Thinking about your Story
Preparing for your Nemographia memoir session is about creating a calm, comfortable state of mind so your story can flow naturally. We will guide you during the interview with prompts and questions as your story unfolds.
It’s worth thinking over your life in the days before the interview and making a note of any particular things you would like to remember and have included. If it’s helpful, you can send us your thoughts beforehand by emailing nemographia@gmail.com so we can include them in our prompts or avoid certain topics that you may not feel comfortable discussing.
We follow a chronological pattern with some flexibility for the interview, asking about the stages of your life: Parents and Grandparents, Circumstances of Birth, Early Childhood and Earliest Memories, Adolescence, Education (School), Early Passions, Interests, and Memorable Experiences, Friendships, First Love and Relationships, First Job, Career Start, Further Study, Leaving Home, Travel, Marriage and Relationships, Work, Family and Children, Mid-Life Experiences, Children Leaving, Memorable Events, Later Life, Changes of Life, Maturity, and Reflections on the Meaning of Life.
The length of your memoir package—1.5 hours, 3 hours, or 4.5 hours—will determine how deeply we explore each topic. The most important thing is for you to relax and enjoy yourself, so let us guide you on this journey.
Some suggestions on what we might cover in the interview are as follows:
Parents and Grandparents: Where were your parents and grandparents born? What occupations or passions did they have? Can you share a story they told you about their early lives?
Circumstances of Birth: What do you know about the day you were born? Were there any special circumstances in the family or in the wider world?
Early Childhood and Earliest Memories: What’s your earliest memory? What games or activities did you enjoy? Who were your playmates or friends?
Adolescence: What were your teenage dreams or challenges? Who influenced you most during those years?
Education (School): What was your education/school like? Who was a favourite teacher or a memorable lesson or formative experience?
Early Passions, Interests, and Memorable Experiences: What hobbies or interests sparked your curiosity? What fascinated you. Can you recall a standout event or adventure?
Friendships: Who were your closest friends growing up? What shared experiences and interests brought you together?
First Love and Relationships: How did you meet your first love? What was a significant relationship in your early years?
First Job: What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?
Career Start and Further Study: How did your career begin, and who were early mentors? Did you pursue additional education, and how did it shape you?
Leaving Home: What was it like moving out for the first time?
Travel: Where did you travel, and what was a memorable journey?
Marriage and Relationships: How did you meet your spouse, and how did your relationship evolve?
Family and Children: How did you start your family, and what were early days like?
Work: What were highs and challenges in your career?
Mid-Life Experiences: What were key events or achievements in your middle years?
Children Leaving: How did you feel when your children left home?
Memorable Events: Which celebrations, weddings, or losses stand out?
Later Life: What hobbies or joys have you found in retirement?
Changes of Life: What health or life changes have you experienced?
Maturity: What lessons have you learned and how do you view your place in the world?
Reflections on the Meaning of Life: What gives your life purpose? What were the most important truths you discovered on the way.
Additional Thoughts: What matters most to you? How do you want to be remembered?
These topics are starting points to inspire your reflections. Feel free to note any specific memories or subjects to include or avoid, we do however support you to explore more difficult and traumatic experiences if you are willing as they often give rise to valuable wisdoms and can be very helpful and moving for children and grandchildren to hear, providing a deeper understanding of you and your life.
Feel free to discuss any of this with us, we are non-judgemental and open to all areas of human experience, send your thoughts to us at nemographia@gmail.com before your session or discuss with us before the interview begins.
We look forward to guiding you through your journey of reflection and feel honoured to be helping to create something which your family will cherish for generations.
