What is the difference, anyway?

Different things and individuals and places and events are important to different people. In a similar way, how those things, individuals, places, and events are remembered is likely different, as well—for some people, interior memories are enough; for others, sharing those memories around the Sunday dinner table is important; for still others, sharing photos and artifacts with the memories is essential. Regardless of what element is important and in spite of what makes that element an important part of someone’s life, the story of that thing, individual, place, or event loses its importance if it vanishes without being shared.

That is why sharing stories is so important. What is of secondary importance is how those stories are shared—whether they are shared with a soothing voice on a shady porch, saved in an audio recording, secured within a video presentation, or preserved through some form of written product such as recipes, letters, journals, or books.

These written products primarily occur in these forms:

Journals

Most often, a journal is a handwritten diary or private computer blog that is maintained and updated on a regular basis; journals are sometimes kept secret altogether and usually stored for a number of years before being reread and worked into a format for public presentation. Like the first draft of a novel, journals are “raw,” and record thoughts, feelings, opinions, and observations without much analysis, deliberation, or consideration. The most valuable journals in history recorded weather conditions, daily dress, and everyday activities. While we now have other sources for that information, today’s journals and blogs will be valuable primary documents of our times in the future.

Memoirs

Memoirs are published memories that (generally) have a particular focus on one event or person, a single place, or a short period of time and analyze thoughts and reactions and personal growth that took place, relevant to that focus.

Memoirs can also be collections of unrelated vinettes, which make them easy starting points for individuals who have decided to share the stories of their life. We all have these types of stories in our memories—these are the ingredients that combine to make us who we are.

Autobiographies

An autobiography is the familiar, chronological overview of a person’s life. These days, many autobiographies are actually compiled by ghostwriters (authorized individuals as well as rogues), rather than being put together by the subjects. Autobiographies are often boring because they lack the depth and “charm” of a memoir, along with the one-on-one, story-telling relationship that memoirs build with their readers.

Online Scrapbooks

A fairly new phenomenon in history writing is the so-called online scrapbook. My favorite example of this type of sharing is  John Wooden’s “official Web site,” www.CoachWooden.com.  While many museums and archives have used this presentation method for several years, individuals are just beginning to enjoy the ease and fun of posting their stories online. This is another easy way to start sharing your stories.

As I’ve stated elsewhere, the important part of sharing your stories is just to get started. So, get started!  Contact thePersonalHistoryEditor so we can discuss what you have and your goals for the project. Together, we’ll come up with a plan tailored to your story.

By the way, if you need help getting your stories into written form in the first place, I can help with that. On the other hand, if you want to share your memories in a different format, on audio or video, for example, please consider working with another professional at  the Association of Personal Historians.  I cannot begin to brag enough about the members of that rapidly growing organization.