The following discussion was posted by owlwings from MYLOT

Happy New Year to you!

I was impressed by your sites. I am in the process of putting together my 'life story' (as I live it ... I don't know, myself, how the next chapter will turn out!). I also love reading the stories of others, when I come across them, so all power to your elbow for starting up this venture! May you encourage many people to put their experiences into words for others to read.
I wish you all the best and much success for the coming year!

Thank You for your comment I appreciate it.
I am not a professional by any means and so the process of building the site took me through a lot of frustration LOL
One day I hope to have a page to sell peoples stories so keep your eye out.
Thanks again
Jewel

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Some added information from  owlwings:

Thinking about your venture, it occurred to me that you might find some use for Voice Recognition software - where one speaks into a microphone and it types the words into your word processor.

Many people are far more fluent when it comes to telling their story to someone verbally. If they are asked to type or write it down, they freeze!

The packages available vary somewhat in effectiveness (and price!) and all of them need some kind of training by the user - usually about 10 or 15 minutes of reading a standard script - before they become usabley accurate.

Dragon Naturally Speaking is usually rated as the best. You can buy it from Amazon (or eBay) quite reasonably, especially a copy of the previous version (version 8). You would need a microphone, of course, and a reasonably quiet environment. It can't easily handle dishes being washed in the background but many people claim a near 100% effectiveness when it's been properly trained.

It might be useful, especially, for getting a first draft or notes for a story onto paper.

Thank You for adding this comment to the discussion.
I do have a speaking software.
I have also found that Microsoft word has a speech to type under tool
If you open Microsoft word and click on tools you will see speech, once you click on this it will open the speech to word portion.
This allows you to do what you are talking about. And it has practice exercises so that you can train it to use your voice and pronunciation's.
Thanks again for bringing this up another thing I have over looked...

The following discussion was posted by girlgonefishing from MYLOT

I really want to write my autobiography. I even have a title for it already. I'm just too afraid to write "I" anywhere in it. I'm thinking about writing it with "she" instead. If you have any helpful writing tips for me, they would be greatly appreciated.

I would say if you have to write she instead of I then go ahead and do it.
But when you write it like the rough draft portion write it with "I"
Write it honestly and don't leave anything out.
When you start making your final copy you can always change the "I's" with "she" or you may decide something is just to personal but what is important is you will have written it honestly and you will find that maybe your life wasn't that bad at all.
People would be surprised at how many people don't do something because of their worries about what others may say or do because of our actions, but isn't the important thing here to do it for yourself. You are the most important thing in your lives. Just do it for you and I promise you will not have any regrets.
I have learned this the hard way. Once I stopped worrying about others and just wrote for me well things are so much more relaxing.
I mean you went through all this stuff, you truly did, so write it down whether you share it or not the relief of getting it out is worth it.

Thanks for your support Jewel. I really appreciate it.

Not a problem I am glad you posted it's appreciated.
I was speaking with a new lady that is starting my class and she has the same worries but I told her the following.
I said, "Do you think you are the only one that has gone through what you have been through?"
Then I said,” People worry about what others are going to say or feel after reading about our life's. When all that really matters is that we get it out and stop holding it all in...
Now I didn't say this in a mean manner we were just talking and that was my response to her. If something ever comes across like I am being rude please re-read it because I am not that way at all but here online sometimes being blunt can make you sound rude LOL.

Nope, not rude at all. I like what you said to your new student. Actually, I once tried to go to therapy and had three therapists in a row tell me that they were not qualified to help me. One guy even gave me a huge hug and said he would pray for me. I ended up just dealing with my issues alone. My whole life has turned around now and I'm hoping that by writing my story, it will help others. I haven't found anyone who has been through what I have been through but, I'm sure they are out there.

I am sure they are too but who knows it's just important for yourself...

25.00 for the course is a pretty good price.

I am hopping that everyone will feel that way.
I wanted to charge a reasonable fee that everyone could afford.
However this is also an introductory offer.
When the web site gets going and I have the student area and lesson plans all completed I may raise the fee.

But if you have all ready become a paid student before the prices raise your cost will not be affected.
Now don't get me wrong there is plenty of material in the student area to get people started on writing their life stories

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