Boomers and Matures leave legacies: writing your bio online for posterity

The Personal Technology columnin today's Wall Street Journal (online subscription required) carries a review by Sarmad Ali about web sites that help people write their life story.

I love the idea because, frankly, I think we're all writers and storytellers and nothing is more important than the telling of our own stories. Sure, some people are more eloquent than others, but it's important to consider the end goal of writing your life story: is to show off writing skills or share a legacy?

The two sites mentioned specifically by the WSJ are www.LifeBio.com and www.BioWriters.net. Essentially, what these sites offer is a set of questions that act as memory joggers and organizers. By answering the questions, the writer begins to piece together significant life moments to be shared with others. The sites also let you restrict the availability of your information only to certain people (such as family) so you don't have to worry about  strangers having access to your personal "re-memberies," as my kids used to say when they were little.

Maybe you have a compelling story or you just want to write a book about your life but you don't feel you're a good writer. One way to get a great book written is to fork over $3,450 for a professional writer to create a 14-chapter page-turner of your life. All kinds of other options exist, too, such as being interviewed by phone, creating a bio from your answers and who knows what other flavors will emerge?

More and more, we're seeing Boomers and Matures create blogs (such as the increasingly-popular My Mom's Blog  written by 81-year-old Millie Garfield) to share their thoughts about everything from everyday living to struggles with aging.

People over 50 now account for about a quarter of all Internet users and that number is growing seven to eight percent a year, according to eMarketer. Meanwhile, the overall growth of the Internet is only three to four percent per year. It's not surprising, then, that many of us are catching on to the idea of using the Internet as a platform for what used to be done in living rooms and on front porches for decades (and it's still being done that way at my house).

The delivery method may be changing, but the essence is still the same. The stories are being told and documented for future generations.

Are you documenting your story in some fashion so your friends and family can appreciate even more the gifts of wisdom you offer?

Even if you don't want to write your autobiography online, check out the questions anyway. They're sure to trigger some ideas and stories you had filed away long ago!

Comments

[Rebecca Morgan, CSP, CMC]

Marilynn:

You may already know about OurStory.com, another electronic scrapbooking site. I've been affiliated with them for almost a year and my blog is one of their featured blogs.

[Marilynn Mobley]

Hi Rebecca,

Thanks for the tip. I have heard about OurStory.com, but truthfully, I just forgot about it, so thanks for the reminder.

For others reading this, you may want to check out Rebecca's awesome blog at
www.datinggoddess.wordpress.com. It's especially for singles over 40. Check it out.

[michael jones]

I was searching something abot the babyboomer travel and leisure but i am very glad that i have found your post! It is really great!