Want to Tell Your Mom’s Story?

Want to Tell Your Mom’s Story?

Your mom has lived a full, rich life—one filled with stories, lessons, and memories worth preserving. Whether you want to honor her legacy, pass stories down to future generations, or simply spend meaningful time together, writing your mom’s life story is one of the most rewarding projects you can take on.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through how to collect memories, organize stories, add photos and artifacts, and publish a stunning keepsake that your family will cherish forever.

And if you want an easy way to get started, check out the Life Story Interview Book from TellTales—designed specifically to help moms preserve their stories through guided prompts and a beautifully crafted format.


Step 1: Collect Stories and Memories

This can be the most time-consuming, but also the most enjoyable part of your project. You’re gathering the core of your mom’s life—her stories.

Interview Your Mom

  • Use open-ended questions to invite detailed stories. Start with prompts like “What was your childhood like?” or “What was one of the happiest moments of your life?”

  • Consider using a voice recorder or your phone to capture audio. This allows you to focus on listening instead of frantically taking notes.

Use a Guided Prompt Journal

  • Our guided story journals are designed with questions that spark meaningful reflection, helping you or your mom remember details that might otherwise be forgotten.

Include Other Family Members

  • Interview siblings, aunts, uncles, or grandparents. Their stories add new perspectives and can fill in gaps.

Add Your Own Perspective

  • Write down your personal memories about your mom. What did she teach you? What are your favorite moments together? Your reflections add emotional depth to the story.

Tip: Use our free resource of 200+ interview questions or try voice dictation if you prefer talking over typing.


Step 2: Collect Photographs

Photos breathe life into your mom’s story and help connect memories to real moments.

  • Choose quality over quantity. Look for photos that feature the people, places, and events in your stories.

  • Organize them by life stages or major events (childhood, marriage, vacations, holidays, etc.).

  • Scan printed photos into high-quality digital files. Use apps, scanners, or professional services. For tips, check the Resources section on the TellTales blog.


Step 3: Gather Other Artifacts

Artifacts are physical items that relate to your mom’s stories. These can be scanned and included in the book.

Examples include:

  • Letters or cards she wrote or received

  • Wedding invitations or programs

  • Newspaper clippings, awards, or certificates

  • Recipes, handwritten notes, or journals

  • Travel brochures, maps, or ticket stubs

If you're short on time, focus on just a few meaningful items. You can always collect more later or store them alongside the printed book.


Step 4: Write an Outline

Once you’ve collected all your material, it’s time to shape it into a story.

Here are five simple ways to outline your mom’s biography:

1. Chronological

  • Start with her birth and move through the decades. This is the easiest and most intuitive structure.

2. Life Stages

  • Break the story into phases: childhood, adolescence, marriage, motherhood, career, retirement.

3. Major Events

  • Focus on defining moments: weddings, births, losses, milestones.

4. By Family Members

  • Organize chapters around her relationships with children, siblings, spouse, grandchildren, etc.

5. Thematic

  • Highlight key themes in her life: perseverance, love, faith, adventure, or creativity.

Tip: Don’t overthink it—use the structure that makes storytelling feel easiest and most natural.


Step 5: Arrange Stories and Images

Start transferring your stories into a document. Use your outline to guide the order, but don’t be afraid to change it as the narrative comes together.

To make your writing more engaging:

  • Use headlines and subheads for each section.

  • Pull out quotes or emotional sentences to highlight.

  • Add paragraph breaks to avoid dense blocks of text.

  • Include white space between stories for breathing room.

  • Use lists to make certain memories more scannable.

When including photos:

  • Note which photos go with each story.

  • Keep image file names clearly labeled (e.g., “MomWedding.jpg”).

Check out our story template from the Resources page to see how to organize everything.


Step 6: Choose a Format for the Final Project

Now it’s time to decide how to present your finished biography. Consider your time, budget, and the number of copies you want to create.

Here are your options:

Budget-Friendly

  • Type and print at home, then bind with a simple folder or binder.

Mid-Range

  • Use a local print shop to create a coil-bound or softcover book.

High-Quality Keepsake

  • Use an online service to design and print hardcover books. Add photos, artifacts, and professional formatting.

Done-for-You Option

  • Let a service like TellTales guide the process with ready-made templates and elegant formatting.


Step 7: Print and Share the Book

Congratulations—you’ve created something truly special. Printing the final book is the last step, but it’s an important one.

  • Print multiple copies for siblings, children, and extended family.

  • Wrap the book as a gift with a personal note.

  • Consider sharing it during a family reunion, birthday, or holiday gathering.

This isn’t just a story. It’s a legacy. Something tangible that your family will hold onto for generations.


Final Thoughts: Your Mom’s Story Deserves to Be Told

Whether you use a binder, a local print shop, or the TellTales Life Story Interview Book, what matters most is that you take the time to capture your mom’s life story. It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give to her—and to your entire family.

Ready to start? Browse our blog for more ideas and templates or explore our products page to find the perfect format to begin preserving your family's stories.

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