Frequently Asked Questions

LifeDots is a personal memoir and life story service. We sit down with your loved one – or with you – and capture their story through a relaxed, guided conversation. We then turn that into a beautifully written memoir, a professionally produced audio recording, or both. Think of it as a way of preserving the stories that might otherwise get lost.

LifeDots is for anyone with a story worth telling – which is everyone, really. Most of our clients are families who want to capture a parent’s or grandparent’s life story as a lasting keepsake. It’s also a wonderful gift for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, or retirement. And sometimes people come to us simply because they want their own story written down while they still can.

Not at all. Most people come to us with a rough idea and we help them figure out the rest. That’s what our free discovery call is for – a relaxed chat where we get to know you, find out a bit about the person whose story you’d like to capture, and point you towards the right package. No pressure, no obligation.

Not at all! While many of our stories do come from people who have had a long life to reflect on, we’ve worked with people of all ages. A life story doesn’t have to span decades to be meaningful – sometimes the most powerful stories are about a particular chapter, challenge, or period of someone’s life.

The interview is really just a conversation. We’ll have already sent a tailored questionnaire in advance so that your loved one has had a chance to think about the stories they want to share. On the day, we guide them gently through their life – childhood memories, family, work, adventures, lessons learned – at a pace that feels comfortable. There’s no script and no right or wrong answers. We’re just listening.

It’s very common to feel a little nervous beforehand, but almost everyone relaxes within the first few minutes. We’re very experienced at putting people at ease, and the questionnaire we send in advance means there are no surprises. Most people tell us it was one of the most enjoyable conversations they’ve had in years.

No – interviews can be conducted in person or remotely via video call, whichever suits you best. Many families find that a remote interview is actually easier, particularly if their loved one is more comfortable at home. The quality of the story is never affected by the format.

Each interview session is up to 90 minutes. Depending on which package you choose, there may be one, two, or three sessions. We’d always rather take our time than rush through a life. If your loved one tires easily, we can also break sessions into shorter slots – just let us know.

Yes, and sometimes it’s lovely to have someone there. A familiar face can help people relax and occasionally a family member will prompt a memory that wouldn’t have surfaced otherwise. That said, some storytellers prefer the privacy of a one-to-one conversation, and that’s absolutely fine too. We’ll take your lead.

We have experience working sensitively with people at varying stages of memory loss. Even if full recall isn’t possible, there is almost always a story to be told – and often the older, long-term memories are the most vivid. Please do mention this when you get in touch and we’ll make sure the experience is as comfortable as possible.

Every memoir is written by us here at LifeDots. We’re not a platform that farms work out to anonymous freelancers – you’ll know exactly who you’re working with from start to finish. We take great care to capture not just the facts of someone’s life, but their voice, their humour, and the things that made them who they are.

This is something we take very seriously. Our goal is always to write in a way that feels true to the person – their expressions, their turns of phrase, their way of seeing the world. Before we write a word, we listen carefully. You’ll be surprised how much of someone’s personality comes through.

Absolutely. All packages include at least one round of revisions, and you’ll have the chance to review a draft and let us know if anything needs changing – whether that’s a factual correction, a different emphasis, or simply a word that doesn’t feel quite right. The Heritage package includes two full rounds of revisions.

We love photographs — they bring a memoir to life. Depending on your package, we can include up to 15, 30, or 50 images, which we format professionally and place throughout the memoir. Simply send us your favourites as digital files or high-resolution scans. Our Heritage package also includes basic photo restoration for any older or damaged images.

All packages include a beautifully designed, print-ready PDF that you can share digitally with family near and far. The Legacy and Heritage packages also include professionally printed and bound physical copies delivered to your door – three copies with The Legacy and five with The Heritage.

LifeDiscs is our audio memoir product – a beautifully edited recording of your loved one’s stories, in their own voice, woven together with the music that has meant the most to them throughout their life. Think Desert Island Discs, but entirely personal to your family. It’s warm, intimate, and something that can be listened to again and again.

The memoir packages result in a written and printed document. Life Discs is purely audio – there’s no book, but you get the irreplaceable sound of your loved one’s voice telling their own story. Many families choose both, and we’re happy to discuss a combined price if you’d like to do that.

Any music your loved one chooses – there’s no restriction on genre or era. We’ll weave their chosen songs naturally through the recording so that the music and the memories feel like they belong together. Please note that music is included for personal, private family use only.

You’ll receive a private, shareable audio file that the whole family can access and download wherever they are in the world. It’s easy to share, easy to listen to, and yours to keep forever.

From your first call to receiving the finished memoir, most projects take between four and eight weeks, depending on the package and the number of interview sessions. We’ll always give you a realistic timeline at the outset and keep you updated throughout. If you have a particular deadline – a birthday, an anniversary – just let us know and we’ll do our best to work around it.

Yes, and it makes a truly wonderful gift – one of the most thoughtful things you can give someone. We can help you present the idea sensitively if you’re not sure how your loved one will react, and we’re very experienced at reassuring people who feel their story ‘isn’t interesting enough’ (it always is).

This is more common than you’d think. Many people feel their story isn’t worth telling, or they worry about remembering things correctly, or they’re simply private by nature. We’re very happy to have an informal chat with them directly – often hearing a little more about the process, and knowing they’re in safe hands, is all it takes. We’ve yet to meet anyone whose story wasn’t worth telling.

We ask for a deposit to secure your booking, with the balance due before delivery of the final memoir. We’re happy to discuss a payment plan if that would be helpful – just ask.

Completely. Everything shared with us is treated with the utmost care and confidentiality. Your family’s story belongs to your family – we will never share, publish, or use any of it without your explicit permission.

We’re based in Buckinghamshire and offer in-person interviews locally. For families further afield, we conduct interviews remotely via video call with no loss of quality or warmth. We’ve worked with families all over the UK.

We’d love to hear from you. The best first step is a free discovery call – a relaxed, no-obligation conversation where we can answer any questions and help you work out what’s right for you. You can get in touch via our contact form or drop us an email and we’ll come back to you promptly.