How To Write A Memory Book For Parents

Unique Memory Book Ideas to Gift Parents for Keepsake

Step 1: Start With a Plan

Before setting out to write a memory book for your parents, it is important to start with a plan. Having a plan gives you direction and helps you determine the purpose for writing a memory book for your parents.

You get to know the kind of memory book you are writing for them and how you will structure it.  For example, you can decide to be specific and only choose to write a memory about their birthdays, travels, or wedding anniversary, or you could write a general memory book on their entire memories, from childhood to the present day.

Now you need to understand that the purpose for which you are writing a memory book for your parents would determine how big or small the memory book would be and how long it would take you to achieve your plan.

A more specific memory book would be concise and small compared to a general memory book. Furthermore, it would take you less time to finish a specific memory book than a general one.

So if you do not have enough time in your hands, you can opt in for a memory book centered only on specific information like your parents’ wedding, birthdays, and so on, or ask other family members to join you on the project if it is a memory book of their entire life’s journey to make it easier.

Step 2: Collect Memories

Once you are done with the planning phase and you already know what you want to achieve,  the next step to take is to collate memories of your parents for the memory book.

You start with gathering all the relevant data and information you need for the book. This information includes things like their photos, postcards, tickets, favorite quotes, love letters, stories, birth certificates, and other memorabilia of your parents.

I have to say this phase is always time-consuming, so you may need the help of other family members so it becomes easier for you.

Furthermore, you can compile questions about your parents and set up an interview for relatives and friends so they can share more detailed information and personal memories they shared with your parents that you may be unaware of. While they are answering, you can take notes or simply record their response on camera or an audio recorder.

Also, ask the grandchildren (if there are any) to write stories or heartfelt notes about your parents and gather the ones they have written in the past for your memory book.

After which, you can organize the information, photos, and other memorable items you gathered according to the events and year you want and transfer them into the memory book.

Step 3: Organize and Arrange

Now that you have gathered all the materials you need for the memory book, the next step is to organize and arrange them in the order you want them to be in your memory book.

To start with, you need to decide if your memory book will be in a physical or digital format. For me, I recommend having both.

For the physical format, grab a notebook, preferably a scrapbook, then an acid-free glue, pen, and marker from a stationery or grocery store. Once you have your scrapbook, you can start making a sketch of the layout you want in your memory book.

There are different types of layout for a memory book. It could be a photo on one page and write-up on the other page layout or a photo and write-up on the same page layout. Tweak it to find what appeals to you, but whatever you do, make it clean and consistent.

After you have designed the type of layout you need, the next thing is to consider the order in which you want to arrange the memorable items in the memory book. Do you want it from childhood to present day, from present day to childhood days, or in a thematic order where you focus more on other aspects of their lives like careers, travels, and so on.

Whichever way you intend for your layout, the thing is there are no rules to creating a memory book, so you can as well do whatever you choose with the memory book. The most important thing is to have an organized structure of things that makes it easier for your audience to read and not miss out on any important information, photos, or stories.

As for the digital version, it is pretty easy as the major work of sketching the layout has been done for you, so all you need to do is choose a template, fonts, and color you like and then scan photos and other memorabilia accordingly into the custom-made and well-designed templates.

Step 4: Tell the Story

Now that you are done with properly arranging and sectioning the memory book for your parents, it is time to tell the story behind each memorable item in the memory book. The story can be a caption or narrative.

Whether short or long, the most important thing is that it should be captivating enough so that your audience would be compelled to read the storybook to the very end. I advise you not to treat this step trivially, as it is the most important part of your memory book.

To make your story more captivating, write in the language of each photo, include humour, quotes from your parents, and so on. The thing is, if you add personal touch to your story, it will make it more relatable to read, and everyone will want to read it over and over again.

Alongside your story-telling, also add things that your parents love. For example, if your parents love blue morpho butterflies, you can draw one at the end of a story instead of using “full stop” or other elements, objects, and materials that would spark up beautiful memories within them.

Another thing is to ensure that  captions are concise and narratives are detailed enough without omitting the who, where, when, what, and how that should be in the story when necessary.

Step 5: Revise and Edit

After you are done with writing your story, you can simply go over what you have written and read through every line to ascertain if it corresponds with the photos or memorable items.  Also check for correctness of grammar, names, dates, punctuation, and spellings.

You can hire a professional editor to edit and proofread your story or simply ask your family members to read through the story and give you feedback. Doing this will not only help you gain fresh insights but will also help you better structure your story.

Step 6: Design and Add Visuals

Once everything is set and you are satisfied with the outcome, it is time to design your memory book and add visuals where necessary. For the designs, you can use beautiful embellishments like glitters, rhinestones, dried flowers, or anything that sparks up special memories, looks beautiful, and is perfect for decorating the memory book for your parents.

And for the visuals, rather than just adding photos in their rectangular shape, crop it neatly into different beautiful shapes to make it more visually appealing. Do the same thing for other memorable items too so that everything is in unison.

Step 7: Present the Memory Book

This is the final stage of your beautiful project. It is the moment you have been looking forward to, and it is both emotional and exciting at the same time for many people.

As with every other step in making a memory book, this step is also important. So you need to choose the right moment for your presentation so your parents can fully appreciate the effort, thought, and love put into creating the memory book.

So you can choose to present the book to them during a family gathering, on their anniversary or birthday, or during a quiet time at home. To make it more memorable, you can record their reactions when presenting the book to them. I am certain it would be an exciting moment for the family.

And if it was done in a digital format, you should get a projector and make a slideshow presentation of the memory book. Also capture the whole presentation and their reactions. And share digital copies with other members of the family.

How to Write a Memory Book for Parents on Meminto

Now that you have an idea of how to write a memory book for parents, you can make the entire process seamless by using Meminto.

With Meminto, you can easily use already-made templates to create a memory book for your parents and any other type of customization you would need throughout the book-writing process. The steps involved are pretty simple, and you receive your customized products on time.

Here’s how you can use Meminto create a family history book using Meminto:

1. 1. Go to the Meminto website at https://meminto.com/product/parents-book/ and locate the “Get Started” button.

   

2. Decide if you are making the book for yourself (“I will”) or as a gift for someone else (“Someone else will”).

3. Choose the number of pages you want and specify if you need extra copies or prefer digital versions. Then, click “Add to Cart.”

4. Enter your shipping details, choose your payment method, and apply any available promo codes.

5. Review your order details and track its status on the checkout page.

6. Check your email for a confirmation containing an activation code. Copy the code and visit https://memin.to/register.

7. Fill out the personal information of the person you are writing about, enter the activation code, and create a password. Click “Sign up for Meminto” to start writing your story.

8. Select your language preference (German or English) and choose the day you want to receive weekly writing prompts. Click “Save Changes.”

9. Customize the memory book by choosing the alignment of text and how sections are organized.

10. You can further personalize the memory book to match your preferences.

11. Watch the instructional video below so you can get better guidance on how you can use the Meminto app.
    
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Conclusion

A memory book is more than just putting words and photos together in a notebook; it is a thoughtful gift and a beautiful way to show your parents that you cherish every moment together, so you are making a legacy for future generations to see.

The book tells the stories of love, life’s journey, battles they have to fight, their triumphs, and, above all, the special and beautiful moments and memories they have created within the family.

This guide teaches you all you need to know to create a memory book for your parents. I advise you to follow the steps outlined therein.