Whether you are passing down family history in a grandparent’s book for grandchildren or helping your family make a photo book for grandma and grandpa, you will end up with a cherished gift perfect for any occasion. From photo albums to interactive journals to scrapbook-style keepsakes, here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Family tree book

A family tree book is a great idea for a grandparent memory book because it can bring multiple generations together and create a precious heirloom that everyone will enjoy for years to come. Start with a drawing or diagram that shows your family lineage, and build your pages around it. If you are making a book for grandchildren, you can complete all of the genealogy information you know or leave branches blank so you can fill in the names of ancestors together and make a family activity out of it. Keep the conversation going by adding vintage photos, newspaper clippings, mementos, and text to bring the stories and memories to life.

2. Holiday photo album

Everyone can join the fun of making a holiday photo album to share, which makes this idea extra special. Think of all the seasons and celebrations that brought your family together. You might discover enough photos and stories from one holiday gathering to build an entire family photo album, or you may create a book of your favorite memories collected over the years. In addition to group portraits, remember to include fun candid shots of everyone decorating the home, getting all dressed up or donning costumes, preparing (and eating!) family recipes, and taking the adventures outside or on the road!

3. Grandparent journal

This type of memory journal lets you capture decades of family history in an heirloom-worthy book while encouraging family members to connect and interact in the process. Fill the book with writing prompts and questions that inspire grandparents to tell their story, from childhood to adulthood. Include prompts like 

• What are your favorite childhood memories?
• What are your proudest achievements?
• Which memories always make you laugh or smile?
• What do you love most about being a grandparent?

Consider titling your keepsake journal “Memories for My Grandchild” or “A Grandmother’s Story,” and leave space for grandkids to add stories of their own. Then have fun strolling down memory lane together!

4. Family recipe book

A family recipe book is a good idea for a grandparent memory book because it can also be a meaningful gift that celebrates your heritage and can be enjoyed (savored, really) on a daily basis. Just think of all the stories and traditions that are created in the kitchen and passed down at the dinner table. You may choose to organize the book by maternal or paternal sides of the family, by type of dish, or by theme (everyday favorites or holiday treats). Scan the original recipe cards or cookbook pages if you have them, and include photos of everyone cooking and eating together. Add special notes about favorite meals, such as who created the dish and specific occasions when it was served.

5. Words of wisdom book

Inspire grandkids and family members long into the future with a book of quotes, life lessons, and milestone moments that shaped your life. This is the ideal keepsake to record in-the-moment thoughts as well as past experiences—all the advice, hopes, and dreams a grandparent might wish to pass along to their family. Consider adding photographs and memorabilia or a list of favorite books, songs, or places. You can organize this memory book by themes such as friendship, love, career, or family. An avid storyteller might even transform a collection of anecdotes into a grandparent’s storybook.

Choose a bookmaking tool

Once you’ve gathered your photos, stories, and mementos, it’s time to select a bookmaking tool that’s right for you. If your grandparent memory book has a mix of text and images, download our free desktop software, BookWright, to make a custom photo book or trade book. With premade templates, it’s easy to create professional-quality layouts—no design experience needed.

To create a fast and easy photo book on the go, use the Blurb Mobile app to autoflow images from your Facebook albums into premade layouts. Adobe fans will want to check out our Adobe InDesign Plug-In and Adobe Lightroom Book Module, which lets you make a gorgeous photography book without leaving your workflow.

Which kind of grandparent memory book inspires you? Create a one-of-a-kind keepsake gift for the next birthday, holiday, or just-because day!

The post 5 ideas for grandparent memory books appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Your memory book can be anything you want it to be. Grandparents may find great joy in creating a keepsake that documents their life journey. Kids may want to collect drawings, photos, and mementos into a gift book for their grandparents. Use the following tips to build your own family photo book one beautiful page at a time.

1. Choose a theme for your grandparent memory book

To guide your book-making process, start by selecting a theme that is meaningful to you. Do you want to create a family tree book that traces your genealogy? Or, do you have a set of family recipes that capture rich culinary traditions? Do you enjoy writing down memories in journal form, or do you prefer to tell stories using photos? For writers and storytellers, a collection of inspirational quotes, personal anecdotes, or family adventures might even be the way to go. Check out our list of grandparent memory book ideas for tips on each type of album.

2. Gather your photos and memorabilia

You can invite family members of all ages to help with this part of the project. Collect all the photos, postcards, tickets, stamps, invitations, letters, and mementos that fit your book’s theme. If you come across vintage family photos that do not include dates or names, ask your relatives to help you fill in the missing information. Gathering family history can take time, but it is worth it to have a detailed collection of pictures and stories all in one place.

3. Include significant life stages and events

Organize your grandparent memory book in a way that makes capturing and sharing stories easy. In most cases, that means putting everything in chronological order. For a family tree book or grandparent journal, create a page or chapter for each category or stage of life (add these in list form or as narrative stories):

• Grandparent’s childhood: birthplace and birth date, nicknames, siblings, family life
• Education and early life: favorite subjects, hobbies, sports, talents, goals, graduation
• Great grandparents: names, birthdays, personality traits, education, occupations, talents
• Significant accomplishments: jobs, promotions, awards, volunteer/charity work
• Wedding proposal and ceremony: date, location, guests
• Children: names, birthdays, personality traits, education, occupations, talents
• Special moments with family: vacations, holidays, reunions, memorials
• Culture and traditions: native languages, celebrations, songs, books, quotes, recipes/food

4. Add prompts or questions to encourage storytelling

Some people will be ready to share memories in great detail, whereas others may need a little guidance. Create a list of questions or prompts to encourage loved ones to keep the stories coming. You can also invite kids to think of questions they want to ask their grandparents. The following story-starters are great additions to family tree books, grandparent journals, and photo books.

When I was a child, I liked to . . . 

One of my favorite memories is . . . 

I remember when . . . 

Growing up, my idol was . . .

One of my proudest moments was . . .

My favorite book/song/film was . . .

I always loved to visit . . . 

5. Download a free book-making tool

Once you decide which memories to include in your grandparent memory book, it’s time to start designing your book pages! Choose the Blurb book-making tool that fits your project, timeline, and experience level.

BookWright: Use our free desktop publishing software to create a custom photo book or trade book. Built-in tutorials, tips, and starter templates make it easy to design professional-quality page layouts.

Short on time? Download the Blurb Mobile app on your iPhone or iPad to create, print, and share a photo book in minutes. Simply autoflow your photos into pre-designed layouts, then add your own captions.

Adobe InDesign Plug-In: Create Blurb-ready templates and upload your memory book project, all without leaving InDesign.

Adobe Lightroom Book Module: Make a gorgeous photography book without leaving the Lightroom workflow.

6. Leave room for handwritten notes

You may want to add a few personal touches before you pass along your keepsake. The opening pages can be reserved for dedications from each family member to the grandparent, or from a grandparent to a grandchild. If you are making a grandparent memory book for a special occasion, provide a little context for future readers. And finally, remember to leave a few blank pages in between sections of photos, so kids and adults can add handwritten notes, memories, or illustrations.

Are you ready to make a personalized grandparent memory book? Create from the heart, and see what inspires you!

The post How to Make a Grandparent Memory Book appeared first on Blurb Blog.

The best memoirs create a story that the reader is able to identify with and apply their own personal experience.

1. A memoir is not an autobiography

While they are similar, a memoir and an autobiography are not the same thing. An autobiography is about a person’s entire life, telling a chronological story from childhood through to adulthood. A memoir focuses on just one story from your life and aims to establish an emotional connection with the reader. You don’t need to write your whole life story from beginning to end in a memoir, just the parts that pertain to the story you are trying to tell.

Learn more about the differences between autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs.

2. Decide on one event

You may have several stories that you’d like to tell. Before you even begin to write your memoir, pick just one that you want to share with your readers. Some people find it helpful to create a life diagram. Start by putting your six most significant life moments down on paper. You may want to look through old photos or letters to stir up memories. When you are finished, see which one event stands out as the most pivotal and meaningful. If a single event doesn’t stand out, don’t worry. Keep digging and breaking the events down until there is just one theme or story left that you really want to share.

3. Begin in the middle

Yes, really. When writing a successful memoir it isn’t necessary to start at the beginning. In fact, you are encouraged not to. Some of the best books pull you in by starting right in the middle of the story. Think of it as a teaser. Your readers should get just enough of the story to make them want to know how it all began and how it will all end. Then once you’ve got your readers’ interest, you can flash back to the beginning and move forward from there.

4. Be vivid

A memoir can never have too much detail. You want your readers to know exactly how a room looked, what it smelled like, and what you were wearing. Use all five of your senses to bring the words on the page to life. Some writers find it helpful to brainstorm, write down the key details of a scene, and build the story from there. This is another time when looking back on old photos will help. Close your eyes, picture yourself at that moment, and then recreate it on paper.

5. Set daily goals

Sitting down to write an entire memoir can feel daunting, even to the most seasoned writer. Instead of putting too much pressure on yourself from the beginning, set writing goals for yourself each day. Most writers find it useful to set word count goals rather than chapter goals but do whatever works best for you. There is no right or wrong way to go about writing a memoir. Just make sure that you are strict with yourself and dedicated to meeting your goals each day.

If you still need a bit of inspiration to get started writing your own memoir, here are 10 famous ones, guaranteed to make you pick up your own pen.

• A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
• Out of Africa by Karen Blixen
• Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
• Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
• This Boy’s Life by Tobias Wolff
• Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• My Life in France by Julia Child
• Wild From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
• Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

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Ready to get started on your memoir? Download our free desktop software, BookWright, to get started today.

The post 5 tips for writing a memoir appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Firstly, a memoir is autobiographical, meaning it is based on the personal memories, experiences, knowledge, or reflections of the author.

Secondly, a memoir is a piece of creative non-fiction, based on real-life events.

Memoir versus autobiography?

The terms memoir and autobiography are often used interchangeably. On Amazon, for example, autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs are classed as one genre. However, although there are certainly similarities between the two, there are also distinct differences.

Firstly, an autobiography is the story of a person’s whole life, from childhood to the present day. A memoir, on the other hand, will usually have a narrower focus, detailing a particular event or period.

Secondly, an autobiography is written in a linear chronological style, recounting facts and events from the author’s life. In this way, it is more factual or objective than a memoir, which is more concerned with how the author experienced a certain time or event. A memoir is a subjective retelling of true life, told from the author’s point of view.

 “…a memoir is how one remembers one’s own life, while an autobiography is history, requiring research, dates, facts double-checked.”
Gore Vidal, Palimpsest

Types of memoirs

You don’t have to be a celebrity or have lived a life of danger and adventure to find content for a memoir, as these examples demonstrate.

1. Personal essays

Traditionally, great thinkers and commentators of the day would publish personal essays to share their views and opinions with the world. From religious and spiritual reflections to your thoughts on politics, science, or literature, a collection of essays detailing your personal experience or opinion on a subject or issue can make for a fascinating memoir.

Memoir examples
Feel Free: Essays by Zadie Smith
I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes With Death by Maggie O’Farrell

2. Significant events

From war to the birth of a child, our lives are a series of events that shape who we are and how we see the world. Some of them will be a turning point, dramatically altering the way we live our lives. Sharing your experience of an event, personal or global, is an ideal subject for a memoir that will be a revelation for some and a comfort for others.

Memoir examples
Night by Elie Wiesel
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah

3. Phase of life

Sometimes it’s only when you look back that you see the formative impact of living or working in a certain time and/or place. Exploring a specific period of time, such as your childhood or time at university, in a memoir can help you understand how it shaped you. You may also find that readers recognize and enjoy the memories you share, as relatable to their own history and experiences.

Memoir examples
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

4. Behind the scenes

A memoir can be an inside peek into a particular job, hobby, or passion. This could involve detailing the skills you’ve developed to help others learn, your experiences practicing a particular craft, or playing a sport. The memoirs of the rich and famous could also be included here, as they give readers an insight into what really goes on behind the curtain.

Memoir examples
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
Breaking the Code: Westminster Diaries by Gyles Brandreth

5. Challenges

Stories of endurance, strength, and overcoming the odds to succeed will always be popular, especially when they’re true. Why not turn a challenge you faced or a feat you accomplished into an inspiring memoir?

Memoir examples
West with the Night by Beryl Markham
Night of the Gun by David Carr

6. Understanding culture

A desire to understand the complexities of cultural identity has formed the basis of many famous memoirs. These memoirs can also be important in preserving cultural traditions and the stories behind them for future generations.

Memoir examples
I’m a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson
Beloved Strangers by Maria Chaudhuri

7. Reflections

Many memoirs are written as an exercise in personal reflection, an attempt to understand how we got here, including the decisions and mistakes we’ve made along the way. In this way, a memoir isn’t for anyone else. Only you as the author.

Memoir examples
Boys in the Trees: A Memoir by Carly Simon
The Light of the World: A Memoir by Elizabeth Alexander

Does a memoir have to be written?

While many people might think of memoirs as a sort of written diary, others have used illustration or combined text and imagery to better tell their story. The use of images can make sensitive topics more accessible and help the reader truly see the world through the author’s eyes.

Memoir examples
American Splendor by Harvey Pekar
The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

If you only take one thing away from this post, let it be this: You don’t have to be famous or indeed infamous to write a memoir worth reading. The best books are the ones that tell the everyday stories of our lives, exploring their meaning in a way that everyone can relate to. A memoir can be a therapeutic exercise for you as the author that helps others on their own journeys too.

“I thought this memoir would be the closing chapter in the journey but it proved to be just the start of something that I could never have dreamed of. I printed one book for myself, and then 100 and another 100, as word spread. My humble project has not only helped me heal but in turn, encouraged others too.”
Debbie Ivins, Author of Whole Pieces

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Blurb is a self-publishing company made for indie creators and writers, like you. Ready to make your own memory book? Start by laying out your words and images with our free, easy-to-use software, BookWright.

The post What is a memoir? appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Unique memory books 

Important people

A meaningful memory book tells the story of you and the people that matter most to you. Start by making a list of loved ones to include and gather up the memories that capture your unique bond. You can divide your book into sections dedicated to each friend or family member, group your photos by season or special event, or treat each page as a collage of moments. Don’t forget to add fun quotes and captions.

Happiness book

Seeing things you love and your favorite things to do is an instant mood boost. Whenever you’re feeling lonely, discouraged, or uninspired, you can leaf through for a fresh place to start. This one doesn’t even have to be your own photography.  It can be quotes, cutouts from magazines, images you find on Unsplash—anything that makes you happy to see it. Simply creating is a happy activity, let alone when it lives in your line of sight.

Childhood toys

This is a great baby book idea. As children outgrow toys, stuffed animals, even well-loved costumes, shoes, and capes, take a photo of them. It may not be practical to keep each object forever, but you can keep all the memories between the covers of a memory book.

Favorite songs and albums

This kind of memory book works for any age. Create an autobiography out of songs and albums. Find the cover art, maybe even photograph your physical copies of CDs and vinyl.  Write a brief note about the memories connected to that song or album, or how it shaped you. Author Nick Hornby did this brilliantly with his book, Songbook, but you don’t have to be a bestselling author to organize your record collection in the pages of a book.

Quotes and inspiration

We get inspiration for how to live from so many places. Whether it’s family wisdom passed down, favorite authors, or Instagram reposts, creating your own memory book means you can collect it all into one volume to revisit for reminders. Pair quotes with photos of the family member that made them famous, or with photos and illustrations that also inspire you. It’s like making a mix-tape of all the wisdom you carry around. The best part about making it yourself is that it’s yours! Your collection will be as unique as you are, and that’s the beauty of it!

Doodles and drawings

Digitize those sketches and get them into something more permanent. This also makes a great gift for the artist or doodler in your life. Photograph the best pages in sketchbooks, notebooks, and journals and create a personal body of work in one, professionally printed volume. This safeguards your ideas, inspirations, and practice sketches from getting lost or scattered.

Commonplace memory book

This is one for readers. One way to remember what you read is to write excerpts in notebooks for future use. It’s a practice that dates back to the 18th century. but many people now keep notes of what they read without even knowing about the tradition. Your memory book doesn’t have to be visual. It can be a gathering of your reading notes into a single volume. As you compile them, you can sort them into different categories—love, success, faith, money, and lay out your book according to those sections. You’ll create a volume that’ll be an heirloom for years to come.

Pet album

It’s becoming more and more common to see Instagram accounts solely dedicated to pets. There’s something special about our furry friends who bring so much joy and love to our lives. Our pets are family members! Why relegate those photos to a phone? Put them in pages so your pets can live on with the rest of the family and take their place in the collection of family albums.

Year-in-review

Speaking of getting your photos off your phone, why not make an annual photo book? Put those special moments in print so they aren’t forever buried in a feed. You can auto-flow your photos right from your phone and Facebook account, and within minutes, you have a print version of your year. Don’t leave your memories to constantly-changing technology. You took those photos for a special reason, put them in a memory book so they’ll stand the test of time.

Annual events

It’s easy to overlook these because they happen every year. But making a memory book about an annual event is easy because the theme is already there! Gather all the pumpkin patch photos, or shots from the annual sisters’ road trip, or from holidays over the years. Maybe you always attend opening day for baseball. Having the photos in a book means you can revisit those annual events throughout the year.

The whole journey

Is there something you’ve done that took you months or years to accomplish? A goal you finally reached? A project that finally reached completion? Maybe you reached your weightlifting objective, and you have your gym selfies to show your progress. Maybe you finished a mural. Have you been fundraising for an important cause?

Put together the memories of how you got there because sometimes it’s as much about what it took to get somewhere as actually making it. If you haven’t started your journey yet, bearing in mind the possibility of making a memory book will encourage you to document along the way!

Where I’m from

This can be an important gift to yourself as a tool of self-discovery, but it can also be a comforting gift for someone who’s about to set sail for somewhere new. Gather photos that represent family heritage, pictures, and artifacts from a hometown or neighborhood, histories of local landmarks, family traditions, etc. Taking a good look at your roots, and holding them in your hand in the form of a memory book, can give you wings to reach the next place on your life journey.

Weekend getaways

Just because it isn’t a big vacation doesn’t mean it’s not worthy of print. Bachelorette weekends, family visits, local adventures, brief visits—they make great little volumes of memories. Plan a little in advance, and you’ll be able to collect everyone else’s photos from the trip and have plenty of material to create a travel photo book.

Custom ABC memory book

You may not be a world-class illustrator, but you can make a special children’s book for the little ones in your life. Gather photos for each letter of the alphabet that are personal and meaningful. It’s a fun creative challenge for you that has a built-in structure and theme, and it’s fun learning for your little one as you pore over it for years to come.

Letters of note

It’s rare to exchange written letters anymore, but we have a flurry of emails. Some of our most poignant cultural memories come from the letters of writers and artists that were originally “off the record”. What written treasures do you have stashed in a folder in your inbox? Take out those early-days romantic emails, those stories from studying abroad, or the day-to-day catch-ups between friends. Clear away the clutter and arrange the collection as a conversation. Years from now, you’ll be so glad you don’t have to track down a way to read them.

See how Kathleen Monahan turned her father’s handwritten letters into a wonderful family memento: Dear Mom Love Johnny.

Vision memory book

What about the memories you still want to make? You’ve heard of vision boards—where you keep visual reminders of goals, hopes, and dreams. What about a vision book? Put those plans and future reflections in writing on real pages. Where do you want to be in five or 10 years? What do you want your life to look like? What’s your plan for getting there? Gather pictures, quotes, detailed descriptions, and reflections for your vision book. Make it beautiful. Keep it laying around. When you hold one of these in your hands, you can meditate on creating a life that inspires the most important audience—yourself!

We already have a library of memories in our heads. They flood back in an instant, triggered by a certain scent, song, or time of year. Maybe there are a few we don’t want to see again, but others, when they are brought back to mind, meaning we get to experience that love and joy all over again. Rather than wait for the weather or a particular combination of smells, put the best ones in pages so you can take them off the shelf whenever you’d like. Make that inner library a real one you can have and hold with personal memory books.

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