A senior couple browse through a photo album. Photo: VCG

In the last few years of his life, Zhang Fuqing, a farmer from North China's Shanxi Province, dedicated himself to leaving a rich record of his experiences on the walls of his home with a brush. He meticulously documented everything, from the construction of his house to the growth of his crops.

Yang Benfen, who published a book at the age of 80, wrote in the preface, "If no one takes the time to record certain moments, my mother's mark on this world will quickly fade away. And on that not-so-distant day, my own traces will also be wiped away, like a thin layer of dust carried off by the winds of time."

Recently, the desire of Chinese elders like Zhang and Yang to document their lives and share their stories with others has garnered increasing attention. Posts sharing experiences about ghostwriting customized memoirs for the elderly have gained popularity on social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu and Douyin. 

The length of these memoirs can vary based on the financial means of the individual being interviewed, but they're typically over 30,000 words. With a standard fee of 5,000 yuan ($689) to 6,000 yuan per 10,000 words, the price of a memoir ranges from 10,000 to 80,000 yuan.

Customized memoirs are regarded by experts as a valuable means of providing emotional comfort to the elderly. Numerous volunteer organizations have launched initiatives to assist seniors in the community and nursing homes who are unable to write or afford ghostwriting services. These projects enable them to record their life stories, offering a source of emotional solace.

Through this process, memoir writers engage in dialogues between elders and their times, capturing the traces of societal development. Tong Xiaojun is one such writer who recognizes the reflections of time present in the narratives of these elders.

A life book

The idea of elderly people writing memoirs or hiring someone to write them isn't exactly new. For 35-year-old Tong, a seasoned content creator, it represents a unique form of cross-generational dialogue.

Tong, who previously worked as an editor for health and psychology books, first encountered memoir writing for seniors while interviewing private entrepreneurs. "Most of these entrepreneurs are between 50 and 70 years old, and they are often faced with the challenge of passing down their business legacies, life lessons, and entrepreneurial philosophies," he told the Global Times. "But what really pulled me into this field was my desire to write a memoir for my father."

Memoir writer Tong Xiaojun (left) takes a walk with his father and son. Photo: Courtesy of Tong Xiaojun

His father is a farmer from East China's Zhejiang Province. As Tong started writing the memoir, he found the process to be much more grounded and fuller of rich stories compared to writing for entrepreneurs. "His life experiences in rural Zhejiang - the joys, sorrows, and local traditions - are a vivid reflection of the times," Tong said.

While memoirs are typically deeply personal, his father's discussions about local customs, like the unique customs of the Spring Festival, added a special touch. These are traditions passed down through generations and aren't documented in any existing books. "This memoir offers a way to preserve that part of society from those days," he noted.

Tong hopes the memoir will not just be a tribute to his father, but also a cultural preservation of practices like "shouting to the mountain" and the experience of trekking up the mountains for school. "I want to make sure these stories are captured," he stressed.

This kind of cross-generational dialogue carries significant meaning and offers a form of companionship for the elderly. Tong believes that while many may think spending time with their aging parents is simply about staying in the same room, the older generation still has a strong desire to share their stories, and that creates a valuable opportunity for communication.

More writers have been engaged in the service to complete a life book for elders, who had been one of numerous soldiers, doctors, teachers or architecture designers and devoted themselves to the construction of the prosperous society. Every time they help to complete a memoir, these writers accompany the elders through time and space, allowing them to once again traverse the remarkable journey of their life.

For better service

The service of customized memoirs has been thriving with the growing demand, meanwhile it also has the potential to turn into a problematic venture.

Based on social media posts, there are currently no standards for memoir production. The abilities and aesthetic sensibilities of practitioners vary greatly, and the quality of the memoir packaging showcased on platforms is also diverse.

One major issue lies in the direction and oversight of content, especially if these memoirs are published. Platforms and publishing institutions must ensure proper vetting of the material, Zhang Yi, CEO of the iiMedia Research Institute, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Zhang also expressed concern about the commercialization of the service, pointing out that some writers may exploit this as a gimmick to profit from elderly clients, urging consumers to remain vigilant.

From a regulatory perspective, Zhang emphasized the importance of guidance on cultural and publishing standards. "Memoirs often carry significant value in shaping societal narratives, necessitating oversight from relevant authorities such as publicity, publishing, and internet supervision departments," he said.