Life
Stories
We all have stories to tell. We help you capture the narrative of your life, preserving it for generations to come.
Being able to capture life stories in a book is a gift. Not everyone has the opportunity to do so. Aside from creating a lasting legacy of your life for family, most people also find the process hugely cathartic. That’s not to say everyone’s life is a fairytale in the making. Far from it. More important is sharing the life lived, the lessons learnt, the hopes and aspirations you share for others. And of course the experiences that have shaped you.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou
Our process
How we work
We are a business that prides itself on being adaptable and we work in a way that suits our storytellers, but here’s the standard process we follow for our Life Stories.
Step 1
Let's chat
At The Memory Shed, we will start by having a chat about the story you want to tell. From understanding your motivations for writing the book to your intended audience, we can guide you as to which life story approach may be most suitable. You may even be buying the book as a gift for a parent.
Step 2
The memory forage
Every great story starts with some important preparation. After the initial conversation, we shall share a welcome pack with some thought-provoking prompts to kick-off the memory foraging process. Our writer will set up a series of interviews with the Storyteller which may be face-to-face or online, depending on your needs. We shall work with you in a relaxed and collaborative way – gently asking questions, probing and listening to prompt the recalling of memories that may long have been forgotten and helping you to make sense of them.
Step 3
The structure and write-up
Once the interview stage has been completed, we shall share an overall structure for your life story, along with the first chapter of your book. Once we have received your feedback, our experienced writer will retell your story in an authentic and compelling way, using your tone of voice.
Step 4
The book design
With edits made and your story completed, you will be able to select a carefully curated choice of photographs to include in the book. Your book will be assembled and a bespoke cover designed to best reflect you and your story.
Step 5
The delivery
Once you are happy with the final proof, we will go to print and you shall receive a copy of your book in a beautiful keepsake box. We shall also present you with a digital copy of your book which you may share with friends and family.
We wanted to capture my dad’s memories before it was too late, and we are delighted to have preserved them now for future generations. We are especially thrilled to have audios of Dad’s voice. Lynne was extremely empathetic, considerate and caring towards my father. I would recommend getting a book written by Lynne.
MG, a valued client
Our packages
Life Stories
We offer a range of packages for Life Stories. You can find the details on these below. If you don’t see quite what you are looking for, then please get in touch so we can discuss your unique requirements. We are a business that prides itself on being adaptable and we work in a way that suits our storytellers.
Options
The Dahl
The Woolfe
The Thomas
The Shaw
Total pages
55-60
100-105
155-160
235-240
Photos
20
35
45
60
Planning calls (hours)
1
1-2
2-3
3-4
Interviews (hours)
2-3
6-7
9-10
12-13
Number of Interviews
2
4
6
8
Words
8,000
15,000
25,000
40,000
Hardback books
3
4
5
6
Digital copy
1
1
1
1
Cost
£1,995
£3,995
£6,795
£10,995
If you wish to record your Storyteller sharing their story, please discuss this at the outset ahead of agreeing your package. We would be delighted to offer this service for an additional charge.
The Dahl
Total pages
55-60
Photos
20
Planning Calls (hours)
1
Interview (hours)
2-3
No. of Interviews
2
Words
8,000
Hardback books
3
Digital copies
1
Price
£1,995
The Woolfe
Total pages
100-105
Photos
35
Planning Calls (hours)
1-2
Interview (hours)
6-7
No. of Interviews
4
Words
15,000
Hardback books
4
Digital copies
1
Price
£3,995
The Thomas
Total pages
155-160
Photos
45
Planning Calls (hours)
2-3
Interview (hours)
9-10
No. of Interviews
6
Words
25,000
Hardback books
5
Digital copies
1
Price
£6,795
The Shaw
Total pages
200
Photos
60
Planning Calls (hours)
3-4
Interview (hours)
12-13
No. of Interviews
8
Words
40,000
Hardback books
6
Digital copies
1
Price
£10,995
Let's talk
Contact us
We would be thrilled to tell you more about our service and explore what we can do for you. We offer a free 45 minute consultation so we can learn more about each other and before you decide to take the next step. So why not get in touch.
