Over the summer, the Washington Post published “Books for the Ages: The Best Books to Read at Every Age, From 1 to 100,” a comprehensive list of great novels and stories to read throughout a lifespan. Each book is selected to speak to readers of a particular age, so there's truly something for everyone. We've updated our reading lists accordingly!
The idea that there's a book for every age also got us thinking: What stories should people be telling at every age?
At StoryTerrace, we believe that everyone has a story to tell. While our mission was originally inspired by the desire not to let family stories die as older generations passed on, that doesn't mean that you have to reach a certain age to have a story worth writing. Young or old, you have something to say.
Your Life Story by Decade
Inspired by the Post's list of books to read for each year of life, we made our own list of stories to tell based on your current stage of life. We broke it down by decade:
Your 20s: Your Coming of Age Story
The passage from childhood to adulthood is often marked by a graduation ceremony, but the journey is so much more than formal schooling. In your 20s, you're young enough to remember your childhood clearly, so it's the perfect time to get all those moments on paper while the details are fairly fresh. Your coming-of-age story can also describe overcoming the challenges of adolescence and the joys of finding your real self as a young adult — all inspiring topics for future readers!
Your 30s: The Ups and Downs of Parenting
If you're raising a family of your own, now is the time to preserve all those little stories about your children before they get lost in the whirlwind — you'll only get busier as your children grow up! From cathartic birth stories to a collection of funny moments and photos, books about your young family will be something you turn to again and again. Someday your grandchildren will thank you for this look at their parents' childhoods, too.
Your 40s: Your Lifestyle Manual
By the time you reach your 40s, you've likely hit your stride. You are who you are, and you've learned a lot about life along the way. So share it! This could be a collections of stories and related advice about health, relationships, personal discovery, or lessons you've learned in your profession. You earned your knowledge the hard way, and what you know is definitely worth sharing.
Not sure how to make your life lessons compelling for a audience? Check out a sample chapter from German Lam's autobiography to get inspired.
Your 50s: The Story of Your Career
Whether you've worked your way up to the top of the corporate ladder or have cobbled together a varied and inspired freelance career, by the time you reach your 50s, you've seen it all. Don't let your vast knowledge of your field go to waste! You can share your expertise with others, position yourself as a mentor to novices, or launch a second life as a consultant with a detailed book about your expertise.
Your 60s: Memories for Your Grandchildren
They say that being a grandparent is your reward for making it through the first round of parenting, so enjoy it! Children love to hear about "olden times," so this is the perfect time to write down stories of your childhood to entertain and educate your grandchildren. This is a wonderful way to bind generations together, and it's especially nice for families that live far apart to connect in a meaningful way.
Your 70s and Beyond: Your Complete Memoirs
Now that you're old — and we mean that in the best way! — you've lived long enough to gain perspective on your life as a whole. Now's the time to commit to a full autobiography that preserves your life story for your descendants. You can use your book to tell your family history or to share your personal journey. The words you write today will be passed down to future generations, so they can look back at your life and times with a deeper, richer understanding.
No matter what your age, you have a story to tell! StoryTerrace can help you get started, from the initial idea for your book to an interview with a professional author and final hardcover design.
Contact us today to get started on the story of your life. Sign up for our newsletter to receive more original content from us!
