Family Memoir Process

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Not knowing how family memoirs get planned can overwhelm some people. There is so much to talk about that it seems impossible to start. What if you don't remember everything? What if you only remember unimportant things? And how in the world do you turn your scatterbrained memories into a book?

           

First, I'll do a consult with you, and we'll talk about how long you want it to be, how many hours you're willing to devote, and the best way to interview (in person? Over the phone? Over email?).

       

Then, you will make a list of just little snapshots of many memories, either writing them dow yourself or telling me, and I will. I will also ask who you want to be in your memoir, and we will break memories down that way as well.

           

After that, we will decide which memories are most important, and I will interview you for each scene. All you have to do is talk; I'll ask you all the clarifying questions.

           

I will write a few memories at a time, then give them to you to read over. This means you can see what you are getting, and you don’t have to worry about me not delivering.

           

When this is done, we begin ordering them. This can be done chronologically, by family member involved, by theme, or in a few other ways. I can help you decide!

           

At this point, there are some options. You can take the document and decide that is enough, or I can help you find a cover design, formatting, and everything else you need to make it into a book. You can decide if you want to sell it or just have a few keepsake copies, and you will have digital copies to reprint in the future as needed; this way, you can have it for generations to come