In the past month, I have had the pleasure of interviewing two couples celebrating their recent engagements. While both couples had unique experiences that brought them to this exciting point in their lives, the process of hearing those stories followed a similar rhythm and pattern.
In this post, I want to share the details of an interview, as I know clients sometimes have a hard time imagining just how we will go about discussing their life story. Let me first start by saying that I don’t really like the idea of calling it an “interview,” even though that is the appropriate word. It feels more like a conversation.
I arrive at your house and we have a chance to chat and get settled in a comfy spot. I will set up my recording equipment – a small, unobtrusive voice recorder that allows me to capture your story in your own words. Then I like to start the conversation by asking where you grew up and hear a bit about your childhood. The conversation just flows from there – we essentially follow your path to where you are now, whether celebrating a special birthday or anniversary, or preparing for an upcoming wedding. If we are doing a couple story, each partner takes a turn, but the real magic of tandem storytelling is when those two people’s stories overlap and the conversation becomes a shared process.
We often take time during the interview to look at some of your favorite photos – these can help to spark your memories or provide detail to a story, and they will also be included in your book. Most interview sessions last two hours, and folks are usually amazed at how quickly the time passes and how effortless it feels. Clients tell me they appreciate the opportunity to reflect on life lessons and to see their life experiences as a whole, and couples are always amused to hear their partner’s side of the story. I leave each interview feeling honored to have been able to share in the conversation, and filled with excitement to create a one-of-a-kind book that celebrates that story.