story with
our Storymaps!

This guide will help you as you write and preserve your life story. As you combine stories and photos you’ll create a valuable treasure that can be shared for many years to come.

Directions:

Theme: Life Story: Family History

As an introduction to this person's life, this is a great place to include something about their own family history.

1. What is the person’s date of birth?

2. Where was he or she born?

3. What are the names of the person’s parents and siblings?

4. Is the person the oldest, the youngest, or middle child?

5. Where did the person’s family come from?

6. What is unique or special about the person’s background?

Theme: Life Story Childhood

This is a great place to tell any fun, interesting, or humorous stories about the person’s childhood.

1. What was life like for the person as a child?

2. Where did the person live as a child?

3. Does the person have any special childhood memories? What are they?

4. Did the person ever get into mischief as a child?

5. What interests and talents did the person have early on?

Theme: Life Story School Days

Here you’ll want to include specific experiences school years.

1. What was school like when the person was younger?

2. What was the person’s favorite subject?

3. What did the person want to be when he or she grew up?

4. Are there any funny school-related stories to share?

5. Who were the person’s favorite classmates?

6. What school(s) did the person attend?

Theme: Life Story Interests and Hobby stories

Here you may showcase the person life by focusing on the hobbies or interests that he or she enjoyed.

1. What interests did the person have?

2. Did the person collect anything?

3. What extracurricular activities did the person participate in?

4. What responsibilities did the person have at home or in the community?

5. What books did the person like to read?

6. What did the person enjoy doing in his or her younger years?

Theme: Young Adult Experiences

This is a great place to talk about experiences such as college, military service, religious service, sports, dating, etc. Really,anything interesting that happened in the young adult years.

1. When did the person first leave home?

2. What goals did he or she pursue at this time?

3. How did the person decide which path to pursue?

4. What were some of the challenges he or she faced?

5. What were some of the triumphs that he or she experienced?

6. How did the person serve others at this time?

Theme: Friends and Family

Tell about any of the special people that shaped this person's life.

1. When did the person fall in love?

2. What was the courtship, engagement, and/or wedding like?

3. What was it like for the young couple?

4. When did the person have children? (Give names and birth order of children.)

5. What did the person like to do with his or her family?

6. What close friends did the person have at this time?

Here you might emphasize the person’s career and personal achievements.

1. What special awards or recognition has the person received?

2. What strengths does the person show in the home or workforce?

3. What special interests does the person have as an adult?

4. What talents and skills did the person acquire as an adult?

5. Did the person ever change jobs?

6. What are the person’s goals as an adult?

Theme: Holidays and Vacations

This is a great place to recall any memorable vacation or holiday traditions.

1. Where is the person’s favorite place to visit?

2. What is it like visiting his or her favorite place? How does he or she get there?

3. What holiday traditions carried over from the person’s childhood?

4. Has the person had any adventures as an adult?

5. If the person doesn’t travel, does he or she have any dreams of traveling?

6. Has the person had any special reunions with family or friends?

Theme: Family Life/Fond Memories

Here you might want to emphasize the important family accomplishments of the person. If the person does not have a family, emphasize other important aspects, such as nieces, nephews, pets, special friends, or co-workers.

1. What strengths does the person have as a parent?

2. What does the person enjoy most about being a parent, aunt, uncle, friend, etc.?

3. What does he or she enjoy doing with family and others?

4. What was it like while raising a family?

5. Is there a funny or special story that occurred during the person’s adult years?

6. What are the person’s thoughts about being a grandparent?

Theme: Leaving a Legacy

This is an opportunity to share the important advice the person has for his or her loved ones. If writing a memorial, celebrate the lessons that were learned by preserving them on this page.

1. What has the person learned from his or her experiences?

2. Is there any advice the person is known for giving?

3. What special phrases does the person say?

4. What advice does the person have for his or her posterity?

5. What kind of legacy has the person created?

You may also want to include…

Finishing Touches (optional):• Family Tree• Collage of photos (with or without quotes)• Letters and stories from loved ones

You can start to write your life story now!

Love Story writing guide
Storysteps
Information provided by Heritage Makers
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