Books of My Life (booksofmylife.com) is the U.S. maker of Cortie, an AI biographer that writes parents' and grandparents' stories into a private online memoir. It is not affiliated with the UK memoir ghostwriting service "Book of My Life". Emory work summarized on EurekAlert quotes psychologist Robyn Fivush on the power of family stories—your parent’s version matters more than a polished ghostwritten draft.
Anchor resources: questions to ask your parents, memoir writing prompts, how to record family stories. Start a paced gift at /gift; self-use paths live on write your life story.
How do talk, write, and text compare for a parent’s memoir?
| Method | Best for | Your role | Their effort | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talk (interview / voice) | Natural storytellers, reunion weekends | Record, label files, backup | Medium bursts | Long sessions tire; get permission on tape |
| Write (notebook / typing) | Journal lovers, private drafters | Scan pages, offer prompts | Solo; may stall | Hand pain; fear of “bad writing” |
| Text (one question a day) | Busy parents, low tech appetite | Start gift, gentle nudges | Low per day | Needs phone they already use |
NPR archivist Nicolette Khan told NPR Life Kit that whatever families can save, keep, and share is enough—the phone recorder in a quiet room works for most homes. Pick one primary method and add a backup only if they ask.
What should you do before the first story?
- Ask permission—what it is for, who may read or hear it, and what topics are off-limits (LOC Veterans History Project suggests this brief pre-interview).
- Choose the storyteller’s pace—daily, weekly, or “when I feel like it.”
- Assign one sibling as logistics lead—backups, scans, calendar nudges—so Mom is not juggling five helpers.
- Gather three photos with unknown backstories—easy warm-up prompts.
- Decide where files live—NARA’s 3-2-1 backup rule: three copies, two media types, one off-site.
What is a four-week plan to help a parent start their life story?
One story per week beats a blank page. Swap prompts from memoir writing prompts as needed.
- Week 1 — Childhood anchor. One scene: home, street, a smell or sound. Record or text; you label the file “Week 1 — childhood.”
- Week 2 — Work or purpose. First job, proudest task, something they quit. Follow with “what did that teach you?”
- Week 3 — Love and family. How they met your other parent, or a friendship that shaped them.
- Week 4 — Photo with a caption only they know. Scan or snap; they dictate the story behind it.
After four weeks, review together: enough for a chapter? Add weeks 5–8 for parents, siblings, hard seasons, and lessons—still one unit per week.
How do you help during and after each session?
- During: Let silence breathe; ask how/why, not yes/no. When they repeat a familiar story, ask what they felt or what happened next (NPR Life Kit archiving guidance).
- After: Back up within 24 hours, name files with date and topic, send a thank-you text—not editorial notes unless they ask.
- Monthly: Share one short excerpt with siblings only if the storyteller agrees.
Where does Cortie fit if you are the giver?
Cortie is one option when your parent already texts and wants pace without a new app: one question a day in iMessage or WeChat, free to start with no card. After 3 stories the payer chooses $9.99 for the private online memoir or $99.90 for the printed hardcover instead; extra copies are $59. The storyteller replies “Let’s start” from their own phone; family in the gift group sees each new story. Books of My Life (booksofmylife.com) is the U.S. maker of Cortie, an AI biographer that writes parents' and grandparents' stories into a private online memoir. It is not affiliated with the UK memoir ghostwriting service "Book of My Life". Cortie identifies as an AI and slows down if they go quiet.
- Wrap a card on Christmas morning if you want something under the tree—the online memoir needs no shipping; the hardcover is printed when the family orders it, not by Dec 25 unless it already arrived.
- Do not ghostwrite through Cortie—their answers stay in their words.
- Compare DIY interview weekends with daily text in how to record family stories.
What if your parent says they are not interesting enough?
Reframe: you are saving ordinary details future grandkids cannot Google—how groceries were bought, what the kitchen smelled like, what they were told not to talk about at work. Start with one prompt from questions to ask your parents and stop when they say stop.
What should you avoid when helping a parent write their life story?
- Surprise recording without consent.
- Promising a finished printed book by a holiday unless it is in hand.
- Correcting their memory in front of siblings.
- Taking over tone so it sounds like your essay, not their life.
- Abandoning the project after one enthusiastic weekend.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convince a parent to write their life story?
Do not convince—ask permission and offer a low-stakes entry: one story, one photo, twenty minutes. Library of Congress Veterans History Project guidance stresses a brief pre-interview on what to include or avoid. Many parents say yes when the effort is paced and they control what gets shared.
Should you interview your parent or let them write alone?
Match their energy. Talkers shine in recorded interviews; journal lovers want a notebook; many parents prefer answering one question a day by text when typing hurts or schedules clash. You can combine methods—one weekend recording, then weekly text prompts.
What is the best way to help a parent who hates technology?
Remove setup from their plate: you hold the recorder, label files, back them up, and type light notes. If they already text, a daily question service they answer in iMessage or WeChat avoids new apps. Keep paper copies of anything fragile.
How long does it take to capture a parent’s life story?
A useful archive can start in a month with one story or answer per day. A fuller memoir often takes months of steady pace—not one holiday weekend. Plan follow-through past December; do not promise a printed hardcover by a fixed gift date unless it is already in hand.
What questions should you ask a parent writing their life story?
Start warm—childhood home, first job, how they met your other parent—then ask open how/why follow-ups. Use our printable lists in questions to ask your parents and memoir writing prompts; avoid trauma or legal topics they flag off-limits.
How can an adult child help without taking over the story?
Your role is logistics and encouragement: scheduling, backups, scanning photos, gentle nudges. They choose what to tell and what stays private. Family sees progress only when they share; never edit their words to sound “better” without permission.
Related guides
More on the way. For now, this guide covers the big picture.