The Process : Expressions of Wisdom

The following is an outline of the typical process for preserving life stories. Life stories may be specific to one period of your life for example: childhood stories; family stories; immigration stories; veteran stories; family business history; vocation stories; or retirement stories. Or you may choose to focus on your life span, beginning with childhood stories, moving chronologically to present day, and ending with words of wisdom. The process is flexible and will be custom designed to reflect your personal wishes. Once your stories are recorded we can simply preserve them onto a personalized audio CD or we can create a life stories book.

Interviewing
Your stories are captured over a series of one-hour sessions. Most of our clients find that three one-hour sessions is a sufficient amount of time to complete their interview, however, we recognize that some individuals may require fewer or additional sessions. This will be determined at our initial session.
First session: Our professional interviewer focuses on gathering background information, for example: family information, place of birth, significant personal, social, or political events during your lifetime, etc. At this time we provide you with a set of guiding questions that will help you recall the stories from your life that you want to include in your book. Your interview questions are then custom designed to reflect your unique life experiences.
Second and subsequent sessions: This is your opportunity to talk about your life memories. We use a very relaxed and informal interview process that is not unlike the times you’ve sat with a loved one and recalled experiences from your past. Our interviewer provides active listening while you tell your stories allowing you to explore your memories and bring out the details. Our clients have found the process to be both rewarding and therapeutic.

Audio Recording
Your stories are professionally recorded to a personalized audio CD.

Transcribing
Our professional transcriber typewrites your audio interview. It is transcribed verbatim; both questions and answers are included.

Story Writing
The transcription is organized, written, and edited into an easy to read narrative.
First Draft: Duplications, unfinished thoughts, and unrelated or insignificant material are removed. Our professional editor will correct your grammar and sentence structure so your stories are easy to read. Stories relating to specific periods/events of your life are grouped together to create a natural and engaging flow. Careful consideration is taken during this process to preserve your distinct words and style.
Your Review: You are provided with a copy of the first draft to review and make changes. At this point, you can remove and add information, and change your wording. Your story will not go to print until you are 100% satisfied.
Second Draft: The changes you have requested are made and a final edit is performed.
Book Design: Our photo artist / designer enhances your photos and creatively compiles them with your story to create an elegant coffee table book.
Final Review: You are given a draft copy of your finished book to review for accuracy and approval.

Printing & Binding
Your book is professionally printed and bound. (Archival quality printing; Leather hard-cover, sewn binding)

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As personal historians we preserve written and oral history through audio recorded personal interviews, photo restoration, and life story writing / memoir writing services. We capture: family histories, life memories, words of wisdom, elder stories, ancestors stories, childhood stories, personal immigration stories, personal veteran stories, family business stories, vocation stories, and other treasured life stories. We create: written legacies, oral legacies, family legacies, family heirlooms; family treasures, memory books, photo books, life stories books, memoirs, family business histories, tributes to elders, personal narratives, ancestor books, and other archival books and recordings. The invitation to preserve one’s life story makes a great elderly gift, family gift, and retirement gift.

Memory Books, Photo Books, Life Stories, Archival Books, Great Elderly Gift Idea, Family Treasures, Written Legacy, Ancestor Book, Elderly Book, Life Story Writer
Serving Guelph, Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Brantford, Brampton, Toronto, Mississauga, Orangeville, London, Hamilton, Burlington, Niagara, Simcoe, Owen Sound, Woodstock, Barrie, Ontario, Canada