How the Hear Your Story Digital Journal Works
Getting Started
What is the Hear Your Story Digital Journal?
A digital journaling platform that helps families capture and preserve life stories through guided prompts. Each journal contains 300+ thoughtfully curated prompts organized by life stages.
How does the journaling process work?
After purchasing or receiving a journal, you answer prompts at your own pace. You can write text responses, add photos, and record audio. Your progress saves automatically, and you can share your completed journal with family.
Do I need to be tech-savvy to use this?
Not at all. The platform is designed to be simple and intuitive. If you can use email and browse the web, you can use Hear Your Story. We guide you through every step.
Can I work on my journal from different devices?
Yes. Your journal is stored in the cloud, so you can access it from any device with an internet connection. Start on your computer and continue on your tablet or phone.
Gifting
How do I gift a journal to someone?
Purchase a journal and mark it as a gift at checkout. You'll assign the recipient by entering their email and a personal message. They receive an email with a claim code and instructions to start their journal.
What if my gift recipient doesn't use email regularly?
You can purchase the journal and help them set it up in person. The claim code doesn't expire, so they can redeem it whenever they're ready.
Can I buy multiple journals as gifts?
Yes. Each one can be sent to a different recipient with a personalized message.
Will I see the journal my gift recipient creates?
Only if they choose to share it with you. The journaler has complete control over their stories and decides who can view them.
Pricing & Payment
How much does a journal cost?
$29.99 per journal for one full year of access. This is a one-time payment, not a subscription.
What happens after the first year?
After one year, you enter a 30-day grace period where you can view and export your journal but not edit it. You can renew for another year at any time to restore full access.
Are there any hidden fees or automatic renewals?
No hidden fees and no automatic renewals. You pay $29.99 once, and we'll never charge you again unless you choose to renew.
What payment methods do you accept?
All major credit and debit cards through Shopify's secure checkout.
Is there a refund policy?
Yes — a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're not satisfied, email support@hearyourstory.com for a full refund.
Features & Content
How many prompts are in each journal?
300+ guided prompts, organized by life stages (childhood, teen years, adulthood, etc.). You don't have to answer them all — pick the ones that resonate with you.
Can I add photos to my journal?
Yes. Add photos to your entries to bring stories to life visually.
Can I record audio instead of typing?
Yes. Each entry can include an audio recording — perfect for those who prefer speaking to typing, or who want to preserve the sound of their voice.
Can I skip prompts or go back to previous ones?
You have complete control. Skip prompts, jump around, or go back to add more details to previous answers anytime.
Are the prompts the same for every journal type?
No. Each journal type has unique prompts tailored to that relationship or perspective. For example, "Mom, I Want to Hear Your Story" focuses on motherhood and raising children, while "Grandmother, I Want to Hear Your Story" centers on a grandmother's life, wisdom, and family legacy. There's some overlap in universal life experiences.
Privacy & Security
Is my journal private?
Yes. Your journal is completely private by default. Only you can see it unless you explicitly choose to share it.
Who owns my stories?
You do. You retain full ownership of all content you create. We will never use, share, or sell your stories.
Is my data secure?
Yes. We use industry-standard encryption and security measures to protect your data. Stories are stored securely in the cloud with regular backups.
Can I delete my journal and data?
Yes. You can delete your journal and all associated data at any time from your account settings.
Sharing & Exporting
How do I share my journal with family?
Generate a private sharing link and send it to specific family members. You control who sees your journal and can revoke access anytime.
Can I export my journal?
Yes. Export your journal anytime as PDF, text, CSV, or JSON. Your stories are yours forever, even after your access expires.
Can I print my journal?
You can export your journal as a PDF and print it yourself.
What if I want to continue after my year expires?Renew for another year at the same price to continue editing and adding to your journal.
Renew for another year at the same price to continue editing and adding to your journal.
Technical Support
What devices and browsers are supported?
All modern devices and browsers, including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge on computers, tablets, and smartphones.
Do I need to install any software?
No installation needed. Hear Your Story is entirely web-based. Just open your browser and start journaling.
What if I forget my password?
We use email codes for sign-in, so there's no password to remember. Enter your email and we'll send a 6-digit code.
How do I get help if I'm stuck?
Emailsupport@hearyourstory.com. We typically respond within 24 hours.