HOW DO I START?

The simple answer is to start with what you already know; you just have to start writing it down. For example, it is fair to think that you already know your own full name, where and when you were born, and the names of your parents. So, start with that. It's not always true, of course, so if that doesn't apply to you, just drop me a line in the comments and I will try to advise.

Also, start small. Don't be too ambitious. Work in bite-sized chunks. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Think of it this way. A baby needs to crawl before she can stand. Only then can she learn to walk. It is later still before she can run. And you would not expect to be able to run a marathon without some training and preparation.

To really get started, though, get a notebook and write your information on the first page. Don't forget to add some details. And add questions you may want to ask. If you want to go further right away, add a new page for each of your siblings (if any) and your parents. Again, include any questions about what you need. That may include where your parents were born, or even the year.

You may not like the idea of physically writing things by hand. We will cover how to save to your phone, tablet or laptop in later posts. For now, though, I suggest using pen and paper, so please bear with me for the moment.