RECORD: COLLABORATIVE MEMOIR CREATION
WHAT IS RECORD?
RECORD is a service dedicated to helping people — often, but not exclusively, people in later life — preserve their life stories in beautifully crafted books.
As an experienced journalist and published biographer, I understand the challenges, and the deep rewards, of bringing a life story to the page. I prepare thoughtful, personally tailored questions for each interview, and then sit down with my client — in person where possible — in a calm, relaxed space where conversation can breathe. From the material that emerges in this way, I can shape compelling narratives that reflect my clients’ lives in all their richness and complexity. I then collaborate closely with talented book designers and trusted printers to create elegant volumes for my clients to own and share.
Unlike AI-assisted memoir programmes, which rely on templates to produce fast, polished, but predictable results — and there are many of these on the market — my process is built on human connection and relationship. Stories that have been told many times often become flattened by repetition; I listen with care and without judgment, gently digging beneath well-worn surfaces, encouraging reflection and asking questions that draw out long-forgotten details. As clients review their transcripts, they often notice gaps or unresolved threads, and together we revisit these, unpicking knots and filling in the silences. The result is a book that feels fresh, considered, and alive.
HOW IT WORKS
1. First Conversation (2-3 hours)
In our first meeting, the client and I talk at length about the story they wish to tell. Working from this conversation, I create a detailed set of questions and prompts to guide reflection ahead of the interview stage.
2. Interviews (+/- 3 months)
We then begin the interviews. I usually conduct between nine and twelve interviews, one per week, allowing time for reflection, discussion, and preparation in between.
(NOTE: Some clients have chosen not to take the process all the way to a finished book. If you prefer, you may simply keep the full set of interview transcripts as a record of your story, without having them shaped into a memoir.)
3. Shaping the Narrative (+/- 2 months)
Once the interviews are complete, I take over, carefully shaping the transcripts into one compelling narrative, appropriately divided into parts and chapters. During this phase I also work with the client to select the images that best illuminate the story. A draft of this narrative, with pictures placed, is sent to the client for review.
4. Design & Layout (1 month)
When the text is ready — additions and changes absorbed — and pictures chosen, I collaborate with talented designers to create a beautiful layout and cover for the book. (When the images seem to ask for it, a coffee-table style book can sometimes be more appropriate than a traditional book. This depends on the material that emerges, and on what feels right for the client.)
5. Printing and Delivery (1 month)
Finally, I work with trusted printers to get the look and feel of the book just right. The client then decides how many books to print, and these are delivered directly to their home.
Timeline (for full memoir):
Altogether, from our first conversation to the client holding the book in hand, the process takes around seven months.
“When my dad began to slow down and show signs of memory loss, I realized how important it was to preserve his incredible life story. Daniel was simply amazing. He was patient, efficient, kind, and always open to feedback and changes. He treated my dad’s story with the care and respect it deserved.”
- Lynn Angel, Boston MA