For much of human history, a lifetime's wisdom was carried forward by elders, sages, and storytellers, or, in traditions like the Jewish ethical will, by those who could set it down in writing for their children.

Today, something remarkable has changed. This is now within reach for nearly anyone, and you don't need to be a writer to do it. You can begin with a notebook from the corner store or the phone in your pocket. You can also turn to a guided journal, an app, or a self-paced course, or enlist the support of a friend, a coach, a videographer, or a ghostwriter. Whatever your budget, your schedule, or your comfort with technology, there is a way in that fits your life. That is worth celebrating, because every one of these options means more Life Stories reach the people they were meant for.

And yet, more choice can bring its own small hesitation. Which one is right for me? It's a fair question, and the honest answer is that each option suits different people for different reasons. So, let's walk through them together, starting with the ones you can do entirely on your own and moving toward the ones where someone else carries more of the work.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO WRITE AND RECORD YOUR LIFE STORIES?

On Your Own: A Notebook or Voice Recorder

This is the simplest approach: a notebook, loose pages, or the voice memo app on your phone. It costs little or nothing, and you can begin at any time. You decide which stories to tell, in what order, and at what pace.

This option may suit people who already write regularly, who know which stories they want to tell, and who are comfortable working without any outside direction or support.

Worth knowing: there are no prompts, no structure, and no feedback, so progress depends entirely on your own momentum, and many people find that hard to sustain over a project of this size.

A tip: if you're using loose pages, keep them together in a binder or folder after each session, since they're easily misplaced. If you record voice memos, label or transcribe them as you go, or they can quickly pile up unorganized.

Guided Journals and Prompt Books

A guided journal provides questions on each page, so you have a starting point every time you sit down. Most are inexpensive and can be filled at your own pace.

This option may suit people who want some structure but prefer to work privately and on their own.

Worth knowing: the prompts are written for a general audience, so many won't reflect the experiences that shaped your particular life. Some touch on subjects you might feel aren't necessary to share, such as past relationships, and others assume a particular kind of family you may not relate to. If you were an only child, were adopted, or grew up with different customs and traditions, whole sections may simply not apply. Skipped questions add up, and many journals end up with large gaps. More importantly, a prompt directs you what to write about, but not how to write it. Without guidance on putting feelings into words, answers often record what happened without conveying what it meant to you, and that meaning is what your loved ones will most want to know.

A tip: when a prompt doesn't fit your life, consider replacing it with a question of your own rather than leaving the page blank. Also, consider pairing a prompt journal with a writing course specifically designed for legacy writing, so you have the questions along with the skills and guidance to say what is really in your heart.

Apps and Digital Platforms

Apps let you record or type memories on your phone or computer, often with the option to add photos and audio. Many send reminders and offer prompts.

This option may suit people who are comfortable with technology and want to capture memories as they come to mind.

Worth knowing: your stories are stored on a company's servers, and companies can change their terms, raise prices, be sold, or shut down. Some require an ongoing subscription to keep access. Entries also tend to stay short, so the result is often a collection of fragments rather than complete stories.

A tip: before you begin, read the platform's privacy and ownership terms and confirm that you can export your stories. Then download a copy regularly and keep it somewhere you control.

Self-Paced Writing Courses

General writing courses cover a broad range of skills, such as grammar, plot, and structure, much of which is absolutely not needed to write your Life Stories for the people you love. Courses designed specifically for legacy writing focus only on what this kind of writing actually requires: how to bring a memory to life, convey what you felt, share what an experience meant to you, and much more. You do not need to be a trained writer to tell your stories in a way that moves the people who read them.

This option may suit people who want to write their stories themselves and would like guidance on how to do it well.

Worth knowing: general writing courses often take considerable time and cover far more than legacy writing calls for, and courses designed specifically for legacy writing are less common.

A tip: like any self-directed approach, finishing depends on your own discipline. Consider setting a regular schedule for your lessons, or pairing the course with an accountability partner.

Our own Life Stories Writing Toolkit™ was developed specifically for legacy writing, with quick, easy-to-use suggestions to elevate your stories. Stay tuned for its launch this December!

Writing With an Accountability Partner

An accountability partner is someone who checks in regularly on your progress or works alongside you, whether in person or from afar by phone or video call. It might be a spouse, a friend, a sibling, a neighbor, or a small group working on their stories together.

This option may suit people who follow through more reliably when someone else is expecting to hear from them.

Worth knowing: a partner offers encouragement, not expertise. They usually can't help draw out the stories you'd overlook or help shape a growing collection. Some people also find it uncomfortable to share private memories with someone close to them before those stories are finished.

A tip: check-ins can easily drift into general catch-up conversations, one partner may fall behind, and if one person stops, the other often loses momentum too. Before you begin, set a consistent day and time to connect, and agree on what you'll each bring, such as one finished story, a set number of pages, or an idea for a letter. Decide together whether you want encouragement only or honest feedback, since well-meaning suggestions can discourage as easily as they can help.

Legacy Coaching

A legacy coach provides structure, accountability, and guidance throughout the process, asking questions that help surface stories and helping you shape the collection while the words remain your own. Coaching is offered in several formats, from one-on-one sessions to group and course-based programs.

This option may suit people who want consistent guidance from start to finish and want the finished collection to remain in their own voice.

Worth knowing: coaching requires an investment of both regular time and money, and it involves sharing your stories with another person as you work.

A tip: approaches vary from one coach to another. Look for a coach who has developed a clear, structured process, with worksheets or downloadable materials to guide you between sessions—and who offers a conversation before you commit, so you can get a sense of whether the fit feels right.

Our post "How Legacy Coaching Helps You Write, Record, and Preserve Your Life Story" explains this option in more detail.

Professional Legacy Videographers

A videographer films you telling your stories and produces an edited film, often combined with photographs and music. Approaches vary from one company to another. Some include preparation or pre-interviews before filming, and styles range from a simple sit-down interview to a more documentary-style production.

This option may suit people who want a professionally produced film and are comfortable being recorded.

Worth knowing: this is typically among the most expensive options, and relatively few companies specialize in legacy films. Finished films usually run from several minutes to under an hour, and packages include a limited number of photographs, so a film captures a small selection of highlights rather than a full collection of stories.

A tip: editing decisions, including what stays in and what is cut, generally rest with the filmmaker, and once filming is done, it can be difficult or costly to change how you look or sound on screen. Before you commit, ask to see examples of their past legacy films, find out whether you can review a draft and how many revisions are included, and ask whether reshoots are possible if you're unhappy with the result.

Ghostwriters

A ghostwriter interviews you and writes your stories for you. Some also handle design, layout, and printing to create a finished book, while others deliver the written manuscript and leave the rest in your hands.

This option may suit people who want their stories written down but do not want to do the writing themselves.

Worth knowing: this is also typically among the most expensive options. The final wording is the writer's rather than yours, so even a skilled writer's phrasing replaces your own natural voice to some degree, and you give up a measure of control over how your stories are told.

A tip: before you commit, ask exactly what the fee includes: how many hours of interviews; how much preparation the writer does, such as reading stories you've already written, listening to recordings, or watching videos of you; how many words the final manuscript will contain; and how many rounds of revisions you'll receive. Also ask how closely the writer works from your own words, and whether design, layout, and printing are included or will be up to you.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH OPTION IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

"Do what you can, with what you've got, where you are."
— Squire Bill Widener, as quoted by Theodore Roosevelt

There's no single correct answer, but a few simple questions can point you in a helpful direction.

Inscribed in the forecourt of the ancient Temple of Apollo at Delphi was a simple instruction: know thyself. That advice applies here, too. If this legacy work is close to your heart, set yourself up in a way that makes it both more enjoyable and more likely to be finished, and that begins with an honest look at how you work best. When the fit is right, this work rarely feels like a chore. Many people describe it as one of the most meaningful and fulfilling things they've ever done. Long-forgotten moments come rushing back, the threads connecting one experience to another suddenly make sense, and there's a deep joy in watching a lifetime take shape, knowing it will one day mean the world to someone you love. Your stories can also help ground and empower the generations who come after you.

Do you simply need to decide to begin, or do you need structure? Some people know exactly what they want to say and only need to decide that now is the time. For them, a notebook may be all it takes. Others stall because they don't know where to start or how to shape their stories, and a course or a coach can give them a clear path forward.

Do you tend to finish things on your own, or do you follow through more reliably when you're working with someone? Your track record with other long projects is often a good indicator.

What time and resources are you ready to devote to something this meaningful? There are practical options at every level, from completely free to fully supported.

How important is it that every word sounds exactly like you? If it matters a great deal, choose a path that keeps your own voice at the center.

And remember, you don't have to choose just one. Combining methods is also an option. You might keep a notebook for memories as they come to you while working with a coach who helps you shape them into stories. You might work through a writing course on your own while checking in with an accountability partner each week. You might write your stories yourself, then hire a videographer to film the handful you most want your descendants to see. You can also start with one method and add another later.

YOUR CHOICE IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

Choosing your method is a meaningful first step. But every option on this list shares one quiet truth: none of them will work until you do. What turns a good intention into a finished legacy is commitment, and what keeps that commitment strong runs deeper than any method you choose. That's a conversation all its own, and we'll explore it in our next post.

Until then, let the option that feels most like you be your way in.

Whichever path you choose, we're glad to help. If you'd like to work on your own with expert guidance at your fingertips, our Life Stories Writing Toolkit™ launches this December, and we can't wait to introduce it to you. And if you'd like someone walking beside you, a warm, no-obligation conversation is available.

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