Written Legacy Services
Preserving Legacies One Story at a Time
At The Experience Curator, our mission is to work closely with clients, guiding them through the process of capturing their unique narratives and ensuring that their cherished stories are preserved for generations to come. With a passion for storytelling, Annie conducts personalized interviews, delving into the rich tapestry of your family's experiences.
Annie's commitment is to take the burden off of your shoulders; she does the work of crafting and weaving together your stories, creating a legacy that will be treasured by your loved ones. Let Annie help you celebrate your family's journey and ensure that the essence of your collective history is passed down, creating a lasting legacy for the future.
What's Included
Interviews
Interviews are the most important part of the project. Interview time can be broken into any combination of 30 minute or 60 minute appointments. If children under the age of 18 are being interviewed, they may be scheduled for a 15 minute interview. A parent or legal guardian must be present for all interviews with minors. All interviews take place on Zoom or via email unless arrangements for in-person interviews are made in advance. Annie and the client will discuss interviews during the introductory call but the client has final say in who will be interviewed and in what time increments. In addition to the subject, here is a list of subjects who could be considered for interviews: family (spouses, parents, grandparents, stepparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, children, etc.), neighbors, coaches, pastoral staff, teachers, employers/employees, childhood friends, and other acquaintances.
Artifacts
All projects include scanned artifacts. The client may scan artifacts and email them to Annie or they can be mailed to Annie to scan. The Experience Curator is not responsible for artifacts that are lost in the mail. If artifacts are being sent in the mail, please ensure they are packaged safely and that tracking is available. Here is a list of suggested artifacts: photographs, yearbook pages, family trees, report cards, copies of speeches, letters, greeting cards, birth certificates, hospital records, adoption orders, original artwork, poetry, song lyrics, recipes, awards, diplomas, programs, newspaper clippings
The Gift of Legacy
If you would like your book to be complete and ready to gift by a specific holiday, please see our holiday deadlines below.
Mother’s Day: Booked by February 1st
Father’s Day: Booked by March 1st
Christmas: Booked by September 1st
All other holidays/birthdays/anniversaries: At least three months prior to the celebration.
If you would like to give someone a gift certificate so they can complete the project on their own timeline, we offer a special gift box that allows for a nice presentation. The box includes a gift certificate, a journal with prompts that go along with the interview questions, and a beautiful pen engraved with the recipient's name.
Pricing
We understand that every family is unique, and so are their needs. That's why we offer several packages with different pricing options, making it affordable for everyone to embark on the journey of preserving their history.
Many times family members will purchase this service together. We are happy to create multiple invoices or payment plans to accommodate different payment preferences.
Investment
The investment can range anywhere from $1,500 - $5,000 depending on the following:
- Scope of topic
- Total number of pages
- Hours of interview time
- Quantity of artifacts included
- Production time
Payment Options
- Pay in-full. Clients who pay in-full receive a 10% discount.
- Pay a 50% deposit and the other 50% when the project is complete. Clients who pay 50/50 receive a 5% discount.
- Set-up a monthly payment plan. Please note that all payments must be received before the final product is released to the client.
Clients may pay by check, Zelle, or Venmo.
5 Reasons to Write Your Story
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Pass on Family History, Values, and Traditions: Your family's unique story, values, and cherished traditions deserve to be passed down through the ages.
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Give Meaning to One’s Life and Lived Experiences: Every life is a journey, and documenting that journey brings depth and meaning to each lived experience.
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Give Your Heirs a Sense of Where They Came From: Knowing their roots provides a strong foundation for your heirs, fostering a sense of identity and belonging.
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Experience Healing Through the Storytelling Process: Sharing and reflecting on life's stories can be a therapeutic and healing process for both the storyteller and the audience.
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Giving Your Life Continuity: Providing future generations with a tangible connection to their past is a priceless gift, offering continuity and a sense of belonging.
Here's How It Works
Step One
Introductory Call: Annie and the client schedule a thirty minute introductory call. On the call you discuss the experience and the process, the subject of the book, determine who will be interviewed, and set a timeline that both parties are comfortable with.
Step Two
Contract: Both parties sign the contract and the client pays the deposit.
Step Three
Questionnaire: The client or the subject completes a questionnaire that helps Annie get to know your family, create interview questions, and begin the outline for the book.
Step Four
Interviews: Annie conducts a series of interviews with the subject and his/her/their family and friends. All interviews are conducted on Zoom or via email. If the client prefers an in-person interview, a reasonable travel fee will occur for those who reside outside of Sacramento.
Step Five
Outline: Annie will create an outline for the book. The client will approve the outline and then the writing process will begin.
Step Six
First Draft: Once the outline is approved, Annie will begin writing the first draft of the book. The client will have the opportunity to read the draft, provide feedback, and recommend changes. Annie will then make revisions and the client will have the opportunity to provide another round of feedback.
Step Seven
Feedback and Revision: After two rounds of feedback, Annie will complete the final draft.
Step Eight
Digital Final Draft & Final Payment: Annie will send a watermarked digital copy of the finished book to the client. Final payment is due within 10 days of receiving the watermarked digital copy.
Step Nine
Project Completion: The client will receive the final digital copy and our work together is done.
LET'S GET STARTED
Are you ready to write your story?
Congratulations! You've made the decision to embark on the journey of writing your story! It's an honor that you've chosen to work with me. I couldn't be more excited to collaborate with you on this project. Let's start this journey by scheduling an introductory call to dive into your story.
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE INTRODUCTORY CALL
This division of The Experience Curator is dedicated to the people in my life who have transitioned from this world and are now living in a better place. I am forever grateful for the beautiful experiences we shared.
John Hallsten, 1924 - 2019
June Hallsten, 1925 - 2019
Ann Taylor, 1926 - 2022
Eldon Thiele, 1977 - 2024
Micah Holsonbake, 1983 - 2018
Syed Ali, 1985 - 2006
Andrew Jenkins, 1988 - 2020
Allie and Jax
