Life History - Memoir - Biography
Co-Authoring

Co-authoring, at its most basic, means that you provide the stories and information and I will shape
a life history out of it. It is even more of a team effort than this sounds. My purpose isn’t just to
write what you give me. My purpose is to help you discover the stories that make up your life.
Everyone has the stories that they tell again and again. Those stories are important. But even more
important are the less told, or untold, stories that have quietly shaped who you are today. I will help
you find those stories.

THE PROCESS

    The co-authoring process is based upon a series of interviews. There can be as few as five or
    as many as fifteen depending upon the scope of the work. The interviews will be in person if
    possible, but over-the-phone can work well. Scheduled interviews will last 60 to 90 minutes.
    In addition to the scheduled interviews there are often unscheduled communications via
    email and telephone.

    After the initial interview I will write up an overview of the proposed life history. This initial
    overview will serve as an outline or even a table of contents. We can adjust the outline to
    support the desired scope or length of life history desired. Future interviews will be based
    upon this outline and will serve to flesh out the details and discover the nuances of life
    events. At each scheduled interview I will provide a copy of what has been written to that
    point in order to get your input and make modifications.

    It is usually very helpful to both of us for you to furnish copies of important photos, news
    clippings, and journal entries that illustrate the life stories that we are discussing during the
    interviews. These items can help job your memory and help me find the right voice in which
    to write your stories.

The End Result

    At the end of this wonderful process of reflection and discovery will be a manuscript that has
    captured your life to the detail that you desire. If you wish I can help you arrange to have the
    manuscript professionally printed in book form.
PO Box 445
Levan, UT 84639
801-735-4938
tory@tapestrylifehistory.com