A new way to tell your story:
How many times have you thought about telling your story, or been asked by loved ones to tell your story?
And how many times have you resisted?
You’re not alone.
In my 15 years as an editor and writing coach, I’ve encountered lots of people who have considered writing a memoir but never done it. I’ve heard people say, “No one would be interested in my story, and even if they were, I wouldn’t know where to start.”
Here’s my response.
Everyone has a story. Do you wish your parents had told you more about their lives and the lives of family members before them? Do your children ask you about your stories? Maybe you want to share your history with your grandchildren, or capture your travel memories. Maybe you’re the keeper of family lore and you want to capture that history before another generation passes.
Imagine your stories, polished and well-written, as a printed paperback, ready for the bookshelves of your family and friends.
And that second part, not knowing where to start?
Well, that’s where I come in.
I have over 15 years experience in collaborative writing projects. I know how to take your ideas, notes, journal entries, or other content, combined with edited transcripts of our conversations, and turn it into a narrative that flows and retains your voice.
You can have a complete, self-published, paperback-bound memoir in 6 months.
Even if you don’t think of yourself as a writer.
Even if you’re busy and only have a few hours per month to commit.
Even if you don’t know how to format and upload a book to a print-on-demand service – and don’t want to learn!
THIS IS HOW EASY IT CAN BE:
Your role is to simply tell me your story via Zoom interviews & specialized writing prompts, and my job is to craft your story into a book.
Let’s allow you to focus on the story you want to tell, without worrying about how to tell it. And at the end, you’ll have an engaging, compelling memoir you can feel confident in.
Once I’ve guided you through the interviews and writing prompts, I will take what you tell me and craft it into a fully developed draft of your memoir, send it to you for feedback, and polish it into its final form.
And when we’re done, I’ll even proofread and arrange for printing – and have copies of your memoir shipped to you!
Introducing… MEMORLIBRO
Why Memorlibro?
It means memoir in Esperanto – a universal language, just like storytelling.
A combination of writing support, editing, and self-publishing support designed to help you complete your memoir quickly – even if you don’t think of yourself as a writer.
How does it work?
I provide you with a list of questions and writing prompts to give me a sense of your story and begin to collect parts of the structure and narrative.
Then, we’ll meet on Zoom where I’ll get to learn more about your story, and we’ll record the conversation so that the transcript will provide more of your words and a sense of your voice.
I’ll provide a partial first draft from your responses and the transcript. A table of contents, a basic sketch of the shape of the book so far, and any chapters that have already taken shape. I’ll also provide some questions to prepare you for our second Zoom interview.
We’ll meet again to fill out the places where the book needs more detail or connecting information. We’ll talk about (and add to) the structure or flow of the narrative and ensure we have enough material for a printed paperback book.
I’ll provide a draft of the completed book for you to review, make minor edits, and approve.
We’ll have a third Zoom session to review the edits, and finalize the manuscript
I’ll proofread the final draft, format it for self-publishing, and coordinate the print-on-demand process.
You’ll receive your copies of your book at home, and proudly share your memoir with family and friends!
(Sign up now, & you’ll have books to share as holiday gifts!)
What’s the investment?
Memorlibro is a blend of other writing and editorial services I offer, at one flat fee to make it more affordable.
Investment:
One-time payment of $4,000 (due upon sign-up)
OR
Three Installments of $1,500 (due at sign-up, before call #2 & #3).
What Do You Get?
Approximately five months of book coaching support (includes Zoom meetings that are part interview, part book coaching, part editing consultation; also includes writing prompts, exercises, resources, & email support to help you create parts of the manuscript in your own words. (approximate value $2,500)
A first draft of your manuscript (this includes compiling notes, editing Zoom transcripts, and heavy developmental editing. Approximate value $2,000+)
A second draft of your manuscript (continued writing support, developmental editing, & line editing. Approximate value $2,000+)
Final edit, proofread, and formatting for paperback (& ebook if you choose). (approximate value $1,000+)
Step-by-step support (or done-for-you) navigating the self-publishing technical process.
Your book will be on your Amazon account so you can order more copies of your book whenever you like.
The Memorlibro book package is available for a limited time!
Investment: $7,500 $4,000
The Memorlibro program takes four to six months, and includes a significant amount of 1:1 client attention and focused work, so I take on a small number of clients for this program at a time. I’m opening the doors now until July 31 to focus on serving a small group of clients interested in completing a memoir by the holiday season. I don’t know when I will offer this program again and whether the price will increase when doors open next.
Working with me on each of these individual services on a full manuscript would total over $7,500. You’ll pay nowhere near that, because I believe that finding a way to tell your story can change your life. I want this to be an easy “yes!” for you to start capturing your memories & sharing your legacy today.
The Fine Print:
After 15 years of working with writers, plus completing an MFA at a renowned writing program, I have a solid background in knowing how to tell a good story, and what blocks people from doing so. This is designed to take you to finished book in your hand, no matter how little writing experience you have.
This project should be a minimal time investment on your end (approximately 5-10 hours per month, depending on your pace and the amount of time you choose to spend writing and responding to the material I provide), so I am confident you will be able to complete this project with a book you feel proud of.
Questions? I’ve Got Answers.
Is it possible to buy this as a gift? I wish my [mom/dad/grandparent/loved one] would preserve their stories. But they don’t use Zoom, will this still work?
Of course! The best way to navigate this is to hop on a call and discuss. You can include your loved one on the call if you’re ready for us to discuss together your goals for the project or any questions either of you may have. If you’d prefer to arrange the project yourself and surprise them, we can make that work too! But we’ll want to have a preliminary conversation about the details. And as for the Zoom question, this process is designed to work with minimal tech involvement. While I do have some online forms set up to enter information and I feel strongly that a video call is best to foster a rapport in the interview/coaching/editing calls, it’s not necessary. As long as the client/memoirist can commit to emails and phone calls, we can use those channels to carry out the same plan.
Are you a publisher? Is this a hybrid or vanity press?
No. Your book will be self-published and listed with Amazon with you as the publisher. This is a program that supports you in writing and self-publishing your own book, not a publisher, distributor, or bookseller. I am not receiving payment for publishing your book, but for providing coaching, writing support, editing, and formatting. Included in your fee to me is my step-by-step support setting your final manuscript up on your own Amazon account and placing the order, so that you will have physical books in hand by the close of our working together – with no worries or stress about the tech and logistics of self-publishing. (This is done-for-you as much as each client prefers, but it needs to be in your Amazon account for you to have access to the book after our work ends. I work with client preference about how much support they would like.)
What about a cover?
You have two options. Included in your Memorlibro investment, I will create a simple cover using Amazon KDP Cover Creator and a photo of your choosing. I am not a designer, however, and the cover will use one of the KDP ready-made templates to ensure that it meets KDP’s specifications. If you would like to hire a designer separately to create a cover meeting KDP’s technical requirements, we can use a completed cover file supplied by your designer. I can also provide some names of book cover designers for you to consider contacting, if you are interested in a professionally designed cover but don’t have an artist in mind.
Can I order more books later? Can I sell my book?
You will be able to order additional copies directly from Amazon anytime. Those costs are controlled by Amazon and based on page count, paper cost, etc., but usually range around $4 or $5 per copy.
Your book will be set up in a way that you can choose to sell, through Amazon, or by ordering author copies to personally sell. However, this process is designed to support those with a personal interest in self-publishing for a specific audience/context, and isn’t meant to include feedback or support on market strategy, finding an audience, or sales strategy. If you are interested in writing and publishing to sell (traditional or self-publishing), my other book coaching and editing services would likely be a better fit for you. Let’s chat.
Will my book have an ISBN?
That choice will be up to you. It is not included in the fee for this program. I will walk you through the process of self-publishing with Amazon KDP, which will include the choice of using a free Amazon ASIN or purchasing an ISBN from Bowker (at your own additional cost; at the time of this writing, $100). This process includes time for us to discuss this question further if you would like support in making that decision.
What if I’ve already started to write my book? Can I get a discount?
This process is designed to incorporate your own writing in addition to recordings from our Zoom conversations. I will work to incorporate any prior drafts, journal entries, letters, or other text that you are interested in including. I cannot provide a discount for incorporating your own writing, as that is part of the process, and the drafts you provide will still require structure, editing, and integration with material from our conversations.
If you have enough writing drafted that you feel you may need less support than this package provides, please consider my other services: https://katesloanfiffer.com/work-with-me
How long does this take? Will I have deadlines?
This process is designed to take 5 to 6 months, from first writing prompt to book in your hand. We will create deadlines together, for me to provide drafts to you, and for you to review, provide additions or edits, and approve the draft so we can continue to the next step. I understand that schedules can vary, and depending on my availability, I am open to working with a client to create a more condensed schedule or complete the work over a longer time period. If you have timing questions/concerns, let’s chat about a schedule that makes sense.
Do you offer refunds?
I am confident you will be able to complete this project with a book you feel proud of. That said, I know the unexpected can happen and I want you to feel comfortable making this investment. This takes significant investment of my time beginning prior to our first Zoom call, so I offer a prorated refund policy:
Up through 24 hours after the first Zoom call, I will refund the full amount paid minus a $250 deposit to cover work already completed.
Beyond 24 hours after the first Zoom call, no refunds are available. However, if you need to end our work together, the current draft of the manuscript will be provided to you, as-is, for you to claim all rights and continue working on your own if you choose.
I have another question!
Just drop me a line at sloan @ katesloanfiffer . com, and I’ll get back to you promptly!