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Start with the Facts:
Start with a list of the facts, dates, and places involved. Keep them as your guideposts as you write. Not every period of time or incident will be part of your book--but keeping the timing straight is important for both you and your reader.

Weave in the Emotions:
Readers want the emotions of the lives you are presenting to shine through your pages. Express those feelings as you write.

Adding Fiction:
Sometimes a family's factual history is sketchy. To fill in the blanks, you might use fictionalized scenes that fit both the historical facts and the flavor of the overall story.

Keep Your Own Voice:
Although it is important to be as grammatically correct as you can be, it is just as important to keep your own unique voice present in your story. That is what makes each memoir or family history special.

2. For Family and Friends
If you wish to share your writing with your family and friends, there are numerous low-cost ways to publish your book yourself that will give you only as many copies as you need.

3. For the World to See
If you are not a celebrity, the road to commercial publication is tough. Consider the scope of your story. Maybe your local historical society or a county or state agency could be your ticket to publication. Find some niche that suits your book and market it aggressively -- you just might inspire publishers and readers alike!

Editor's Note: Writing family memoirs has its own special rewards--and challenges. By fictionalizing portions of his family's uncertain background, this author creates a rich fabric of family pride, lessons, and drama.