Writing Your Life: An Easy-to-Follow Guide to Writing an Autobiography (Adults) [Spiral-bound]

Mary Borg (Author), Joyce Mihran Turley (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1877673072 | ISBN-13: 978-1877673078 | Publication Date: January 1, 1998 | Edition: 3rd

Writing Your Life will help you write down the stories of your life, for present and future generations. Even if you never considered yourself a writer, you will find yourself writing enthusiastically as you work through this thought-provoking, easy-to-follow guide.
Writing Your Life includes:

• practical advice for getting started and staying motivated;
• questions to stimulate your memory;
• activities to help you remember the past, or look to the past in a new way;
• selections from the autobiographical writings of ordinary men and women;
• sample writing tips;
• reading suggestions, quotations, historical tidbits and other food for thought; and
• instructions for "publishing" a book for family and friends.

This book is ideal for anyone college age or older.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide for assisting anyone on the path to completing a first-class autobiography.

--Elderview

Amazon.com Review

Senior-education teacher Mary Borg...provides lively questions on family, career, and friendships, designed to tease out memories.

--New Choices Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 160 pages
• Publisher: Prufrock Press, Inc.; 3rd edition (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1877673072
• ISBN-13: 978-1877673078
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > Education & Reference > Publishing & Books > Authorship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An easy-to-use guide for TEACHING memoir writing, May 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing Your Life: An Easy-to-Follow Guide to Writing an Autobiography (Adults) (Spiral-bound)

For the past several months, I have been teaching a class based on this book at our local senior center. Even though I am young (my oldest student is 60 years older than I am) and not experienced in gerontology, this book helps me teach this class with ease. My students and I are astonished by activities like "Floor Plan" that enable students to remember things they have not thought about in 50 years. The appendix, which lists cultural history and historical events by decade, also really jogs their memories. The writing prompts throughout the book help my students to write wonderful stories. Their stories are not only interesting but well-written with the help of the writing tips that Borg gives. The best part of all is that these student writers are impressed with their own work and excited to share it with their families. I can't say enough about this book, but I think one of my students said it best. She told me, "Writing my life stories has changed my life. It has made me a better person and has improved my relationships with my daughters."

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Place To Start, February 20, 2008

By 

Martin A Hogan "Marty From SF" (San Francisco, CA. (Hercules)) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Writing Your Life: An Easy-to-Follow Guide to Writing an Autobiography (Adults) (Spiral-bound)

Teacher and writer Mary Borg has done a great service to anyone who wants to write about their life. Neatly condensed into a simple, easy to maneuver `work book'; this "Guide To Writing an Autobiography" is a real find. I've always `thought' about writing about my own experiences, but never had a good way to put my thoughts down on paper. This guide covers everything you will need to write about your life experiences. Besides the basics of giving great practical tips, there are questions, simple advice and reading suggestions to help you remember and consolidate your memories. There are also reading references for topics including family, ancestors, team lines, romance, love, family life, like and dislikes, turning points and the list goes on. In fewer than 160 pages, the author has managed to cover just about any category of life experiences that one could imagine (or live). It also includes a great section on how to actually put it all together and get your book made. It is truly an encouraging and well organized guide and a must read for anyone who even entertains the idea of writing about ones experiences.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I didn't think I could write, now I'm writing a book!, November 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing Your Life: An Easy-to-Follow Guide to Writing an Autobiography (Adults) (Spiral-bound)

Genealogy is only a very small part of your story. To have the whole story you must write your life. Didn't think I had anything to write but Mary Borg's book evokes so much memory jogging and motivation that before I knew it I had a very healthy start on my book and hadn't even realized it. Think you don't have anything to write about? Just think about the things you saw and did as a child that are now history and not an every day vision or activity to your grandchildren and great grandchildren. These are the kinds of motivating exercises contained in "Writing Your Life" that will assist you in your quest to answer the kind of questions about your own life that you wish you had asked your grandmother or mother. Can't recommend it enough.