To Not Be Forgotten: Leaving A Legacy in Writing

“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.”

~ Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack

Reflecting on our experiences and preserving our stories often becomes a focus later in life, as retirement provides an opportunity for contemplation and the development of new hobbies such as writing. This trend, known as "legacy writing," has emerged in recent years and been marketed specifically to seniors. But what distinguishes this from other forms of memoir or creative nonfiction? And is legacy writing only for those who are older?

Legacy writing involves gathering one's life stories into collectible versions that can be passed on. In recent years, many different services have emerged to help seniors collect their stories through a variety of methods. Some invite participants to record memories and anecdotes via their phones and computers (either in writing or through recorded conversations), which are then assembled into digital and printed "books" that can be purchased and shared. The idea is that each individual has a life story worthy of its place on the family bookshelf. 

Certainly, legacy writing is a worthy endeavor, and one offering the opportunity to leave something of value to your loved ones. Perhaps more so that other forms of creative nonfiction and memoir, this type of writing involves greater consideration for the anticipated readers: the writer's off-spring and those in future generations. The writer shares personal and family history with those who will receive these records as part of a legacy.

Understanding "Legacies"

A “legacy” is anything handed down from the past, a gift that is passed on. When we think of the inheritances we plan to leave to family members and loved ones, we tend to focus on the  monetary valuations of such transfers. However, the valuation of your written stories is likely immeasurable.

Legacy writing can come in many different forms, depending on the types of stories you and your family members want to explore and record. The process of legacy writing can also bring families together to collaborate in the creation of a “full” family history. In this sense, legacy writing can serve to: 

• Preserve family stories and create lasting legacies of family lineages, so details of a family’s history will not be lost when one family member passes on

• Celebrate and honor the diversity of families by collecting multiple perspectives and experiences of the past

• Create a living document to which all family members can contribute, including caretakers and other witnesses, thus facilitating healing for families dealing with illness and impending loss

• Provide a pathway for important conversations for the whole family in preparation for the inevitability of a loved one’s passing
  
  

Legacy Writing at Many Stages of Life

Legacy writing, while often undertaken later in life, need not be limited to the elderly. When my children were young, I wrote them a letter each year on their birthdays, cataloging the highlights of that year with the aim of capturing a glimpse of who they were during each phase of childhood. When they each turned 18, I collected these letters into books I gifted them as the definitive record of their childhoods. I anticipate they will return to these pages some day in search of answers or recollections about the past. When I am no longer alive to recount the same family stories I’ve told them dozens of times, with the same details and pacing, they will hear my voice re-telling these stories in just this way. While assembling these books, I could picture future offspring reading the pages. This is the power of legacy writing: you are writing to the future, to the as-yet-uncreated. And your creation may lead them to some better understanding of where they came.

Journaling is another form of legacy writing—even for those nowhere near retirement. I began keeping a journal as a regular practice at age 10 after learning that my family would soon be moving to a new state. I understood the need to preserve all the details of a world that would soon be gone. For me, journaling began as a measure against this loss. Now 40 years later, I have dozens of these notebooks, each one cataloging different phases of my life, each one preserving details no longer accessible through memory alone. Thus, journaling is a form of legacy writing that writers of all ages can undertake, particularly if you plan to assemble a more structured story of your life down the line.

How This Course Differs from Other "Legacy Writing" Services

This course is designed facilitate the creation of your family’s legacy, but it will take a broader approach than simply offering brainstorming prompts to get you writing. This course is not aimed only at those in retirement; in fact, you need not be in the final phase of your life to begin preserving your life story in writing. This course will provide even non-writers with a solid foundation in the most effective writing techniques to enhance your story-telling.

I am not in favor of having participants "speak" their stories through a recording that will later be transcribed into written form. The process of writing itself is essential for re-accessing memory and creating a full picture of your experiences. For this reason, this class will focus on helping you explore memories thoroughly—not merely in short sound bites. The instructional resources and prompts will provide tools for capturing your history and your best personal stories. 

Unlike my course in creative nonfiction, which focuses on mastering the genre of the personal essay, this course offers a means to connect individual stories around a larger project. At the end, you will have a manuscript that you can share electronically with family, or have printed into book form. The goal is to layer individual exercises into a coherent legacy that will provide your off-spring a record of your life, as well as your family history.

The course can be undertaken individually, or with the participation of other family members. Legacy writing is an excellent activity for family members to undertake together as they move through illness, hospice care, or other care-giving situations. Births and deaths are times of heightened emotional intensity—and creativity! Writing through such experiences will not only lead to a lasting written legacy, but will also help you process your emotions as you move through grief and toward celebration.