The Process

Backstory’s guided process breaks through the barriers standing in the way of documenting personal and family stories.

While I help people document their experiences to share with loved ones as a gift, I’ve discovered that the real magic happens to the storyteller. With a skilled listener and guide by their side, I’ve seen extraordinary things unfold. Patterns emerge. Connections spark. They think “I’ve never thought of it that way before!”

Documenting life stories does more than preserve memories. It transforms experiences into insight, helping understand not just what happened — but why it mattered and how it shaped your family member’s life.

  1. Connect
    We arrange a free 20-minute conversation. The only thing needed is curiosity. 

    2. Gather 
    I meet with the storyteller to get acquainted, unearth themes, and make connections. 

    3. Choose
    Based on what I’ve gathered from the previous conversation, I send the storyteller several options to choose from, and they pick the ideas they want to pursue. 

    4. Create
    We schedule four 60-minute sessions over a month to continue our guided conversations.

    5. Iterate
    I write and edit, reaching out to the storyteller with additional questions if needed. Then I send a draft to review.

    6. Finish
    The process is complete! I deliver the final, elegantly-packaged story or letter collection, along with a digital file, to keep and share. ​