How to work with a memoir ghostwriter
Considering hiring a professional writer to help you write your memoir or autobiography? These folks are called ghostwriters. In this article I will describe, in general, what you can expect when you work with a memoir ghostwriter:
Getting to know you
Before you hire a ghostwriter, you’ll want to have a call or in-person meeting with them to get a feel for who they are and how they work. Writing a memoir is a very intimate process, so you want to make sure you feel comfortable with your ghostwriter and excited to work with them. Likewise, an experienced ghostwriter will also be screening you to make sure you are the type of person they can do good work for, and that they feel comfortable helping you tell your particular story.
Developing a roadmap
Once you’ve decided to work together, you and your ghostwriter will discuss the bird’s eye view of your story and figure out what the major theme and plot points will be. You won’t be getting into the nitty-gritty details yet. Your writer just needs to get an overall sense for your story and the form it will take. Having a roadmap or outline will help guide the next step.
Gathering resource materials and interviews
This is the most intense and most critical part of the ghostwriting process. This is when you share your story in full with your writer. Most of this sharing will take the form of recorded interviews. Your writer will conduct these interviews and guide you to get at the heart of your story, asking follow-up questions as you go and encouraging you to go deeper. You may provide other materials to your writer like journal entries, notes on your phone, photos, and documents that will help them flesh out more details of the story.
Writing the manuscript
Your writer may be writing the manuscript as they go along, i.e. doing an interview and then writing that part of the manuscript. OR they may wait until all the interviews/resource gathering is complete and then commence writing the manuscript. Following the general roadmap you created at the beginning and now informed by the full story, your ghostwriter will organize the manuscript into cohesive chapters so the narrative flows in a seamless and engaging way. They will then get into the details and edit each paragraph, sentence, and word so the story sounds like a well-spoken, writerly version of you.
Editing the manuscript
After the first draft of your manuscript is complete, your ghostwriter will return it to you for review. Often this is done digitally through a program like Google Docs so changes and suggestions can be tracked easily. Once you are happy with the changes, your writer will incorporate them and let you have one more pass (or more if necessary) to make sure every word is just right. Ghostwriters will often ask their clients to sign an approval form for the manuscript before moving on to the next step.
Designing the book
Some ghostwriters end their process at the previous step, but others will continue on with you until the finished book is actually in your hands. They may do the typesetting and cover design for you or contract with other professionals who can do this part of the process. They will make sure your book is designed to industry standards for aesthetic pleasure and ease of readability. Cover design is an important consideration that your ghostwriter can help walk you through.
Publishing
Once the design is complete and your book is ready to be printed and bound, your ghostwriter can help you decide which publishing path is best. These days, many authors prefer the convenience and control of indie publishing (aka self-publishing). Your writer can help you upload your files to Amazon or whichever publisher you choose, order a proof copy to make sure everything looks perfect, and make your book available to the general public.
And woohoo, you’re an author!
In the market for a good memoir ghostwriter? Let’s chat and see if we’re a good fit!
