I have the World’s Best Dad. It even says so on his coffee mug. Even though my dad is among the greatest, we’ve both grown past the age that a coffee cup proclamation does justice on Father’s Day. The recent pandemic resigned my father and me to share weekly phone calls and occasional drive-by celebrations. This year, I went in search of a Father’s Day gift to bring us closer together and make up for the time we have lost. That search ended with StoryWorth.
StoryWorth is a subscription service that collects thoughts and anecdotes from a loved one and preserves them in beautiful book form. This service memorializes cherished tales from the storyteller in a way that is not only manageable, but it’s something I will look forward to passing on. This gift gives my father the chance to tell tales of his glory days and gives me the chance to learn more about the World’s Best Dad.
What Is StoryWorth?
StoryWorth offers a service that emails Dad (or another storyteller) once a week for a year. This email contains a question about his life, and the answer is then shared with me via email. At the end of one year, these stories are printed in a gorgeous hardcover book.
What Kinds Of Questions are Asked?
With StoryWorth, I have the option of customizing my own questions, or they can be randomly selected from hundreds of prewritten options, many of which I would never think of to ask. I can ask my father his reaction when his family purchased their first television, his first thoughts after I was born, or even the details of his last conversation with my grandmother. I can select the order in which questions are sent and omit questions that don’t apply.
A question may prompt a story about serving in combat or memory about his best friend from high school. A question may inquire about what life was like when different political and social climates were the standard. Other StoryWorth questions include:
- Who inspires you?
- Did you have any nicknames as a child? How did you feel about them?
- What is one of the most beautiful places you’ve ever been?
- Which fads did you embrace while growing up?
- Were your parents happy?
- If you could travel back in time to any country and any era, knowing you’d be completely safe and could come back, where and when would you go?
What Is Included in the Subscription?
A standard package includes one year of story prompts/questions that can be shared with any number of recipients on a weekly basis. At the end of the year, these thoughts and stories will be printed in a hardcover book in black and white print with a full color cover. If my dad doesn’t want to respond via email, he can call in his answer to a transcribing service so not one detail is missed.
The whole family can join the fun with the option to add photos to accompany the tales. I will see a proof of our StoryWorth book before it goes to print, so I know the final product will be the perfect representation of my dad and his legacy.
How Much Does it Cost?
This amazing one-year subscription is only $99 and includes one hardcover book. This book has a maximum of 480 pages. For an additional cost, you can order more than one book, choose color printing, and customize the cover. StoryWorth offers many ways to be sure the final product reflects the unique individual who is your dad.
StoryWorth commemorates a tangible timeline of memories that can be shared for generations to come. Once Dad is introduced to the questions, he will look forward to sharing pieces of himself, even if he hasn’t been comfortable doing it before.
Here’s my advice— skip the “World’s Best Dad” mug for Father’s Day. This year, give him a gift that truly honors all that he is. You don’t just give StoryWorth, it gives back to you.
