Frequently Asked Questions
Write Your Life Story for Posterity
By Maureen Santini © Copyright 2017-2025. All Rights Reserved.
Following are answers to questions about writing your life story for posterity.
Q: Since I’m not rich or famous, I doubt anyone would be interested in my life story.
A: That is a common concern, but it is a myth. First, your life is worth documenting simply because you lived it.
Second, your individual story is part of a broader story about your extended family and your role in your community and nation’s history.
Third, millions of people search yearly for information about ancestors — normal people who are part of their family tree.
What if practically none of the 61 million people who died last year wrote their life stories for posterity? An irreplaceable loss of knowledge, wisdom, and history will have occurred.
Q: My family does not seem interested.
A: Regrettably, the greatest demand often occurs when it is too late. Write your story for yourself now. Your descendants will be grateful.
Many people develop an interest in family history at some point. Whether your relatives have reached that point is not relevant. Do not let the opinions of others sway you.
A poll conducted by Ancestry.com showed that people do want information about their relatives.
Q: This project seems time-consuming.
A: If you have lived six or seven decades so far, and if you write about one decade each week, you will have written your story in a matter of weeks. Spend as much or as little time as you want writing.
Q: I am not sure I can write well enough for such a project.
A: I created a method that works for everyone but was especially designed for those with minimal writing experience. Individual newslettters for each decade of life prompt you to write your story chronologically. One fact leads naturally to the next, mostly from your memory bank. Give it a try.
Q: Should I just write highlights and leave the rest out?
A: Resist the urge to edit yourself while writing. Err on the side of including information rather than excluding. You can always revise afterward.
Every life is a compilation of individual details. Think of the saying, “Can’t see the forest for the trees.” The “forest” may not become clear until you complete your story.
Q: How should I deal with the difficulties and traumas I, or my family, endured?
A: Everyone faces challenges and difficulties in their lives. The best life stories are rigorously honest. Write about challenges and hurdles in a factual, matter-of-fact manner.
Q: What about family secrets that no one is supposed to talk about?
A: Many families have secrets that have been carefully guarded over the years. Consider whether it is time to let go of these secrets, particularly if the main people involved are no longer around or if society no longer considers the subject matter taboo.
However, refrain from disclosing the secrets of others without permission. At the same time, custodians of such secrets may be willing to relinquish those that serve no ongoing purpose.
Q: What should I do with it when I finish writing?
A: Set it aside for a few days. Read it through to correct errors. Consider having it bound. Give copies as gifts to family members. Encourage family and friends to write their own stories.
Q: What if I run into obstacles while writing?
A: If you have difficulty deciding how to manage a sensitive subject, set it aside temporarily and keep going. Often the problem will eventually resolve itself.
For sensitive topics, weigh whether your story will help future generations understand you and the circumstances of your life or whether disclosing the information risks harming others.
If the information may harm others and does not add insight to your story, leave it out. If in doubt, ask the person in question for permission.
Q: I wonder if anyone will read my story after I invest the time and effort.
A: Write for yourself now because this process has proven benefits for the writer as well as for future generations.
Write now, even if you are on the fence, because at some point it will be too late and all the details of your life – that you alone possess – will be lost to history.
Start by following the prompts in the Chapter 1 newsletter. See how it goes. Then try the Chapter 2 newsletter. Keep going, a bit at a time.
Consider asking family members to join you for a few writing sessions. Set aside a night each week to gather and write. Each person’s story is significantly enhanced if it is part of a family group story.
Remember that you are a historian of your own life as well as your way of life, which future readers will find interesting.
In a generation or less, our way of life is likely to change drastically. Writing your life story is an opportunity to depict your lifestyle for future generations as well as your experience of living through major events.
You also have valuable information to preserve about your children, parents, grandparents, and others.
Your story is part of the history of your family and your community.
Email me directly at maureensantini@substack.com with comments or questions.
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Please restack and share these posts to encourage others to write their stories.
Maureen Santini is a writer, researcher, and former journalist whose goal is to prevent the life stories of millions from ending up in the dustbin of history. Please share this letter with friends and family.