New study shows the peak in our life stories is younger than ever

Historically speaking, memoirs are typically written by people in their 50s and 60s – reaching their professional and personal peak at a later age in life. However, in a decade marked by immense wealth and burgeoning opportunities, the modern-day biographer is at the youngest we have ever seen. With Molly-Mae Hague releasing her own memoir at just 22, and receiving significant slack for being too inexperienced, the debate ensues: when is the best time to write your memoir? And equally, is an epic life story contingent on age?

Having seen a long-line of successful young memoirists preceding the influencer – including the likes of Marcus Rashford (24), Grace Beverley (24), and Lily Allen (32) – having their work received to critical acclaim, the discussion is most definitely polarising.

The nation’s award-winning national biographer, StoryTerrace, has commissioned a unique body of research which evidences how society is evolving to embrace life-changing choices, marking the dawn of a new age in autobiographical content. The research conducted in recent weeks across a nationally representative cohort of respondents found:

Key findings:

54% said they plan to make their 30s the most exciting years of their life
39% feel that by the age of 40 they will have experienced enough to write their life story so far
51% say they want to document their life stories from a younger age
10% said they are putting their career prospects on hold so they can travel the world
34% said they will not be doing their current job in a year’s time
37% agreed that in 2022 they will turn their life around as these past two years have been some of the worst of their life
13% said they are planning on taking a sabbatical
34% say they have decided to delay parenthood until they’ve achieved some personal goals
Following a boom in sales over the pandemic, StoryTerrace is apprehending a second wave of people documenting their life stories, but from a younger audience. With the knowledge that over half the nation is forgetting their life experiences sooner, the company welcomes an age of individuals prepared to go the extra mile and make stories to tell for a lifetime.

Rutger Bruining shares his thoughts about the importance of preserving our memories:

“Biography writing is an activity to be enjoyed by anyone and everyone. It is commonly misinterpreted that one needs to be in their mid-50s or in the public eye to have their stories shared with the world; this simply is not the case. We have a collection of moving stories written from individuals as young as their mid-20s, all with inspirational experiences that deserve to be heard. Whether that be to keep to preserve memories, or to gift to a loved on, we have a privilege of gaining insight into the lives of many everyday.”

“Everyone has their own unique journey which all too often goes unheard or unfortunately forgotten about. Our history and experiences are what makes us who we are today and highlights our individuality from one another. This can emerge far earlier for some, and as long as the value in experience is notable, age – in our present era – is less of a factor.”