Long ago I had a Granny and a Grandma. They were both white-haired gentle women.

Granny, the Scottish one, liked to read Westerns as she rocked in her chair and sucked on a toffee. Grandma once ran a stall at Newbiggin beach in the North-East, and chaired meetings using an olivewood gavel.

I’d like to tell you more, but I know hardly anything else about them. I will never know what songs they sang as they washed up, which flowers they loved, or what views they held.

When they died, effectively, for me, they disappeared without trace. There were old photographs but in this context they are hardly worth a thousand words.

If only they had left a written account of their lives . . .

I believe that one of the greatest gifts we can give to our families, and bequeath to those who follow us, is an intimate, first-hand account of our lives.

This book will make the task of capturing you and your life enjoyable for you, and enriching for those who read it. Mike Oke feels passionately that everyone has within them a marvellous story – the tale of their life. He’s just the man to help you tell it.

Whilst this project began as a revision to my first book, Writing Your Life Story such was the amount of additional material that it became meaningless to call it a second edition. In addition to a revision of all chapters, this book sees four completely new ones, two of which have been written to reflect changes in technology. Having helped over 100 people in the writing of their own life stories, it seemed a shame not to include some of their advice. A further chapter provides extracts from these private biographies to show what can be achieved by amateur writers, for the benefit of those intending to do likewise.

Even in the five years since Writing Your Life Story was first printed, technology has moved on apace. With easy-to-use software and cost-effective digital printing, greater numbers of people feel confident about producing their own high-quality books, including a selection of favourite photos. Guidance is therefore provided for those looking to give this a go. Whilst not aimed at the complete novice, those with a reasonable grasp of technology should have few problems.

The other significant addition to this book is the comprehensive Appendix providing a number of memory jogging and reference materials. It is amazing how memories can be evoked by recalling special hobbies, a favourite song or a nail-biting sporting encounter. Names and dates of prime ministers and royal events can fulfil a similar function. The reference materials also include price comparisons, wage rates and even a conversion chart for those wanting to enlighten pre-decimal readers.

The second Appendix provides the opportunity for people of all ages to start their own writing by committing to paper favourite songs, films and other milestones of life. Inevitably, these will lead to an avalanche of further memories. How many of them end up in your life story is up to you. Or perhaps you would simply like to use these aids to see how much you know about your partner or possibly your parents. However you use them, I hope you enjoy doing so.

It is hoped that this book, and the companion volume, Times of Our Lives, which follows a typical life of someone born in Britain before or during the Second World War, is the definitive aid for those intending to write their life story.

Give it a go. You’ll be glad you did . . . and so will those fortunate enough to read it.