THE WORDS WE LEAVE BEHIND
A TRUE LEGACY
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME
The achievements you make today are the foundation for those who come after you. Your decisions in life will echo far on into the future, influencing the generations of tomorrow.
Most people's legacy is anonymous. The sum total of all the works of a lifetime, the balance of all their successes and failures will become indistinct as the years pass. Their part in the future of their family is unlikely to be remembered.
We can no longer know what our great-grandparents experienced, fought for, struggled with, or achieved; we don’t know their tales – we don’t know them as real people but as empty names from the past. Their legacy has faded along with their memory.
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A book about your life is a time capsule that can take your story far into the future, when the world will be quite a different place and your life story will be a precious relic of history. Your descendants will take great pride in reading about your life and showing your book to others, and it will give their own lives a greater context by revealing more about their origins.
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Recording your life story – or the story of someone you love, such as a parent or grandparent – with Metro Writers is a wonderful experience. Our researchers will gently interview you and your family, taking special note of the most important and revealing moments of your life, and will weave all these into a fascinating story about you, told in your own words – with our storytelling skills holding it all together. In a way, your story will make you immortal: it will make your life a legend, and your book will become a treasure passed down through your family for centuries to come.
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OUR WRITING PROCESS
INTERVIEWS
Metro Writers will create your family legacy by conducting personal interviews with you and your kin before planning the narrative and setting your story and ideas down in book form.
WRITING
In a process entirely subject to your direction and approval, Metro Writers will write the best and most heartfelt version of your story in English and/or your own language.
PRIVATE CIRCULATION
Metro Writers will design and submit your book for private publication for family and friends (or for general publication if you prefer).
FAQ
01. Can I write my own book?
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If you've written your own manuscript already, we offer editing, translation and design services to help get your book to the best standard for your family legacy. You can also collaborate with us on the manuscript, writing with the guidance of one of our editors or writing professionals.
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02. Where will my book be distributed?
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Family books are generally kept private, with only a few copies printed as family gifts. Leather binding for maximum longevity is available. We can arrange for your book to be privately published via Amazon, which will make your book available for family members to purchase in any country served by Amazon's global distribution service.
We can also make digital ebooks available for download and sale according to your specifications.
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03. How long does it take to write a book?
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Most family books are written within six months, including the time it takes to draft, edit and lay out the final version. Longer books can be written within a year time period. We can estimate the time it will take to complete your particular project during the initial discussion phase.
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04. Do I need a license to publish my family book?
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If your family book is only designed for print and distribution amongst members of your own family, you do not need a publication license. If you do wish for your book to be available to the general public, then a legal license is required in some countries. Metro Writers can arrange for your license on your behalf. The process can take up to two months.
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05. Can I make money selling my book?
If you wish to sell your family book, this is possible to arrange. Keep in mind that book sales are unlikely to be profitable without significant investment in marketing.
As the owner of your book, you will retain all profits made through sales.
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06. Why should I pay money to have my book written?
Our fees reflect the cost of hiring competent professional writers, editors, translators and designers to put your book together in the best possible form. The cost of creating the book is an investment into the quality of your book and its value as a family heirloom.
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07. Who will be the author on the front cover of my book?
Most people choose to have their own name listed as the author on the cover, while others prefer to be the subject of a book written by someone else. It's your choice. Either way, the book will be professionally written and edited, while you will have complete control over the content.
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08. What happens if I'm not satisfied with my book?
It's very common for early drafts of your book content to fall below expectations, which is why we always revise the writing according to your feedback. Usually once the text is revised following your suggestions for improvement, the final result is excellent.
We develop your book content in close consultation with you, so you will know early on if there's a problem. Nothing will be included in your book without your approval, and you can cancel the book project at any time.
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09. Why are the fees higher than my expectation?
It's possible to hire a young university graduate to write a book for you at a very low cost, but the result is unlikely to reflect the maturity and depth of understanding of a professional, experienced writer, especially if you plan to have your book written in English. If your budget falls below our estimate, we may be able to assist you with a service to fit, although the result will be substantially lower than professional quality.
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10. Who will design my book cover?
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Book covers are usually designed by our staff based on your guidance. We will usually ask for a high quality family photo to use with the cover. You are welcome to submit a cover design of your own, although we will advise if there is an issue with your artwork (quite often the image quality is too low for printing).