For would-be guests
Guest FAQ
Everything people ask before they send their story. Still wondering about something? Email contact@143memorylane.com.
Does my love story have to be over?
No. Ongoing stories are just as welcome as ones that ended, and so are the complicated ones. If you’re still together, your partner can even tell it with you.
Does it cost anything?
No. It costs nothing to send your story or to take part.
Can I stay anonymous?
Yes. You can go by your first name or a pseudonym, and we change any names, places or details you ask us to. The film is animated, so no real photo or footage of you appears in it.
When you send your story, use a nickname for the other person, not their full name.
Will my ex (or partner) be shown?
Not as they really look. We never use real photos of them. Their animated character is designed from your description, and their name can be changed. People in your story who didn’t agree to be in it, like friends, coworkers or family, aren’t named.
Do I need a camera?
No. Audio only is completely fine; the film is animated either way. The call happens in your web browser (Chrome or Brave), ideally on a laptop, with headphones and a quiet room. There’s nothing to install.
What is the call like?
Relaxed. It takes about 75 minutes on a weekday or weekend morning (Eastern time): a few minutes to say hello and test sound, then about an hour of you telling the story in your own words: how you met, the spark, the moment you’ll never forget, how it changed, and what it left you with. Stumbles are fine. We edit everything.
What is the Patreon “faces behind the stories” video?
Supporters on Patreon can watch the real recording session, so they see the person behind the animated story. It only happens with your clear consent. If you say no, you still get your animated film, and it doesn’t change your chances of being picked.
Can I swear?
Speak naturally. We keep your story authentic. In the YouTube film, swear words are bleeped; the podcast and the Patreon version are uncensored.
What’s the release, and when do I sign it?
If we pick your story, you’ll sign a short release before we record. It covers the film, the podcast, Patreon and the book adaptation, and it lets you choose a pseudonym. We send the link with your recording invite. No signature, no recording, so nothing happens without your say-so.
What’s the book adaptation?
Some stories inspire a companion ebook. The books are fiction: they take the characters and events as a starting point and invent freely from there, with names and details changed. They are not presented as true accounts.
Can I change my mind?
Of course. Sending the form doesn’t commit you to anything, and you can stop at any point before we record: just reply to any of our emails. If you have second thoughts after recording, talk to us at contact@143memorylane.com and we’ll work it out with you.
What kind of stories are you looking for?
Stories with a moment you can still see clearly, a detail that makes it unlike anyone else’s (a pet, a place, a ritual, a song), and a few distinct scenes: how it started, the high point, the turn, and what it left you with.
We usually pass on stories centred on abuse or violence, ones tied up in legal or custody disputes, breakups that are still very raw, stories about a public figure, and stories that mostly expose someone else. That’s about what we can tell well, not about you.
How long until I hear back, and until it comes out?
Every story gets a reply within 7 days. Animating a film takes months, so if we record your story, we’ll keep you posted and tell you before it premieres.
How is the film made?
Your recorded voice is the heart of it. We cut it into a story, then design the characters and places and animate them scene by scene, guided by what you told us.
Who sees what I send?
Only the host and one helper. Stories we don’t go ahead with are deleted within 6 months. The privacy page has the details.