Photo credit:  Andrij Bulba.

Memoirs can take a variety of forms. 

Creating a memoir or oral history can be a way to pass on wisdom or lessons learned; a retrospective opportunity to gain perspective; or a deep dive into a life's passion. It might be a collection of stories. It can be chronological or not. Meaty subjects include turning points, setbacks, obsessions, journeys, periods of reckoning, comebacks, personal challenges or triumphs. Memoirs often include defining moments and those brief flashes of magic or clarity that make a life brilliant and distinct. 

Create a memoir or oral history That works for you. 

Oral History - Q and A interview transcription - A transcription of an interview or series of interviews on subjects of your choosing. Edited for clarity and readability. 

Tribute Book - Ideal for milestone celebrations, like a 75th birthday, or 50th wedding anniversary. Silverplume will interview as many people as you choose, capturing their memories, reminiscenses, and stories about the subject(s). Alternatively, Silverplume interviews the subject(s) about his or her life experiences and perspective at this milestone moment. 

I Remember When - An oral history or memoir focused on the subject's recollection and view of transformative historical events. 

Chapter Memoir - A narrow focus on a particular time or phase of your personal or professional life. For example, you might focus on your childhood, or what you learned from a particular vantage point in your life.  10-15 pages. 

Multi-Chapter Memoir - 40-60 pages. May be chronological or not; may focus on multiple distinct or related subjects. Can be thematic or might explore a particular passion. 

Life Memoir - Closer to autobiography. A life overview. Generally chronological. 

Get You to the Finish Line - You've already taken a stab at starting an oral history or memoir and need help getting all the pieces into a cohesive story or collection of stories.  

The Stories we Tell (Collection) -  A collection of loosely collected stories or life experiences. Passions, like a love for cooking, traveling, fishing, or adventuring make for good story collection material, as do defining family stories.