Editorial Standards
Healing Stories Network publishes anthologies of first-person patient testimony. These editorial standards explain how each volume is made and the principles we hold to, so you know exactly what you are reading.
How we gather testimonies
Every account comes from a real person who has volunteered to share their experience. Each testimony is the work of a single individual. We never invent voices, and we never assemble “composite” characters from several people.
Consent and privacy
Each contributor gives informed consent before publication. Contributors decide how they are identified — by full name, by first name only, or fully anonymously — and may revise or withdraw their account at any time before a volume goes to press. We never share a contributor’s private contact details.
How we edit
We edit lightly, and only for clarity, length, and readability. The voice, meaning, and substance of every account remain the contributor’s own. We do not embellish, dramatise, or change what someone has told us.
What every volume contains
- A short, plain-language introduction to the topic
- Fifty single-author testimonies, organised into thematic parts
- An editor’s note and a complete contents page
- A curated list of further resources relevant to the subject
What we do not do
We are a publisher of lived experience, not a medical authority. Our books do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and no testimony should be read as a recommendation. Please see our Medical Disclaimer for the full statement.
Sensitive material
Some accounts describe frightening or painful experiences. We handle this material with care, avoid gratuitous detail, and place supportive resources alongside the hardest chapters.
Accuracy and corrections
If you believe something in one of our books is inaccurate, or you wish to update your own contribution, write to us at support@healingstoriesnetwork.com.