Writing Tips

Nearly everyone has a Family Legend, a story about a family member who is notorious for their adventures, scrapes and achievements, big personality, or who was a hero in their own time.

Maybe your granny danced with Elvis, your great Uncle explored the North Pole or your cousin nailed a daredevil skateboarding stunt? It could be a story about a stroke of luck, a trial of nerve, a feat of bravery or an hilarious mishap.

It could be a great love story, a fantastic achievement, an interesting journey or even something that happened at a family event.

We want to know about the legends in your family so get talking, get writing, and get your stories out there.

We want you to share your stories on our website so that we can marvel at the diverse range of characters and experiences that make up our collective heritage. You might be from Scotland or from elsewhere but now living in Scotland or maybe your story happened in Scotland, all these are important and worth telling.

So how to find inspiration?

• If a Family Legend story doesn’t spring to mind straight away, there are many ways to trigger writing inspiration.


• Be inspired by an anecdote your granny always tells at Christmas, or a story about a famous or well-known ancestor.


• Have a look at some of the other Family Legend stories on the site - they might remind you of a forgotten story.


•  You could try interviewing your grandparents to find out about the wild adventures they’ve had or ask your aunts and uncles to dish the dirt on your parents.


• Rummaging through boxes of family photos and letters might spark some ideas, or a visit to your local library or museum could tell you about relatives who have made an impact on your local community.


• It doesn’t matter if the person or their story was famous or important – to the wider world. If they were important in your family, the chances are they will make a good story.

You don’t need a dazzling knowledge of history, or impressive details from your family tree, it’s the heart of the story that matters. If you found it entertaining and interesting then others will too, so write it down and ensure the legend lives on.

Writing your story;

You might find getting started a little bit tricky, but here are some tips

• Stories about a particular person and a particular event work best. Try to focus on that person as your main character.


• If you met or knew the person - start by writing down the things you remember about them and things that they said, to form a description of them as your main character.


• Think about what made the story so special or memorable to you or your family. Write a sentence about this as the ending of the story and then work backwards from there. This approach doesn't work for everybody but it's worth a try!


• If you find yourself struggling to remember details of the story, why not call up a relative to see if they remember things you have forgotten?


• Try to remember a time when the story was being told to you and write it down in the storyteller's words. Use their expressions. This could help you to tell the story in your own words. Add explanations where you think they are needed.


• Don't worry about the kind of words or language you use - the story should be in your own words and told your way.

Remember that the story is about your Family Legend - if it's special and important to your family then it will probably make a brilliant story.

Good luck and we look forward to reading your Family Legends!