How to Interview Yourself for a Personal History

Published by Tom Taylor on

Room A-12 • 2pm

Hate to write? Interviewing and recording yourself (& others) is an easier way to get your best stories “on the page” to publish or share.

You have stories in your head and your heart that may seem miles away from words on a page. There are benefits to capturing stories in recorded form rather than writing them down. Interviewing yourself may feel a little strange at first, but it has its advantages: privacy, convenience, and last but not least, familiarity with the subject! We will show you best practices for interviewing and recording yourself (and/or your friends and family) to get your stories down. Using demonstrations and audience participation, the class will cover: 

  • What audio & video recording devices are available & best ways to use them; 
  • How to brainstorm and prepare for an oral or video interview;
  • How to find the point and choose your best stories;
  • What makes people interesting and engaging;
  • How to discover your natural, authentic voice;
  • How to transcribe and edit your recording into a readable narrative; 
  • Ideas for adding photos and supplemental material; 
  • Options for sharing your stories: print, multimedia, and online.

Tom Taylor

Tom Taylor is co-owner and Head Coach of Pictures and Stories, Inc. which has produced custom history books and videos for hundreds of individuals, corporations, and municipalities around the world. Tom has interviewed hundreds of individuals and is co-author of the book “How to Save Your Life, One Chapter at a Time.” The Taylors are in-demand speakers at family history events large and small throughout the country including venues such as BYU Education Week and RootsTech.