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The experience of creating a Locket Book
The experience of creating a Locket Book
If you choose to commission us to write your memoir, we will begin a close collaboration lasting between 12 and 16 weeks, depending on the pace you wish to take.
We hope that the experience of creating your book will give as much pleasure as the book itself.
1
Planning
We begin by getting to know you over the phone, talking through what you would like to include in your book.
To gain a deeper understanding of the most important people, places and experiences in the period you wish to record, we send you a questionnaire. Consider it an aide memoire for your memoir - as we will call to talk through your answers.
Gathering together all the research, we plan and agree the three interviews.
The interviews
2
We call them interviews but the sessions are very relaxed and informal – more like chats, that happen to be recorded.
We usually organise three visits, each two hours long, but this is flexible according to your needs.
3
Photographs
If you are within our area, we offer an additional service to digitalise your photos and images in your home. We capture high resolution scans, optimised for print.
If you are supplying your own digital photos, we can arrange a simple way of transferring your files.
Writing your memoir
4
Hours of informal conversation are then transformed into a flowing first-person memoir. You can expect to receive your first draft approximately three weeks after the interviews end.
We will talk through all the changes you require and incorporate them into a second draft. There is an opportunity to request further changes to the second draft, before signing off the text.
5
Design
The manuscript will be typeset by our designer using your selected design choices. Photographs will be interleaved throughout the text.
Whilst that is underway, we will have a chat about the cover design and you will be given several ideas to choose from.
Proof reading
6
Although we aim to write to exacting standards, we always have our books checked by a professional proofreader. After weeks of working so closely on your story, it's essential that the manuscript is given a final check by an editor who has a fresh pair of eyes.
Finally, you will be a sent an A4 printed proof of your designed book and book cover for sign-off.
7
Printing
Locket Books are printed by a small British digital printing firm in Gloucestershire.