Given that her childhood home was once featured on C-SPAN for literally having books from floor to ceiling, it makes perfect sense that Barbara Richter fell in love with storytelling young and went on to become a writer.
There were books on every shelf, in the basement and in the garage, under the sink, even in the bathroom. Her father, Nicholas Basbanes, was an award-winning non-fiction author and investigative journalist. Over time, she says, “Books became the backbone of my family’s life and work.” A reverence for stories shaped her adult life and career, and now it’s powering a game-changing venture.
“Unless someone’s life story is already on the internet, it’s impossible for ChatGPT to write a person’s unique narrative from scratch. And even if so, ChatGPT is not always accurate.”
—Barbara Richter
A wordsmith herself, Ritcher has written professionally for nearly two decades, both under her own name and as a ghostwriter, helping clients craft their personal stories. But hiring a pro comes at a cost that can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, which puts it out of reach for many. During the pandemic, demand for memoir writing assistance surged, according to Richter. “So many people were home contemplating the extraordinary times they were living in,” she muses. But for every person able to hire her for ghostwriting services, there were at least 10 that couldn’t. The reason? Cost. “There were so many stories that might never be told or preserved because of a financial barrier,” she recalls. Thankfully, a tech-based solution came to her.
DIYBook.us is a do-it-yourself platform that Ritcher designed to help everyday people write their life stories, in their own voice, with a simple, affordable, transparent fee structure. The first step is a one-year membership, currently $89 after a 7-day free trial. Writers receive specific prompts or questions, based on the same methodology Richter uses with one-on-one ghostwriting clients, and respond at their own pace. Elements of ChatGPT and other generative AI are incorporated, but they are just one piece of the puzzle. “AI-assisted writing programs are great tools, but they have limitations. It’s important to teach people how to use it wisely and not rely on them entirely for their writing needs,” she explains. When they complete the process and deem the book finished, Richter’s team handles formatting and printing. All that remains for the author to do is choose a cover and decide black-and-white or color, and hardcover or soft. Per-book price ranges from $19.99 to $74.99.
Her next phase of development for the company, founded in 2023, is a series of webinars on a range of topics including narrative structure, storyline development, and finding your voice. “Everything I do hinges on helping people tell their stories,” Richter says. “For me, storytelling is synonymous with community.”
