Keep the source
Save audio, timestamps and an unpolished transcript. Mark uncertain names and dialect words instead of silently replacing them.
Group by event
One event may span several interview sessions. Assemble it by people, place and what changed, not by recording number.
Build a timeline and person index
Track names, nicknames, relationships and uncertain dates so later chapters use them consistently.
Write scenes, not a résumé
A chapter needs a place, a problem and a choice. Historical context may explain the setting but must never invent personal experience.
Review with family
Check facts, voice, privacy and original quotations chapter by chapter before producing a final version.