Family stories help us understand who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. Strengthening family bonds across generations, they remind us that we will be remembered. Anyone can capture their family stories, and Brenda Hudson makes it easy and fun with Story by Story: 15 Projects to Write Your Family Legacy.

All you need to start is a few minutes and one story. From a small list of your favorite things to stories of life’s pivotal moments, Hudson walks you through different ways to build a living legacy that will evolve and grow as you work. The best part is, there’s no right or wrong way to write your family legacy. You decide! And it doesn’t have to stop with you—your whole family can participate. The more you collaborate, the better you’ll connect your family’s past, present, and future legacy.

Projects in Story by Story will help you document: 

• Family sayings

• Self-portraits

• Character sketches

• Visual diaries

• Mementos and heirlooms

• Lessons you’ve learned

• And much more!

Brenda Hudson is an award-winning teacher and writer. Her passion is helping others express themselves through writing. She lives with her family in St. Paul, Minnesota. For information on her workshops, visit voicedlife.com

“In Story by Story: 15 Projects to Write Your Family Legacy, Brenda Hudson distills her memoir and legacy writing classes into an approachable guide filled with concise, practical tips, useful tools, and inspiring prompts you can take with you anywhere. She understands the ‘why’ aspect of family legacy writing and beautifully provides her readers with the ‘how’ in a step-by-step process guided by years of experience and research.” —Jennifer Dodgson, director of education at The Loft Literary Center

“Story by Story is a beam of love. Born from Brenda’s own hunger for stories about her family, it offers a path toward weaving a meaningful legacy of family memories. The author provides clear instructions, attainable steps, and lovely examples to inspire even the most reluctant story writer. This book provides tools that allow us to step into conversation with our family members. Then the author gives succinct steps to write small stories from memories. With Story by Story, we can shed light on our shared history so that even small moments of ordinary living are not lost to the wash of time.” —Suzi Banks Baum, artist, actress, writer, teacher, community organizer, and mom; editor and publisher of An Anthology of Babes: 36 Women Give Motherhood a Voice; www.suzibanksbaum.com

“Every now and then I am captivated by a writing book so fresh, so shining in its simplicity and depth that I want to stand on a chair and cheer. Brenda Hudson has gifted us with a legacy writing book that breaks it down into such manageable steps that even the most time-constrained and memory-impaired among us believe we can capture our family stories. I can’t wait to get started.” —Kathleen Adams, LPC, founder, Center for Journal Therapy and author, Journal to the Self and Expressive Writing: Foundations of Practice

“While reading Story by Story, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Brenda has such a gift: the gift of empathy, which allows her to easily connect with her readers and writing students. I’ve taken her Writing Your Family Legacy workshop at a conference with the Minnesota Historical Society, and a three-month writing course with her at the Loft in Minneapolis; both classes have made an indelible impact on my own journey as a writer. This book combines Brenda’s warm and compassionate style of teaching with practical exercises, including detailed project ideas, structured tips, and answers to any questions that may arise as you embark along your journey in documenting your family’s stories. Not only are readers given the right tone and space for their writing process, but the book melts away any anxieties as a writer. The constant words of affirmation and encouragement make your work feel seen, as if Brenda were personally speaking to you with the gentleness and care required to honor one’s family’s stories. Designed to guide, inspire, and motivate, this book is a must-read for aspiring/emerging writers and seasoned writers desiring a detailed how-to in documenting family stories, history, and legacy.” —Lula Saleh-Nur, writer, editor, and poet