MEMOIR GHOSTWRITING AND PUBLISHING
Give your story
the book it deserves.
You have a story to tell.
Perhaps you’ve overcome addiction, climbed Mt. Everest despite an MS diagnosis, raised a child with special needs, had to start over in a new country, met your biological parents after 55 years, or been rescued by a rescue dog.
You’ve learned something sublime, and you want to share that gift with others, to tell the story for the story’s sake. And you want it told well.
The problem is, you don’t have the time or expertise to do so.
Perhaps you’ve tried to start writing but feel overwhelmed, or maybe you don’t even know where to start. And if you actually do get it written, what then? How do you get it into the hands of readers, whether that’s your family or the whole world?
Sound like you? Then I’m so glad we’ve met.
My mission is to help storytellers write and publish the profound experiences of their lives so they can share their true stories with the world.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
—Maya Angelou
You talk, and I do the rest—from gathering resources to organizing the material, writing and editing the manuscript, designing, and publishing the book through a self-publishing platform.
But it’s not just about the end product. Writing a memoir is a journey of discovery with immense value all its own. I love making this process simple and joyful for storytellers, not just another item to check off the bucket list. To rephrase a quote from John Steinbeck: We do not write a book; a book writes us.
Your story is a treasure deserving the utmost care. My promise is to give it just that.
What’s included
There are three major phases in the memoir ghostwriting and publishing process.
Learn more about each below:
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This is the most important part of the process—when we take the story from your heart and put it on the page. After getting to know the basics, together we’ll determine what your story is really about. Not just what happens in the story, but what it’s about—the universal message that will draw readers in and leave them understanding something they didn’t before about the human experience. This message will be our guiding star throughout the entire project.
From there I will create a general outline for your book and begin the resource gathering phase, getting from you all the raw material I need to build your manuscript. This includes one-on-one interviews or voice memos, journal entries, notes on your phone, or any other written material relevant to the story. There will be a lot of back-and-forth as I get all the details necessary to write a compelling narrative and familiarize myself with your unique voice. You will be able to review early chapters of the first draft before I move on so we can make sure we’re hitting the target.
Once the first draft is complete, you can make comments and changes to the manuscript via Google Docs. We will discuss your suggestions and edit the manuscript accordingly. When revisions are complete and you love every word, I’ll send it to a proofreader to make sure it’s polished and ready to print.
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In the design and layout phase, your polished manuscript transforms from a Google Doc into a beautiful, bookshelf-worthy masterpiece! I’ll work with you to create a classy custom design that showcases and complements your story without distracting from it. Format options include hardback, paperback, and e-book. Photos are not required but may be included if desired. Cover design is also included.
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The manuscript is written. The book is gorgeously designed. Time to get it out into the world! In the final phase I will guide you through the self-publishing process, whether you want to make your book available on Amazon or publish through a boutique press for a small run of books intended for a limited audience. I won’t leave your side until we make sure your book looks perfect and is ready to order!
My Unique Approach
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Fully Customzied
From writing to design, I customize your book to meet your unique vision. A memoir is incredibly personal, and so is my process.
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Professional Writing
I draw on my experience as a published writer and training by the best in the industry to craft an impactful story that readers will love.
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A Finished Book
In the end you'll have not just a manuscript but a beautifully designed and published book, ready to be shared with the world.
Investment
Because each book project is unique and customized to the storyteller, there is not a standard investment. After providing details about your project, you will receive a proposal with a price estimate. Actual work will be charged hourly and billed at four milestones, in addition to an upfront deposit that will go toward the final invoice. For general reference, most full-length memoir projects start at $12,000.
Timeline
9-12 months for a full-length memoir
What I ask of you:
While I strive to make the book-making process as easy for you as possible, I can’t do it without you! As Keeper Of The Story, you are the most important person in this project. I can only work with what you give me. That’s why this process requires your heartfelt commitment. In the beginning during the resource gathering phase, and later as you review drafts of the manuscript, you should plan to spend 3-5 hours per week on this project. During less busy times I would simply ask that you respond with reasonable promptness to any questions I have so the project can move forward. I book clients months in advance, so it’s important for me to stay on schedule. That being said, of course we are both humans who have meals that need to be cooked, toilets that need to be scrubbed, dogs who need to be scratched, etc., so a cooperative and understanding relationship is key!
Writing a memoir requires not only investment of time, but emotional investment as well. The story you want to tell is undoubtedly very close to your heart. Some parts may even be painful to talk about. Being nervous about writing your memoir is totally understandable, but you do need to be in a place where you’re ready to tell your story authentically and completely. Writing memoir is one of the greatest acts of courage I know, and I don’t take lightly the trust clients give me by putting their story in my hands.
If you know you’re ready, I’d love to help bring your story to life. If you’re not, save my number and call me when the time is right. Either way, I can’t wait to hear from you.
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