As a story coach for hire, I interview subjects, transform the interviews into narrative pieces, including photos and other art, and produce full-color printed magazines as legacy projects.
Sample clients have included:
Gold Star moms who lost sons in the Vietnam War
A father battling Multiple Sclerosis
World War Il veterans
A ground-breaking woman journalist
Full-color magazine
This type of project ranges from 16-32 pages, and usually includes both family/archival photos and original graphic design elements by Blake to bring the story to life. I conduct interviews or seek accounts of the chosen subject and edit the resulting text into a coherent, engaging narrative. Magazines are soft cover and printed on high-quality gloss paper, making them even brighter and sturdier than mainstream editorial publications.
Clients can choose how many copies to print (this influences pricing) in order to share with family and friends.
Price range — $2,000- $4,000
*No hidden fees. Price includes all services: interviewing, writing/editing, design, printing, and mailing costs (if applicable).
Booklette (mini magazine)
These mini-magazines (or “zines”) are 8-pages long and quarter-page sized, printed in full color and bound with staples. Booklettes are a more affordable, playful option that offer a bite-sized version of our magazine tier.
Clients will complete a short writing exercise in studio or over email— sharing a memory, anecdote, or submitting one on behalf of a loved one. I am happy to provide personalized writing prompts if needed. We ask for clients to submit at least 2-3 images for inclusion in the booklette, which Blake will design.
Price range — $25
*No hidden fees. Price includes all services: story editing, design, printing, and mailing costs (if applicable).
Book-length project
Longer projects, such as family histories, are significantly more time intensive and require more substantial consultation before pricing quotes can be given.
I also offer book editing and doctoring services for works in progress. Helping someone bring their passion project or life’s work to fruition is one of the most rewarding parts of my job!
Please visit my contact page, or email penmary50@gmail.com.
The Collins Story Exchange is a family business! I handle interviewing, writing and editing, while my son, Blake Collins, provides graphic design.
You can see his editorial and creative work here: www.blakecollins.me
