Pricing
The cost of a project is difficult to estimate, but I can talk to your over the phone or meet with you to give you an idea of cost depending on the length and difficulty of the project. It is possible to do a short project for a few hundred dollars, but more extensive projects involving transcribing, extensive writing, design and printing would cost more. If you have a budget, I can design a project that fits.
Start small and add on if you'd like. Preparing a personal history is kind of like a vacation--you can economize or go all out. You can also complete your project in stages, starting with interviews captured on CD and moving on to a manuscript in chapters if you'd like. The last step would be publication of the manuscript in a book format.
Here is a project in stages:
Stage 1: Audio recording
6 to 10 hours is recommended as a minimum for a full life history. I would record the interviews and burn them onto a CD.
Stage 2: Manuscript preparation
This is the most time-consuming part of the process because it includes transcribing the interview, which can take 3 hours for every hour recorded. Then the information is organized into a book format, with chapters. I can coil-bound your manuscript for now and you can think about book production later.
Stage 3: Book publication
Cost varies widely depending on a number of factors, such as whether it is hardback or paperback, length, number of photos, and whether the book is black and white or in color. Cost is difficult to estimate ahead of time but this step can be done economically.
Mini-Projects
If you aren't ready to dive in to a full personal history, other options include an annotated photo album or a story about one key event in your life, such as how you met your spouse, or a milestone anniversary. Don't forget about your pet--a story about your pet with pictures is a good shorter project.
Start small and add on if you'd like. Preparing a personal history is kind of like a vacation--you can economize or go all out. You can also complete your project in stages, starting with interviews captured on CD and moving on to a manuscript in chapters if you'd like. The last step would be publication of the manuscript in a book format.
Here is a project in stages:
Stage 1: Audio recording
6 to 10 hours is recommended as a minimum for a full life history. I would record the interviews and burn them onto a CD.
Stage 2: Manuscript preparation
This is the most time-consuming part of the process because it includes transcribing the interview, which can take 3 hours for every hour recorded. Then the information is organized into a book format, with chapters. I can coil-bound your manuscript for now and you can think about book production later.
Stage 3: Book publication
Cost varies widely depending on a number of factors, such as whether it is hardback or paperback, length, number of photos, and whether the book is black and white or in color. Cost is difficult to estimate ahead of time but this step can be done economically.
Mini-Projects
If you aren't ready to dive in to a full personal history, other options include an annotated photo album or a story about one key event in your life, such as how you met your spouse, or a milestone anniversary. Don't forget about your pet--a story about your pet with pictures is a good shorter project.