Abstract: An authoring system and procedure for organizing photos (and other physical object types) are provided. Using the authoring system, an author organizes a set of physical objects into a particular story through an interface. Each physical object is associated with a specific identifier, such as a barcode, and the author uses an input device to scan identifiers of selected physical objects that are to be included within the particular story. The authoring process is performed off-line. Using the input device, the author adds her own commentary as part of building the story. For example, she can associate an audio clip with a particular physical object that makes up the story or with the entire story itself. In one embodiment, the input device includes a microphone for receiving voice input, as well as a barcode reader for scanning a particular barcode of a selected physical object. The author also selects one or more presentation styles that will be used to display the entire story.