Process
Part of my role is to keep us focused on your stated intentions for your story, and to keep us moving toward completion. In general, producing your life story, from first interview to book delivery, will take about eight weeks.
- Initial Meeting: We will schedule a complimentary, preliminary meeting at your home or, if you prefer, an alternative, quiet venue that provides privacy. This meeting will let us get to know each other, review the process of producing your story, and answer any up-front questions you might have. We will discuss the potential focus of your story, of course, but also your availability for interviews and manuscript reviews, what resources you have to draw upon, how we will exchange documents, pricing and payment schedules.
- Agreement Letter and Questionnaire: If you decide to work with me, I will send an agreement for your review and signature. It will summarize our preliminary meeting and provide a general outline of topics we will cover (for your input), a summary of the process we'll follow with a proposed schedule for each step, and payment details. I will also send an accompanying questionnaire for you to complete with basic information contact details, places you have lived, family members, etc., so we can save time and hit the ground running at our first interview session.
- Interview Scheduling: When I receive your signed agreement and questionnaire, we will set the day and time for our first and subsequent interviews. Ideally, we will schedule a total of four interview sessions: each two hours long, two sessions per week, over two consecutive weeks — a total of eight hours.
- Photo Selection: We will review your photos and make selections to include either at our fourth and final interview or, if needed, in a separate meeting after interviews are finished.
- Manuscript Development: I will organize and shape the interview transcripts into a coherent narrative, mostly in your own words, with transitional phrasing and clarifying language to thread it together.
- First Draft Client Review: I will send you a first manuscript draft for review, changes and comment.
- Book Design: Meanwhile, I will be writing photo captions and creating a loose layout of your book. Once I receive your draft review with changes, I will make your changes and design your book.
- Final Client Approval/Signoff: I will send a digital (pdf) file of your designed book for your review and final approval.
- Final Edits: Once I receive your final review with changes, I will make those changes, and we will resolve any remaining questions or issues.
- To Print: I will send your story file to the printer and transfer your audio files to a flash drive for you to keep.
- Book Delivery: I will deliver your printed book(s) so you, your family and friends can treasure your story for generations to come.
