Have a story you'd love to create?
Some stories begin with a real moment. A trip a child is preparing for. A grandparent who lives far away. A memory you want to hold onto. A milestone, friendship or family story that deserves its own little world.
Softheld Stories is beginning to open a small number of personalised story projects for families. If you have an idea, I'd love to hear about it.
Three kinds of moment.
Someone they love
A grandparent, a parent, a sibling, a friend, someone far away or someone who has died.
Something that is coming
Travel, starting kinder, moving house, a new sibling, a change at home.
Something that happened
A holiday, a tradition, an adventure, a friendship, a family memory.
Tell me about the story you're imagining.
Answer as much or as little as you like. A few sentences is plenty to start.
A personalised story takes two to three weeks to write, illustrate and print. Tell me the date you need it by and I'll say honestly whether it can be ready.
I'll read through your idea and get back to you personally. Softheld is currently taking on only a small number of these projects, so submitting an idea doesn't commit you to anything.
Questions families ask
What happens after I send an idea?
I read it and write back personally with a sense of whether it is a story I can make, what it might look like and what it would involve.
Does sending an idea commit me to anything?
No. There is no payment at this stage and no obligation either way.
How personalised is the story?
The narrative, characters, setting and details are written around the child and what you tell me. It is not a template with a name swapped in.
Do I need to provide photos?
No. Photos help me interpret a likeness gently, but a written description works just as well. Photos are reference only and never appear in the finished story.
Can you include someone who has died?
Yes. I check the wording with you before anything is illustrated.
How is AI used?
AI-assisted tools sit behind the work, alongside human writing, art direction and editing. Every story is directed, reviewed and finished by a person.