“Time is a good storyteller.”
- Irish Proverb
The Process
The process of recording personal memories is friendly and informal. Because we know that each person has different needs, we try to be as flexible as possible in capturing and creating your story. After an initial consultation, the following is a typical process that StoryMatters uses.
1. Planning
During this session, we discuss the format of book you want, who will be interviewed, the focus of those interviews and the kinds of questions that will be asked.
2. Telling the Story
A StoryMatters interviewer contacts all the individuals who will be making contributions to the book. This is where the project comes alive. You begin to tell your story and recall memories gathered throughout your life. These audiotaped interviews are held in a comfortable and quiet environment, usually your home.
3. Transcribing, Organizing, Editing
We type out the interviews directly from the audiotapes. The word-for-word transcription is then organized and edited into a story that retains the narrator’s voice. You then receive a first draft in order to make any corrections, additions or deletions.
4. Designing (Images, Printing, Binding)
Images
After we know the focus of the book, we ask you to gather photos, birth certificates, recipes, letters, or other memorabilia – and give them to us to be scanned for your story. We guarantee that the originals will be returned in the same condition that we received them. Our graphic designers lay out all the text and include all memorabilia you have provided. You will then receive these galley proofs for approval.
Printing
The pages of your book are printed on a professional colour
laser printer using a heavyweight, acid-free archival paper so
that your heirloom book will last for generations.
Binding
The book is beautifully hand bound with your choice of cover materials that may include paper, leather, silk or other fabrics. Or we can create a custom collage on the cover, reflecting the special story within.
Number of Books
It is up to you to decide how many books you want to order, from one to a dozen or a hundred or more. Some books may be custom-bound and others may be more simply produced with a spiral binding.
Audiotapes
A complete set of audiotaped interviews will be returned to you if you wish.
From Start to Finish
The whole process takes from several weeks to several months, depending on the number of hours of interview time involved.
