This article continues what I wrote last week about journaling your family stories. It included a guide to getting started. Feel free to read Part One first. 

Whether it’s a personal or family journal, know that your organizing, format, and what you write about can change. This is not the end all of recording your family stories. I’m offering some possibilities. So try one way and shift as it feels right to you. 

Physical Journal:

• Choose a journal that lasts. Can be decorative or simple. 

  • I use Peter Pauper brand, lined and is hard cover

• Writing Instrument

  • Sharpie archival pen or any pen that is acid free and won’t fade. I suggest writing in neat, clear handwriting so future generations can read it. 

• Indexing or Table of Contents

  • Depending on what you’re writing, you can keep an Index in the beginning of your journal with the dates entered, page numbers, themes. I write chronologically and label each journal with the beginning and end date. Include a title for each entry to give an idea of what it’s about. 

    Index Chronologically

  • Pages 1-5) 7/1-7/4/24–Trip to Grand Canyon with Family

  • Pages 6-8) 7/5-7/6/24–Grandma Tina’s 80th Birthday Celebration

  • Page 9) 7/7/24–Birth of Josie–2nd cousin
    

If I’m writing to my son, then I’m going to note who the people are in connection to him. Grandma Tina could be my mother and Josie my grandniece. 

Index by Category

• Birthdays

  • Pages 5, 9, 25, 37-38, 52, 79

• Vacations

  • Pages 1-4, 90-95

• Family/Holiday Gatherings

  • Pages 6-8, 10, 11-14, 53-56

You can get more specific by including the vacation location and type of holiday. 

This can easily be organized in a Word document with the pages numbered, an Index or Table of Contents in the beginning. 

What to Write About

These prompts are offerings. You don’t have to write to every prompt. They are an access point to begin. I’m going to use a holiday gathering as an example but simply adjust for the event/occasion/moment.

Date the entry with the day of the week, month, day, year. Can also add time of day for more context. 

How will you start each entry?

Doesn’t have to have a salutation but I begin every entry addressing my son’s name. It may vary with Hi! or Hey! Hello! I end the full journal with a closing note.

Family Journal Prompts:

• Write about the day

• What holiday is it?

• What did you/family do?

• Can begin with yourself, then expand to immediate family

  • If appropriate, observe further out to extended family, community, state, country, world

• Who did you see?

• Where did you go?

• When did you go?

• Why were you there?

• Was this something significant?

  • Why?

• What food was served?

  • Were there traditional recipes?

  • Who made what?

  • What are some stories behind the family traditions?

• What’s new with the family?

• What’s important for the audience (who you’re writing to) to know.

• How did you feel about the day?

• How did who you’re writing to feel?

• What about everyone else?

You can stick to the facts but adding in sensory details thickens the memory and brings it to life when read years later. 

Think about longevity and include full names when needed, locations, temperature, what people wore. You can be as detailed or brief as you like. 

Stories.

They thread our lives together. They give us context of who we are, what connects us to 

our world, family, and those who have passed. They remind us of our joys and sorrows. 

What stories do you wish to tell?

What stories do you want remembered?

I would love to hear what you plan to write about.