What is Story Terrace? How does it work?

  • How can I find out more about Story Terrace?
    • If you don’t find the question and/or answer you are looking for here, please chat with us on weekdays between 9am and 6pm (GMT) or get in touch with us through the contact link in the menu above. Fill out the contact form with your information and question(s) or, if you prefer, write us an e-mail, call us or chat with us by clicking on the chat system at teh bottom of each page. We would love to hear your story and explain how we can help you get started making your own Story Book alongside one of our writers today!
  • Why should I get in contact?
    • The experience of having your stories professionally written is still unique to most and we welcome the opportunity to talk personally with each customer in order to address any individual questions.
  • How long does it take before someone contacts me with an answer?
    • We try our best to respond to any inquiry within 24 hours so please leave us with the appropriate contact information for you and we will respond as soon as possible.
  • I am not sure if my story is suited for a Story Book – how do I know?
    • Your story is more important than you may realise and is certainly suited for a Story Book. Contact us and we can discuss how best to begin the process with your story!
  • Where is Story Terrace Ltd located?
    • The Story Terrace office is located in London on 31 Corsham Street. It’s a few minutes walk from Old Street tube station.

 

The Product:

  • How much influence do I have over the content of my Story Book?
    • You have complete control over the content of your Story Book. We provide professional writing and editing but you will always have the final say. Have a look at our website here for more information about the writing process.
  • How long does the process take?
    • The time it takes to create your book depends on various factors, the most influential being the length of your story. Throughout the process, many customers find that they have more to include in their book than they initially think and want to make adjustments to their package, which can be accommodated in most cases. Typically, the process takes anywhere from 10-12 weeks for a Story Book Compact and a few weeks longer for a Story Book Complete.
  • I don’t want to answer the questionnaire. Can I still make a Story Book?
    • While our questionnaire helps you to bring back memories and decide which stories, anecdotes and turning points to focus on, it is also possible to create a Story Book based solely on the interviews conducted by your writer.
  • I have already written a few chapters. Can you help me finish my book?
    • If you have already written a few chapters or your entire book, one of our editors/writers can help you finish and add a professional touch. Please give us a call or send your work to info@ and we’ll suggest a plan and quote a price for creating your Story Book.
  • What does the cover of my Story Book look like?
    • The cover of your story should fit you, so we provide different options to appeal to different tastes. Whether you prefer a personal photo as your cover or a custom illustration by one of our artists we can find an option that suits you. Talk to us about your ideas and we can find a way to make your cover help tell your story!
  • How much time do I personally spend on making my own Story Book?
    • The time you spend on your story outside of the interview process depends on you. Some people want to spend more time on their questionnaires in order to capture more memories and details.
  • Who conducts the interview(s) and how long will they last?
    • Your own professional writer will prepare and conduct the interview(s). Depending on the length of your book, the interview(s) last around 2-3 hours for a Story Book Compact or around 4 hours across two sessions for a Story Book Complete. You can add additional interview sessions at extra cost.
  • I already know what I want my Story Book to be about, does this mean that I can skip the questionnaires?
    • The questionnaires are an important part of the process and instrumental in helping you recall fading memories and details. While we strongly recommend you participate in this part of the process, the decision is ultimately yours and we will work to accommodate your choice.
    • If you really want to skip the questionnaires this is of course a possibility. However, we strongly recommend you to participate in the questionnaire because they are developed in order to help you recall all of the important moments that should be captured in your Story Book.
  • Is it possible to let my family be interviewed as well?
    • While it is possible to allow family members to participate in the interview process, it may require more of the writer’s time and can increase the cost of your book.
  • Can I choose my own writer?
    • We will work with you to find the perfect writer for your story based on your preferences. You can learn about a few of our writers
  • What if my writer doesn’t feel like the right match?
    • We can always reevaluate and look at the possibilities whenever this situation occurs; however, we are confident we can find a good match for each client.
  • I have a lot of writing that I want to include in my book. Is this possible?
    • Please send us your work and give us a call to discuss how we can help.
  • If the products on the website do not match my needs, can I create a bespoke Story Book?
    • We offer bespoke products and services and would be delighted to discuss the options available to you. Get in touch to speak with a member of our team through our contact page, email, phone or the chat system at the bottom of the page!
  • Is it possible to divide my story into multiple Story Books?
    • Let’s get in touch and talk about the best way to divide your story over multiple Story Books.
  • What if the smallest Story Book (Story Book Compact) is too big for my story?
    • Many customers find that there is actually more to remember than they anticipated. Often customers choose to change to the Story Book Complete package when they realize how much there is to remember and capture.
  • How much are extra copies?
    • Each package includes four printed copies but extra copies can be ordered at an additional cost. Extra copies are £20 for the Story Book Compact and £30 for the Story Book Complete. Larger orders, perhaps for sharing with family and friends or colleagues, help to bring down the price per copy.
  • Can I read other people’s Story Books?
    • Our Story Books are private documents so we only send you samples. If interested, we have copies at our offices that you can have a look at if you’d like to stop by.
  • I want to use your writers for other purposes than writing my book. What are the possibilities?
    • Our writers partner with us for the purpose of writing people’s stories however, if you have another format for writing personal stories and would like our help, please get in touch here and we will do our best to help. We do have experience with bespoke projects and would like to find out more about your needs.

 

 

Gifts:

  • I’d like to create a Story Book without my loved one knowing about this. Is that possible? What does it cost?
    • Yes, we can create a book without the participation of the protagonist. If multiple people are interviewed for the benefit of the book, we charge a bit more than the standard packages as this increases the complexity of the project and more interviews are required.
  • My friend’s birthday is a week away. Can you still provide a welcome package?
    • Yes, we can send a standard welcome package to most places for arrival within 48 hours. If you’d like us to create a blank Story Terrace journal with a personalised photo cover of your friend as part of the welcome package, then we need the photo and a selected title two weeks in advance. 
  • I’d like to give a Story Book but I’m not sure the person would like this. Can I get my money back if he or she is not interested?
    • Yes!

 

Rights & Publishing:

  • Who owns the content?
    • Story Terrace and the protagonist will jointly own the content. This means Story Terrace cannot publish any part of your book without your permission. You also require Story Terrace’ permission if you’d like to publish your Story Book.
  • Why do I need Story Terrace’s permission to publish a Story Book?
    • Our Story Books are made to share with family and friends. When published, certain content can cause legal ramifications we would like our customers and our company to be protected from.
  • I’d like to self-publish my Story Book?
    • We’ love to help you to self-publish on Amazon and most other self-publishing platforms. Certain terms and conditions, including additional costs for adapting the book to a specific format, will apply. There may be additional costs involved.
  • My story should be in the bookstore! How do I do that?
    • While we sometimes agree, it is incredibly difficult to get published by a large publisher such as Simon & Schuster, Penguin or MacMillan. With our prior agreement, you can use your Story Book to approach agents and/or publishers. We are not publishers. However, in certain circumstances, we can point you in the right direction.

 

Payment:

  • How do I pay?
    • You can pay online, by giving us a call with debit or credit card in hand, via PayPal or bank transfer. You can find our bank details on the invoice that we’ll send you after learning which package you’d like to purchase.
  • Do I have to pay all at once?
    • No, we can also arrange monthly payments to be paid over the course of the project. All Story Books need to be paid for in full before we send you your hardcopies.
  • Does the price include VAT?
    • We don’t need to charge our customers in the United Kingdom VAT.
  • Are shipping costs included in the price?
    • Yes, you do not have to pay extra shipping costs on top of the price shown on the website.
  • Can I pay in advance?
    • Yes, it would even accelerate the process.
  • Can I get evidence of an agreement?
    • Unless we put a custom agreement in place (only for special projects), our Terms & Conditions will apply. If there is anything else you’d like to agree upon concerning your project, such as the price for a large number of additional copies, then we can do so via email. Following payment, you will receive confirmation of your purchase.

 

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