Why should you write a memoir?

Write your story for your family. Some of our clients’ families have been begging them to write a book like this. Others don’t think their families would even read such a book. But rest assured, one day in the future, they will cherish the opportunity to read the story of your life, in your voice. Just imagine if you had a memoir written by your parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, perhaps someone you’ve lost or someone you didn’t get the chance to know well, and you’ll know what your book will mean to your descendants.

Write your story for yourself. Through relaxed interviews, you will revisit memories you haven’t thought of in years: the house you grew up in, the company that gave you your first job, the day you met your partner. You will have the chance to reflect on those memories and the people that shaped them. You will also learn more about them as our researchers work to shed light on the past. Together, we might map your childhood neighborhood, trace your grandfather’s military service, track down your parents’ wedding certificate, browse your hometown newspaper archives, or even solve a family mystery or two. There is joy in exploring your own story, and there may even be healing.

Write your story for the well-being of all. Consider how different the world is today than it was when you were a child, the progress we’ve made and the challenges we’ve faced. Your perspective on those achievements and struggles, on the places you’ve lived and the times you’ve seen them through, is unique. Your story will give your readers insight. It will give them a window into the experiences that not only made you who you are but shaped society as a whole. It may even give them strength and courage to face the challenges of today.

Further reading: Why You Should Write a Memoir—Even if Nobody Will Read It, The Stories That Bind Us.

How It Works

Comfortable Conversations

Your book will be based on a series of informal interviews in your home, your office, or via Zoom, that take place over a period of months or years. We will guide you with questions to help you remember the details that make up the fabric of your story. Throughout the process, we will add photos as well as historical and cultural research to set the story in its time and place. No preparation is necessary!

Shaping the Story

You will receive regular drafts of your manuscript throughout the process so you can correct the details, make additions or deletions, and see the value of your investment along the way. You are the author of this experience and this story. The process is one of reflection, and the end result is a priceless treasure that grows more precious with the passing of time.

The Product

Once the story is complete and you’re satisfied with the manuscript, the book goes into copy editing, then proofreading, then book design. You’ll review the book and give final approval, one last time, before printing. You will choose the cover, the binding, and the number of copies. Please see Questions & Answers or contact us for more information.