You may find that preserving your COVID-19 story is a rewarding experience that allows you to reflect on your journey, share your memories with others, and create a legacy of how Black women move through the world. However, you may also find that recalling your experience is not very comforting. In those moments, I encourage you to pause and breathe. This is your story, and you and you alone control how you tell it.

This is your guide to recording your story. It has two parts: Part 1: How to prepare. Part 2: Questions to help guide your story. Everyone should answer questions 1, 2, 3, and 18 so that we can have a common element across the stories. How you use the other questions is entirely up to you.

Have fun with this! Imagine yourself at the dining table sipping tea with someone you cherish, and you two are sharing stories.

-Read the guidelines for how to record
-Submit your consent form
-Record your story (see part 1 and part 2 of the attached document. It is also at the bottom of this email).
-Complete and submit your consent form.
-Record your story here at TheirStory
-Have lots of fun telling your story. 

I. Gather Your Memories/Organize Your Story
Take a moment to reflect on your experiences with COVID-19. Think of the significant moments for you. I suggest jot down a few notes of what you want to stress/highlight. The questions below may be helpful. Remember that there is no right or wrong way to tell your story.

Ways of organizing your story: you want to organize your story into a coherent and engaging narrative. You may choose any of the options below to help structure your story.

Chronological: Present your story in the order events occurred, starting with your earliest memories and ending with your current life.
Thematic: Focus on specific themes or values that have been important throughout your experience with COVID-19 and explore each in depth.
Episodic: Organize your story around specific episodes or events, giving each its own “chapter” or “section.”

You may consider working backward in your story—where I am now and where I started.
Consider telling your story as a third-party narrative. Play with it, and let your Black Girl Creativity shine through.

II. Choose Your Format ( you will get a link to TheirStory for recording)
You have two options to record your COVID-19 story.
· Audio: Record your voice, using TheirStory, as you share your memories, allowing you to capture the nuances of your storytelling.
· Visual Recording: You can use TheirStory (or your phone camera or Zoom or a similar platform) to submit a video recording of your COVID-19 story. For those who can, you can get fancy with this and create a visual record by incorporating images and/or video clips. Again, let your Black Girl Creativity shine.

III. Prepare Your Recording Space
A quiet, private space (turn off notifications on your phone + computer)
Your Questions list—have this handy as a guide in addition to your prep notes.
Strong, reliable internet (charge your computer + close unnecessary tabs/programs) is essential, especially if you are recording, for example, using Zoom.
Headphones (this helps to lessen background noise)


IV. Record Your Story
We will be using TheirStory for your to record your story. Or you may choose to record on your phone or other device. Record your story using or your chosen format. This is your opportunity to share your memories, joys, pain, and what you want us to learn. Be open and honest, and don't shy away.

· Audio Recordings: Choose a high-quality microphone and audio recording software like Audacity or GarageBand to capture the beauty of your voice. You can also use your phone or Zoom to record. The former two have editing features. Remember that I will not edit.

Video Recordings: You can record on TheirStory (or you may use, if available, a good-quality camera, your smartphone's camera, or Zoom.) If you have the capacity (but it is not required), you may use it with video editing software like iMovie to help create your understanding of a visually appealing recording.  
Save your story regularly and create backups as you record your story.

-Record in an area with low echo and low external noise.
-Be mindful of any noise sources such as tapping, playing with a pen, or squeaky chairs.
-Turn off or silence all cell phone and computer notifications.
-Let others know you’re recording and should not be disturbed.
-Take strategic breaks throughout the recording
-Use your microphone properly—this will keep your voice even and clear.
-These tips are important:
-Place your microphone even with your mouth.
-Sit back a few inches from the mic. Keep your mouth off of it.
-Place a pop filter, if available, between your mouth and the microphone.
-Keep a stable distance from the mic (closer = louder, farther = quieter).
-Breathe slowly and evenly. Sitting up straight makes your inhales quieter. If you need to inhale or exhale deeply, move your mouth away from the mic.
-Keep your body still with your feet planted, or the mic will pick up background motion, such as your shirt or headphones wire rustling.
-Don’t move things around your desk. If you like to use paper notes, move them silently.

Be attentive to your Body movements
It’s hard to sit still so don’t try to be too still as it will come through in your recording. Just be attentive to excessive moving around, fidgeting, or banging the table while you’re recording. I love to wear bangles, and trust me, they will show up in the audio. So, take off any noisy jewelry and wear soft fabrics that don’t swish or crinkle.

Control your breathing
Try to avoid breathing directly into the mic or other audio recording device. An easy fix for this is to position the microphone at an angle from your nose and mouth so it can pick up your sound, but not your breath.

And the most important tip. Have fun!

About You

1. Please tell me your name, age (if you don’t want to give a specific age, then use a range such as 20-25) and where we are located (eg. Charlotte, NC).
2. How did you think your race (being Black) influenced your experience and your communities’ experience with COVID-19?
3. How did/does being a woman/femme influenced/influence your experience with COVID-19?
4. What was your day like during the initial lockdowns?
5. What were your fears, hopes, and dreams?

About your relationships

6. Do you provide care to children, whether they are your biological children, non-biological children, or other family members? What was that experience like during COVID-19?
7. What was your experience like during the shelter-in-place period? Did you find yourself alone, or were you with others?

Work/School
8. What were your biggest challenges working or attending school during the pandemic?
9. How did it change your relationship with work? With school?

Change/Adjusting
10. How would you do things differently if you could go back in time?
11. How did you connect with others? Form community?
12. What activity/activities did you rely on to make it through COVID-19?
13. How have you changed as a result of COVID-19?
14. How did it change your relationships with others, intimate partners, children, family members, or parents?
15. What is your dream for a “post-covid” world? 
16. What did you learn about yourself during the pandemic?
17. What’s one good thing that came out of the pandemic for you?
18. What do you want people to know about your story?

Consent Forms
Please complete the consent form.

Submission of your recording/ video.
Once I receive your signed consent form, you will receive a link to record your story using TheirStory. Please look out for this email. If you choose not to use TheirStory, you will need to email me your recording.