Discover The Stories StoryTerrace Help Share.

Premium Writer

Diana Holquist is an award-winning writer who has written and published six books. Her work has been translated into five languages and received starred reviews in Publisher’s Weekly. Diana won the New York Book Festival award for Best Novel and has been a Golden Heart, RITA, and Reader’s Choice Award finalist.

A graduate of Columbia University and a former advertising copywriter, today Diana lives in Philadelphia with her husband, the left-behind belongings of two children, and one elderly cat.

Diana and her brother Peter in 1973, showing an early and abiding love for cats.

“I’ve had the privilege to tell amazing stories involving famous people and heroic deeds, but the most memorable stories are often those of people living what might be considered prosaic lives.”

ST: Whose biography would you most like to write?

Yours! Really. I mean it. People get scared away from writing their stories for so many trivial reasons. If I can convince even one person to stop listening to those negative voices and listen to their own voice, then my work here is done.

ST: Why do you enjoy writing for StoryTerrace?

With StoryTerrace, there is tremendous variety. No project is anything like the last. It’s constantly fascinating and challenging.

ST: If you were writing a StoryTerrace book of your life, what would be the title and why?

And Then What Happened?

Preserving the Extraordinary Tales of “Ordinary” People

ST: What is the most memorable story you've told as a writer?

I’ve had the privilege to tell amazing stories involving famous people and heroic deeds, but the most memorable stories are often those of people living what might be considered prosaic lives. One of my favorites was about a woman growing up in Brooklyn: catching the A-train every morning for school, Friday-night Shabbat dinners with her extended family, and dating boys at the JFK airport lounge. It was a hilarious, touching, and unforgettable snapshot of a “regular” family in a place and time that no longer exists.

ST: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A purring cat. A roaring fire. A bag of M&Ms: regular, not peanut. And a novel that a friend has slipped into my purse while whispering, this will change your life.

ST: What is your biggest fear?

Computer crashes.

ST: Consider your life story. What's the name of the chapter you're in right now?

“Waiting for Grandchildren”

ST: What's something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

When I’m not writing on a computer, I write with a pointed copperplate pen dipped in ink. My mother is a professional calligrapher, and so I’ve studied calligraphy all my life. When other kids were babysitting or slinging burgers, I was addressing wedding invitations and writing place cards. Also, I can juggle.

ST: What is your most treasured possession?

I don’t have treasured possessions. Last year, my husband and I got rid of most of our belongings, rented out our house, and traveled around Europe for a year. I had one suitcase and it was mostly full of books that I left behind wherever I was when I finished them. It was glorious.

Diana in 1972, engrossed in her favorite pastime

ST: Who are your favorite writers?

Today: Charles Dickens for his character portraits; Kazuo Ishiguro for his narrative elegance; and Jesmyn Ward for everything.

Tomorrow: Ask me again. The list will be completely different.

ST: What fictional character do you most identify with?

Max, the little boy in Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are.

ST: Who is your hero?

My kids. Man, it’s hard out there.

Lightning Round!

ST: Salty or sweet?

Chocolate with sea salt. Yum!

ST: Introvert or extrovert?

Introvert.

ST: Paperback or e-reader?

I don’t go anywhere without my Kindle.

ST: Summer or winter?

I just lived for a few months in Helsinki, Finland and it was heaven on earth.

ST: X-ray vision or time travel?

I’m a writer. Watching is what I do.

If Diana's passion for telling people’s unique stories has inspired you to get to work on your own biography, get in touch to schedule a free consultation, or sign up for our newsletter to hear more from our growing pool of writers.

As a StoryTerrace ghostwriter, it’s been my pleasure to interview so many interesting people to help them tell their stories. In particular, there’s nothing better than hearing a wonderful love story.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d share the story of Alan and Marilyn Robbins. They’ve been married for 51 years, and when I sat down with them to discuss Alan’s autobiography, it was immediately apparent that they share a special bond. Marilyn can finish Alan’s sentences perfectly, and he still lights up when he talks about the day they met as if it were yesterday.

Now that the book is complete, Alan and Marilyn graciously agreed to sit down with me again to talk about their experience with StoryTerrace and to give both sides of the story of how they met, fell in love, and got married.

The cover of Alan Robbins’ autobiography

When Alan turned 80, his daughter presented him with a StoryTerrace biography to mark the occasion. "She always finds the best, most unique gifts," Marilyn explains, "and now we recommend StoryTerrace to friends as well."

For Alan, the gift was especially meaningful because he had always wanted to write his autobiography. He appreciated having time to think ahead before the interview and found the process of working with a writer in person very enjoyable. "I think everyone should try writing their life story, because it helps them focus on the most important things in life," he advises.

When I asked why Alan chose a photo from his wedding day for the cover of his book, he said, "That’s the epitome of who I am." Smiling, arm in arm with Marilyn: There’s clearly nowhere else Alan would rather be than by her side as they step into the future together.

Meeting Marilyn

The Lake Tarleton Club in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where Alan and Marilyn met

Alan was just beginning his long career as a lawyer when a friend invited him along on a Workers' Day weekend getaway to New Hampshire. It was his chance to relax for the last bit of summer before autumn began to set in to Boston, where he lived and worked.

The trip would change his life.

Click below to LISTEN to Alan as he reads from his autobiography about the first time he saw Marilyn:

When Alan first saw Marilyn at the club’s volleyball court, he knew she was someone special. He was struck by the way she walked: confidently, completely in command of herself. He didn’t think that her companions could tell how he felt about her, but Marilyn remembers the moment a bit differently.

"He brought us drinks, and it was soon clear that he was interested in me and not my girlfriends," she recalls. "They soon left us alone, and we spent the entire weekend together."

By the time Alan returned to Boston, he had Marilyn’s number and a promise to see her again soon. Through that autumn, winter, and spring, they saw each other twice a month, taking turns travelling from Boston to New York City, where Marilyn lived with her parents in the Bronx.

The Moment of Truth

One of Alan’s favourite photos of Marilyn

After 10 months of their long-distance relationship, Marilyn was ready to make a move. Marilyn was in her mid-20s, and she knew what she wanted out of life. "Oh, I gave him an ultimatum," she says. "I told him I was getting a summer house on Fire Island with my girlfriends and that would be the end of it unless he wanted to get married."

Alan knew he didn’t want to lose her, so he took the leap. "I went and got a ring," he says. "I knew I didn’t want to ever be without her."

A Perfect Wedding

The Eldorado club, where Alan and Marilyn were married

"It was a beautiful day," Marilyn remembers, "and such a lovely place for a wedding." Alan and Marilyn were married in September, one year after they first met in the White Mountains. They were young, happy, and surrounded by friends and family — the ideal beginning for a long life together.

Surrounded by Loved Ones

Marilyn’s South American relatives made the long trip for the wedding

One of the things that made Alan and Marilyn’s wedding so special was that many of her relatives made the trip to New York from Argentina.

How does a Bronx girl end up with such a far-flung guest list?

Marilyn’s father left his home in Besarabia (Moldova today) when he was just 19 to seek his fortune in America. His mothers and sisters stayed behind, and their lives were in danger as Hitler rose to power and began to sweep Eastern European Jews into concentration camps at the beginning of the Holocaust.

Marilyn’s father feverishly worked to scrape up every possible penny. Through underground sources, he was able to get his family the money and contacts they needed to get out of Besarabia. Marilyn chokes up telling the story of her father’s heroism. "He saved them," she says simply, leaving the terrifying alternative unspoken.

Marilyn’s relatives couldn’t gain entry into the United States, but they were welcomed into Argentina. Marilyn and Alan’s wedding served as a wonderful family reunion, and they have stayed in close touch in the decades since that day.

So What’s the Secret?

Not everyone manages to nurture a marriage through 51 years of ups and downs, so my final question to Alan and Marilyn was this:

What’s the secret to your long and happy marriage?

To Marilyn, love is the key. "I knew him when we got married. I knew who he was." Going into a marriage clear-eyed, Marilyn knew what she wanted and was determined to get it, with Alan as her partner.

"We do everything together," Alan adds. He describes going to every doctor’s appointment together ("something we do a lot more of these days," he jokes) as an example. Whether traveling on their annual vacations, spending time with their grandchildren, or answering my questions, Alan and Marilyn prefer to live life as a pair. They choose togetherness, every day.

Here’s wishing them many more years of happiness.

If you’ve been inspired by Alan and Marilyn to tell your own love story, StoryTerrace is here to help! Get in touch to find out how you can write your memoirs, or sign up for our newsletter to hear more heartwarming stories from our clients.

Most books have something special tucked away in the first few pages: a dedication. This is a short note from the author, honouring someone (or something) of special importance to them.

It’s a pretty big deal to have a book dedicated to you, and it’s something that only a small number of people ever get to enjoy. Indeed, dedications are usually reserved for the close friends and family of authors. JK Rowling, for example, dedicated her first novel to her daughter, her mother, and her sister.

When it comes to your book, it’s completely up to you to decide whether or not to include a dedication, and who to honour with it if you do. Here are a few of our favourite dedications from books old and new.

Our Favourite Book Dedications

CS Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

My dear Lucy. I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realised that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand, a word you say, but I shall still be your affectionate Godfather, CS Lewis.

This touching dedication was written by CS Lewis for his godchild Lucy Barfield. It’s a great idea to dedicate a memoir to a child, grandchild, niece, or nephew — even if they might be too young to fully appreciate it right now. A dedication lasts forever, after all.

Jack Kerouac’s Visions of Cody

Dedicated to America, whatever that is.

You don’t have to dedicate your book to a person at all. Jack Kerouac’s dedication for his cult novel Visions of Cody goes to show that it’s just as viable to recognise a meaningful place instead.

Kiera Kass’s The Selection

Hi, Dad! Waves*

Dedications can be simple, and you don’t have to take them seriously. Remember, you can do whatever you want to with your book. If something sincere and serious doesn’t suit your memoir, pick something fun that your friends and family will recognise as uniquely you!

Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys

You know how it is. You pick up a book, flip to the dedication, and find that, once again, the author has dedicated a book to someone else and not to you. Not this time. Because we haven’t yet met/have only a glancing acquaintance/are just crazy about each other/haven’t seen each other in much too long/are in some way related/will never meet, but will, I trust, despite that, always think fondly of each other! This one’s for you. With you know what, and you probably know why.

Neil Gaiman took the unusual step of dedicating his novel Anansi Boys to none other than you, the reader. We love the tone of this dedication, too. It shows that you can speak directly to a specific reader (or many readers) in your dedication if you want, just as you would in a personal letter.

Three Tips for a Great Dedication

Feeling inspired? Now it’s time to decide on the dedication for your memoir. Here are some different approaches you might take.

Pick Just One Person

You’ll almost certainly have more than one person you want to acknowledge in your memoir. After all, lots of different people contribute to any life story. But how can you include them all without your dedication taking up multiple pages?

When choosing your dedication, you might want to focus on just one important person, place, or idea. Don’t forget that you also have an afterword to play with. An afterword comes at the end of a book, and it's a great place to include a note of thanks to everyone who helped make your life story happen.

How Did They Help?

Now that you know who you’re dedicating your memoir to, what should you actually write? A good guideline is to thank the person by name, and then let everyone know how they’ve helped you. Did they help collate the notes for your memoir? Did they encourage you to go ahead and tell your story? Or were they simply there for you with a cup of tea, ready to listen when you needed to talk?

Whatever they did to help you out, this is your chance to tell the world. A dedication is certainly something that will last longer (and look even better on a shelf) than a thank you card!

Consider an Epigraph

An epigraph is a short quote from another book or a piece of poetry, selected by the author and printed in place of (or in addition to) a dedication. If you’re having a hard time settling on a dedication for your life story, perhaps you could include an epigraph instead.

Some of the most famous books of all time have included epigraphs, from Frankenstein to The Godfather and To Kill a Mockingbird. Adding one to your memoir will allow you to set the tone without having to pen a single word yourself.

Ask for Help

Sometimes a conversation with the person you wish to dedicate your book to can help kickstart your creative flow. Take them out for coffee or sit down with them over dinner and have a chat. You may soon find that you have plenty of ideas about what to write.

You can also ask your StoryTerrace ghostwriter for a hand when it comes to picking a dedication. Having interviewed you, they’ll know your story well and can help put together the perfect message to dedicate your book to that special someone.

Before Dedicating Your Memoir

Before crafting a dedication for your memoir there’s one important step you must take: actually writing it. That’s no small task, but with a little help from StoryTerrace, you can get it done quickly and to a professional standard. Our talented writers listen to your story in your own words and turn it into a beautiful, bound book that you can share with friends, family, and the world.

With that in mind, there’s one more person to thank. Your story could never have been written without you. You lived it, and you told it. So perhaps you might want to do what Connor Franta did in his book Note to Self, and dedicate your memoir to a very important person:

To me.

Need a hand getting your memoirs down on paper? StoryTerrace is here to help. Get in touch to schedule a quick chat about how you can turn your story into a beautifully bound book that anyone would be proud to have dedicated to them.

You can also sign up for our mailing list for more updates about memoir writing.

It’s that time of year again.

No sooner is the Christmas tinsel down than cherubic cupids take over as the retail decor of choice. Everything is red and covered in hearts, all in an attempt to get you to buy a gift for your sweetie.

Don’t get us wrong — we like that there’s a day set aside specifically to show people you love them. We love the idea of reaching out and making interpersonal connections.

But surely there’s a better way to do that than with a box of chocolates?

The best gifts come imbued with meaning for both the giver and the recipient. Some people have a talent for choosing a gift that speaks volumes — but the rest of us can learn to do better.

Try some of these out-of-the-box ideas to give a meaningful gift this Valentine’s Day — or any time you want to surprise someone special with an amazing present.

1. The Opportunity to Explore a New Talent

Most people have something they’ve always wanted to learn how to do. Whether it’s using a pottery wheel, figure skating, or baking a perfect pie, life often gets in the way of our creative pursuits. So why not give your loved one a nudge in the right direction with a gift card covering a workshop or series of lessons? Learning a new skill is hugely rewarding, and it boosts brain health, too.

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2. A Little Breathing Room

Valentine’s Day is all about togetherness, but everyone needs time alone to rest, recharge, and be more fully themselves. You can support your partner in this endeavour by giving the gift of space. Instead of a spa day or massage — which only lasts for a few hours at most — give the gift of meditation. Meditation provides a wealth of cognitive and health benefits, including an increased capacity for awe. Also, there’s an app for that.

The Message Behind the Gift: I respect you as a complete person, and I want you to enjoy lasting peace in your life.

3. A Living Companion

Sometimes when you’re bursting at the seams with big feelings, it’s hard to know what to do with all that emotion. Bringing a pet into someone’s life can create a tangible object of affection and focus that energy for good. Forging a bond with an animal is a gift that can lower blood pressure, boost mood, and more. An animal can also help combat loneliness if you and your loved one live far apart.

The Message Behind the Gift: I have felt your love, and I know that you have so much more of it to give.

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4. A Year’s Worth of Flowers

Flowers are a pretty traditional Valentine’s Day gift, but they don’t last long. Solve this problem by giving your loved one a subscription to monthly bouquets so that the fresh arrangements just keep coming. The beauty of this gift is precisely that flowers are ephemeral: There’s nothing practical about them, so it’s a gift with no ulterior motive other than to make someone happy.

The Message Behind the Gift: I think you are beautiful, and I want you to be surrounded by beautiful things.

5. A Session With a Personal Biographer

What could be more meaningful than the chance to tell the story of your life? At StoryTerrace, we connect people with professional writers to create a truly special memoir. The process allows the storyteller to gain perspective on their life and share what they’ve learned with others — and at the end of the journey, your loved one has a marvellous, hardcover book to enjoy forever.

The Message Behind the Gift: I see you, and you’re so important to me that I want to preserve a piece of you to last for all time.

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StoryTerrace client Didin Donckers (left) sat down with one of our professional writers, Eef Lanoye, in the comfort of her home

6. A Lifelong Dream

Gifts are highly personal, and only you know what your partner wants more than anything else. Whether that’s seeing Hamilton on the West End or hiking Ben Nevis, you might be able to make it happen. Not all "bucket list" adventures are expensive, so don’t be afraid to get creative to turn a lifelong wish into reality.

The Message Behind the Gift: I listen when you talk about your dreams, and I want to make them come true.

The Finishing Touch

No matter what gift you decide to give your loved ones, you have the power to make it stand out by adding a personal, heartfelt note. In this world of rapid-fire texting and Facebook posts, a handwritten letter that shares your feelings in your own words is truly precious. So grab a pen and take a moment to open up on paper — it’s one of the greatest gifts of all, and it doesn’t cost a thing.

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Feeling inspired? To learn more about giving the gift of a beautiful, hardcover biography, get in touch with StoryTerrace

Or sign up for our newsletter to receive more gift ideas from us!

Imagine stepping back in time to explore the town where you grew up, experiencing it as it was years ago.

Imagine not only walking the streets and corridors of important places in your life but also experiencing the stories of the people who lived and worked there. This might soon be possible, thanks to the Amsterdam Time Machine project and other similar initiatives.

Supported by organizations including the University of Amsterdam, Creative Amsterdam, and the Amsterdam Centre for Cultural Heritage & Identity, the project aims to create a "Google Earth for the past." According to Professor Claartje Rasterhoff, this is a perfect description of their work. “The Time Machine is the perfect vehicle to connect different efforts towards better research, but also to present local history and make it relevant to the present and the future,” she says.

In the future, users will be able to navigate a virtual map of Amsterdam that’s more detailed than any that has ever existed. They’ll explore streets, stroll into public buildings, and even peek into houses with details as specific as what pictures were mounted on the walls.

Design: Loes Opgenhaffen (CREATE, UvA)

The project includes various 3D models, interfaces, and databases, all drawn from the extensive datasets in Amsterdam’s libraries, museums, universities, and archives. Transforming these paper-based records into parts of the time machine is a huge job, much like finding out about the past.

The Amsterdam Time Machine (and other projects like it) will simplify this process. Instead of poring over maps and documents, you’ll step into a 3D visualization of a space and explore as you see fit.

For a glimpse of what this might be like, check out the Cinema Parisien. This 3D model recreates one of Amsterdam's first purpose-built cinemas, down to the gilding around ticket windows and the carpets on the stairs.

Exploring this visualization brings the place to life, allowing you to step through the doors as a patron in 1910. Tools like this could revolutionize how we understand our life stories, enabling us to visit our old schools, streets, and other significant places.

When asked about the future of memoir research, Professor Rasterhoff hopes physical archives will remain but become more accessible. Projects like the Amsterdam Time Machine use data from various sources to reconstruct historical spaces and stories. Personal stories are crucial, as they offer insights into what a place was like beyond maps and census data.

Design: Loes Opgenhaffen (CREATE, UvA)

Recording your memories for future generations is essential. Diaries, letters, journals, and writings help us build time machines. Your story matters and could be important to future generations and researchers. One day, the Amsterdam Time Machine project will offer an unparalleled look at Amsterdam's history, and similar projects worldwide aim to do the same for other places. Your stories might one day help future generations travel back in time and experience the past.

Ready to start writing your memoirs? Get in touch with our team or join our mailing list for updates on researching your past and writing your memoirs.

Main image courtesy of: Madelon Simons and Loes Opgenhaffen (CREATE, UvA) - 3D model of a 16th-century painter’s shop in Warmoesstraat 138.

Parenting is said to be the hardest job in the world and those of us who have children ourselves know all too well that it’s often a thankless task.

Growing up, we are dependent on our parents to look after us and make us feel loved. Yet when we leave the nest, it can be easy to forget to let our parents know our appreciation for all the sacrifices they’ve made and the times they’ve been there for us. Many parents can be left feeling a little empty and neglected as their adult children go about living their busy lives.

Do you remember the last time you showed your parents how much you care about them? Here are our suggestions for meaningful gifts for parents to show them how much they mean to you.

1. Plan a special outing

Plan a special outing just for your parents - if your budget allows, make them feel truly wonderful by planning a vacation dedicated to them. Perhaps there is a city or country they’ve always wanted to visit but have never gotten around to it; make their dream come true by taking them there.

If you can’t stretch to a holiday, even a day dedicated to them will likely have the same effect: factor in their favourite foods and activities as a surprise (taking care of every detail), or get them involved in the process so that they can get excited leading up to it.

Spend time with them on their agenda, not yours. In our fast-paced world, it can be easy to get caught up in the demands of work, technology, and our social lives. Scheduling in some quality face-to-face time with your parents communicates to them that they are valuable in your life and will help to deepen your bond. Don’t just save this for special occasions - create your own special day.

2. Ask them for advice

Asking your parents for advice shows that you value their opinion and count on them to continue to support you. Just because you are an adult now doesn’t mean you can handle everything life throws at you - it’s likely your parents will be able to draw on their experiences to offer some wise and comforting words. Likely your parents will welcome the opportunity to advise you and will feel honoured that you have asked them - whether it’s a major life decision or an everyday issue, help them to feel that their opinion counts. Sometimes the most meaningful gifts for parents extend beyond material objects - a simple call can make the world of difference.

3. Present them with the story of their life

Give your parents the precious opportunity to reflect back on their lives with a beautifully bound biography of their very own. A meaningful gift for parents that can be passed down through the family to enjoy - a StoryTerrace biography will keep their memory alive, allow them to pass on their wisdom to future generations and help to strengthen family bonds and relationships. Just think how delighted they will be to receive the honor of an entire book dedicated to telling their unique story in all its glory!

StoryTerrace makes the whole process easy by pairing your mum or dad with one of our carefully selected professional ghostwriters who will dedicate themselves to telling your parent’s story. Consider gifting parents a biography for a 70th, 75th or 80th birthday (you could even pool together with your siblings).

This is also the perfect time if you want to have a book to present for Christmas! How many times will your parents have the experience of sharing their meaningful stories in a comprehensive way?

The ideal meaningful gift for parents, many people who’ve been gifted a StoryTerrace book report feeling immense joy about being given the opportunity to sit with a professional writer in their own home who can tell their life story and capture a person’s essence:

"The entire experience of working with StoryTerrace was flawless. The fellow who interviewed me for many hours truly captured my ‘voice’, and the finished product seemed to know me better than I know myself! The photos were beautifully reproduced, the binding was truly professional."

4. Be sure to share your good news

When something great happens in your life, include your parents in your celebrations so they can revel in your achievements as well. New job? Let them know as soon as you can. Baby on the way? Give them the beautiful surprise of telling them they’ll soon be a grandparent.

Just because you are an adult now doesn’t mean you can’t revel in your parents showering you with praise - give them the opportunity of feeling proud of you (they gave you life after all).

5. Give them an embossed gift

Thoughtful gifts elegantly engraved with your mum or dad’s initials are a wonderful way to honour them and a charming way to say ‘thank you’. Creating something that’s been made especially for them communicates your love and appreciation for them, and if it’s something practical like a keyring, diary or handbag - they’ll be reminded of this every time they use it.

Depending on their taste, you could also consider gifting them with a beautiful set of pajamas, some stunning jewellery, luxury handkerchiefs or bottle of wine bearing their name or initials for that personal touch and ‘wow’ factor.

6. Make peace with them (and the past)

Inevitably family relationships can be fraught with challenges. Yet we have the gift of the present moment to be able to smooth things over and make peace. As your parents get older and enjoy their ‘golden years’, it’s likely that they will be reviewing their life, experiences and memories. If there’s any tension or grudges between you, give them the gift of forgiveness and adopt a compassionate attitude with them wherever possible.

For more details on StoryTerrace books, sign up for our newsletter or contact us today to talk about how we can help to capture your life story.

What to Do After Completing Your Memoir

1. Throw a Launch PartyCelebrate your book's completion with friends and family through a personalized launch party.

2. Give Copies as GiftsGift your memoir to friends and family to share your story and their impact on your life.

3. Hide a Time CapsuleCreate a time capsule with your book, photos, and mementos for future generations.

4. Speak to a Local BookshopOffer your memoir to local bookstores, especially if it features the area.

5. Share It With the WorldConsider self-publishing and reaching a wider audience with the help of StoryTerrace.

6. Read ItRevisit your memoir in a few years to refresh your memories and consider writing a sequel.

Getting Started:For more guidance on writing your memoir, contact StoryTerrace or join our mailing list for tips and ideas.

Premium Writer

New York Times bestselling author William C. Dietz — known to friends as Bill — has published more than 50 novels. He served as a medic with the Navy and Marine Corps and has worked as a television news writer, director, and producer.

On any given day, Bill can be found writing blog posts, fiction, or biographies, including personal projects like transcribing the journal his father wrote during an epic voyage to Asia at the age of 19. Today Bill lives in Gig Harbor in Washington with his wife Marjorie.

Bill as a toddler in 1948. Bill later served in the Navy, as did his father, father-in-law, and youngest daughter.

ST: When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

When I was about ten years old I watched my mother write short stories after work. She wanted to be published by a magazine like the Saturday Evening Post, and she talked to me about plots, characters, and the need to perform research.

And since I was an avid reader something clicked. I came to understand that regular everyday people could write stories. And that was when I realized that I wanted to be a writer. My mother never managed to sell a story, but she lit a fire in me, and for that I’m grateful.

ST: Whose biography would you most like to write?

My father was a lot of things, including a Director of Photography for Paramount, a motion picture cameraman, a combat photographer, a pilot, a sailor, and sadly — an alcoholic. He was lost at sea when I was three.

So I have no memories of him. Yes, there are hints of who he would become in the diaries he kept when, at the age of 18, he shipped out on a freighter bound for the Orient.

But the rest of what I know is based on stories told by mother, the scant information available online, and pure supposition. So if the necessary information was available, I would write my father’s biography.

ST: If you were writing a StoryTerrace book of your life, what would be the title and why?

The title would be: “He wasn’t an overnight success.” That’s too long for an actual book cover, but it describes a life in which I have been reasonably successful — not suddenly, but over the long run.

For example, I told myself I would write a novel by the time I was 40. And, when I turned 39, I had yet to write one word of it. But by age 40 I published my first work of fiction, and have written more than 60 novels since then.

ST: What surprised you most about working for StoryTerrace?

StoryTerrace has an editorial staff which is unfailingly available, considerate, and thoughtful. All of which is something of a surprise for any author who is used to dealing with large publishing houses.

ST: Describe StoryTerrace in 3 words.

My Life Story

ST: What is the most memorable story you've told as a writer?

A science fiction novel called Legion of the Damned.

ST: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Getting up tomorrow morning with interesting work waiting to be done.

ST: What's something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m a part-time CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for children.

ST: What trait do you admire most in others?

Trustworthiness.

ST: What is your most treasured possession?

A bracelet my wife gave me.

ST: Who is your hero?

Viktor E. Frankl

ST: What is your motto?

Progress, not perfection.

Bill with his wife Marjorie in 1975, when he worked as the director of the evening news at KOMO in Seattle.

Lightning Round!

ST: Dogs or cats?

Cats (No need to walk them)

ST: Salty or sweet?

Salty

ST: Paperback or e-reader?

Sigh. E-reader

ST: Summer or winter?

Winter is better for writing

ST: X-ray vision or time travel?

Time travel

If Bill's tales have inspired you to start or finish your life story, get in touch to schedule a free consultation, or sign up for our newsletter to hear more from our growing pool of writers.

This January, we’ve been thinking a lot about New Year’s resolutions. We’ve learned what kinds of resolutions make you happy, and which ones you’re most likely to stick to.

Now, as we begin a fresh new year, maybe you’ve decided: It’s finally time. This year could be the year when you finally write your memoirs.

Fantastic! But — whether you’ve put pen to paper before or are starting from scratch — writing your life story can feel like an overwhelming task. How do you organise your thoughts? How do you decide what to focus on? How do you decide which parts of your story to tell first?

Our in-depth look into resolutions has shown that it helps to break big tasks down into smaller pieces, so why not start with something smaller? Start your memoirs with something that you can decide to do today, and which will lay the groundwork for putting your life story down on paper in the near future.

Here are some suggestions for building regular habits that will help you build up to writing your life story.

Keep a Diary

You might already have a diary, but do you actually use it? If your journal has more blank pages than filled ones, resolving to set aside some time each week to write in it could make a huge difference.

A diary allows you to keep track of dates, times, names, and specific memories — what you did for your birthday last year, for example. It also provides a regular writing exercise, which has been proven to have a range of benefits for your day-to-day life. Studies have shown that keeping a journal can help release pent-up stress, which in turn results in better sleep, mood, and memory.

Make and Strengthen Connections

Renewing family connections and staying in touch with loved ones might not seem related to writing your life story, but your life is shaped by the people around you. When you get to know them better, you get a clearer picture of the life you’ve lived.

You might be astonished by the memories your friends and family have about you, or by the ways in which you’ve touched their lives — but you’ll only discover these things if you’re in touch with them.

That’s why renewing and maintaining your connections with friends and family is one of the best things you can possibly do when it comes to writing your life story. And it’s a resolution that can greatly improve your happiness too!

Digitise Your Photo Collection

Most people have a photo album or two sitting in an attic or gathering dust on a shelf. While these are wonderful to look through when you remember to, they don’t age well. Over time, photographs can become discoloured, and whole albums can be lost or damaged. Photo albums hold your most precious memories, but they’re vulnerable to everything from a leaky pipe to being mislaid during a move.

That’s why it’s a good idea to preserve your memories digitally. Scanning pictures is a great way of doing this. When scanned at high resolution, photographs can be reproduced in print at any time, and you can even organise and search your collection.

Once your photos have been digitised, they're a priceless asset when it comes to writing your life story. You can refer to them to refresh your memory, use one as a striking cover image, and include them in your finished book.

"If you write just 100 words a day every day for a year, by the end you’ll have a manuscript that’s the same length as a 100-page book."

Read More

News flash: Reading is good for you. A Stanford University study noted that reading constitutes “a truly valuable exercise of people’s brains” that improves concentration and mental acuity in all areas of the brain. So dedicate some time to reading, and see what a difference it makes!

Better yet, read memoirs. This is a genre that’s increasingly popular, and by taking a look at how other people have tackled their life story, you’ll get a good idea of how to approach your own. Do you want to begin at the beginning, or start later in life? Do you want to tell lots of different stories, or focus on just one part of your life? Take a look at how others do it, and use that as inspiration and guidance for creating your own memoirs.

Write Every Day

Writing your memoirs can seem like a huge task — one that might be overwhelming at times. Rather than try to tackle it all at once, it helps to chip away at it a little at a time. Try to set aside some time for writing each day, and pretty soon crafting a completed manuscript will start to seem like a much more attainable goal.

If you write just 100 words a day every day for a year, by the end you’ll have a manuscript that’s the same length as a 100-page book. Not bad for a just a few minutes spent writing each day!

Let Your Story Take Shape

Writing your memoirs is a big job, so don’t give up if you can't finish in just a couple of days. Instead, cultivate these habits to make the task easier, and don’t be afraid to let your story take shape slowly. Many of these habits will also make you happier in general while you’re at it, so it’s a win-win proposition.

If you need some help telling your story, or if you have finished gathering your notes and pictures, now could be the perfect time to contact StoryTerrace. Our experienced ghostwriters can do the heavy lifting for you, taking your notes, experiences, photographs, and stories and turning them into a professionally written, beautifully bound book.

If your New Year’s resolution is to complete your memoirs, get in touch today to arrange a chat about writing your life story.

You can also sign up to our newsletter for more information about writing, personal history, and the importance of stories. It’s bound to inspire you, no matter where you are on your memoir-writing journey.