Homemade Biography
How to Collect, Record, and Tell the Life Story of Someone You Love
- 220 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
How well do you really know the older people in your family? And how will you make sure their stories will be preserved for generations to come? Homemade Biography is a fun and practical guide to recording a relative's story so it will never be forgotten. New York Times bestselling author Tom Zoellner, who wrote his own grandmother's biography, draws on years of interviewing and writing experience to provide:
- More than 300 questions designed to provoke vivid responses Case studies of successful family biographies
- A revolutionary technique for writing with grace and energy
- Ways of finding a connective theme buried in a jumble of facts
- Strategies for dealing with sensitive topics
- Professional methods of editing for quality and accuracy
- Tips for making your relative's story a part of the permanent historical record
Most of us think about bringing a tape recorder or a notebook to a visit with an older relative, but few actually do it. This clear-eyed manual gives you all the expertise you'll need to finish what could be one of the most fulfilling conversations you'll ever have.
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Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Notice
- Contents
- Foreword: Lost and found
- 1. Worth Saving: The remarkable people you never knew
- 2. The First Session: From the tools you’ll need to the question that starts it all
- 3. Interview Techniques: Effortless conversation and how to create it
- 4. Childhood and Adolescence: Questions guaranteed to unlock memories
- 5. Adulthood: Even more questions formulated for results
- 6. Looking for Themes: Seeing big patterns through small clues
- 7. Minefields: A field manual for avoiding trouble
- 8. Writing Techniques: Easy methods for writing like the masters
- 9. Taking It Further: All you need to know about Web, video, books, and family trees
- 10. A Final Thought: The most beautiful sentence in English
- Notes on Sources
- Dedication
- Also by Tom Zoellner
- Copyright