Questions,
answered honestly.

Traditional memoir services are either expensive – costing $3,000–$42,000 – or cheap DIY solutions that produce generic results or require a lot of individual work. CLIO sits in a category of its own: professional-quality memoirs at a fraction of the cost, delivered as a structured program rather than a one-off service

Individuals and families can absolutely use CLIO directly. If you want to give a loved one the gift of their own memoir — or preserve your own story — you can get in touch with us without going through an institution. Our B2B partnerships are simply the primary way we reach people at scale.

We start with a short 20-minute introductory call where we walk the participant through exactly what to expect and schedule their first session together. Interviews are conducted online through a dedicated platform that records the conversation. A full interview process typically consists of 3 to 6 one-hour sessions, guided entirely by our interviewer. The participant doesn’t need to prepare anything in advance.

The interview phase depends entirely on the participant’s availability, though we recommend no more than two sessions per week to keep the experience comfortable and unhurried. Once the interviews are complete, the memoir is written and delivered within 2-3 weeks.

In general, we recommend that participants join sessions on their own, as it tends to allow for a freer, more open conversation. That said, if a family member’s presence would be helpful — for example, to assist with memory recall or simply provide comfort — they are very welcome to join. We follow whatever arrangement works best for the participant.

The entire process takes place online, through a dedicated interviewing platform. This makes it accessible and flexible regardless of where the participant is located.

In cases of mild dementia, yes — and in fact, this is exactly the moment when starting the process matters most. As memory loss progresses, recalling and recounting life stories becomes increasingly difficult, so we strongly encourage families and institutions not to wait. If there is a window, we will make the most of it together.

Comfort starts with our interviewers, who are trained to create a calm, unhurried, and judgement-free space from the very first session. On the technical side, all recordings and materials are stored securely and never shared or published online. Participants also have the right to request the complete deletion of all their materials at any point after the process is finished. Their story belongs entirely to them.

The memoir is delivered as a Word document and a PDF as standard. A printed hardcover book is also available for those who want a physical copy to hold, gift, or pass down, along with an audio edition the edited memoir, narrated in the storyteller’s own voice.

Once the memoir is delivered, CLIO’s involvement in the writing process is complete, but the story is yours to do with as you wish. Because you receive the memoir as a Word document, you and your family are free to make any edits, additions, or changes you like. It is your story, and the final version is entirely in your hands.

The participant does, entirely. CLIO holds no rights over the content — the story, the words, and the memoir belong solely to the person whose life it reflects.

Once the interviews are complete, our proprietary AI model processes the full conversation and structures it into a coherent, well-written narrative. It handles the complex work of organising long-form content: maintaining context, eliminating repetition, and preserving the participant’s personal voice and tone throughout. The human interviewer shapes the raw material; the AI turns it into a memoir.

Recordings and all associated materials are stored securely and used solely for the purpose of writing the memoir. Participants have the right to request the complete deletion of all their data and recordings once the process is finished. We do not retain, sell, or share any personal data. For more detailed information, please check out our GDPR documentation.

Yes, completely. All materials are stored on secure systems and never published or shared online. Because we use our own proprietary AI model — rather than third-party tools — the content never passes through external platforms. Your story stays yours, and stays private. For more detailed information, please check out our GDPR documentation

Never without explicit consent. By default, every memoir is entirely private. In the future, participants who wish to contribute their story to a broader oral history archive will have the option to do so — but this will always be a fully informed, opt-in choice. No story will ever be shared, published, or used in any way without the participant’s clear permission. For more detailed information, please check out our GDPR documentation

CLIO is designed to fit into existing wellbeing and life-enrichment frameworks with minimal disruption. We handle the entire memoir process — interviewing, writing, and delivery — so your organisation does not need to build anything from scratch. We work with you to design a program that fits your schedule, your residents or members, and your operational reality.

Very little. Your team’s main role is helping identify willing participants and supporting basic logistics, such as ensuring participants have a quiet space and a device to join their sessions. We take care of everything else, from onboarding participants to delivering the finished memoir.

From initial agreement to first interviews, a program can typically be up and running within a few weeks. The main variables are participant recruitment on your side and scheduling alignment. We handle all setup, onboarding, and coordination, so the timeline is kept as short as possible.

Our interviewees consistently reported high satisfaction, strong emotional impact, and a genuine sense of having been heard and valued. For institutions, the program offers a meaningful, tangible wellbeing offering that goes beyond standard care — one that residents, members, and their families respond to very positively. We document outcomes throughout the program so you have clear, shareable evidence of its impact.

Yes, absolutely. Gifting a CLIO memoir is one of the most meaningful things you can do for someone you love — giving them the experience of being truly listened to, and a book about their life to keep forever. You can reach out to us at communication@write-clio.com and we will take care of everything from there.

We generally recommend that the participant joins sessions on their own, as it tends to lead to a more open and natural conversation. That said, if your presence would be helpful — for example, to support an elderly parent or assist with memory recall — you are welcome to join. We will always follow whatever arrangement works best for the participant.

That is completely understandable — the idea of talking about one’s life can feel unfamiliar or even daunting at first. In our experience, hesitation usually fades quickly once the first conversation begins. Our interviewers are warm, patient professionals who know how to put people at ease. Many of our participants who were nervous at the start have ended up describing the process as one of the most meaningful experiences they have had in years.

Yes. You can browse our interviewers on our website and choose the person you feel most comfortable with. Finding the right fit matters, and we want participants to feel at ease from the very first conversation.

Our programs are currently conducted in English. If you would like your interview in another language, please get in touch and we will do our best to arrange an interviewer who can work with you in your preferred language.

Yes — we are always open to connecting with people who share our passion for listening and storytelling. If you are interested in joining our interviewer network, reach out to us at contact@write-clio.com and let’s have a conversation.

Yes. While our standard process covers a person’s life story in full, we can absolutely focus on specific themes, periods, or experiences that matter most to the participant or their family. If there is a particular chapter of someone’s life that deserves special attention — a wartime experience, a journey of migration, a remarkable career — just let us know when you get in touch and we will shape the interview process accordingly.