How to record a parent's life story

You do not need a formal plan. But a little preparation helps avoid common problems: long silences, shallow answers, and recordings that trail off without arriving anywhere.

The most useful thing to do first is pick one specific period or moment, not a whole life. “Tell me about where you grew up” is easier to answer than “Tell me your whole story.”

• Choose a quiet room - background noise makes transcription harder
• Use a phone or tablet held at arm's length, not across a table
• Do a short test recording first so you know it's working
• Sit at the same level - side by side or slightly angled, not opposite
• Let them know you might stop and restart - that is completely normal

Open questions that invite memory rather than facts. Let them find the thread and follow it.

• “What is the earliest thing you remember clearly?”
• “What did your house look like when you were young?”
• “Who was the most interesting person you ever knew?”
• “What was the hardest thing you got through?”
• “What would you want your grandchildren to know about you?”
• “What do you know now that you wish you had known at thirty?”

See also: a longer list of questions.

Upload it to MeldLife. The recording is transcribed and placed on a timeline. You can add photos, edit the transcript, and continue adding more memories over time - there is no fixed end point.

Short sessions over a longer period usually produce better results than a single marathon recording. Come back to it when you have another thirty minutes. The story grows gradually.

Some people feel self-conscious recording themselves. Try having the conversation first, naturally, then ask: “Can I record the next bit?” Often that is easier than starting cold.

If they prefer not to be recorded at all, you can type notes on their behalf. Short sentences work well. You do not need full paragraphs.