Memoir Ghostwriter
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About this service
Summary
For the past five years, I've worked with business executives, educators, and leaders of nonprofits to help them develop their stories with the right message. I'm currently writing a memoir for a woman from Iran who escaped her native country after the 1979 revolution. She came to America, where she has built an entirely new life and wants to share what she has learned through her struggles.
I have worked as the developmental editor, editor, and ghostwriter on a half-dozen previous memoir projects. My extensive experience as a journalist, writer, and intelligence analyst taught me the great power of storytelling. I have learned what makes a story powerful and will impact the reader.
My Background as a Writer and Journalist
My love for adventure and profoundly curious nature inspired me to pursue a profession in journalism. Fifteen years as an award-winning reporter, columnist, and Washington correspondent opened the door to a valuable discovery: Storytelling is the most powerful way to introduce new ideas into the world. Steve Jobs once said the most powerful people in the world are storytellers.
If you want more powerful stories that connect with your audience, I'm the writer you need to see. Whether it's web content, blogs, news, books, or screenplays, I've written in every discipline.
For more details on my background, see my LinkedIn profile
With my Memoir Service, You Can Expect:
Captivating content that inspires a connection with your audience.
Critical storytelling advice from a seasoned professional. My journalism and storytelling consultant experience have taught me the ins and outs of how stories can be told in a way that not only connects with but inspires an audience.
Compelling storylines that help the reader learn your life lessons as you fought through your own hero's journey.
Copyediting from professional copyeditors who are partners of mine to ensure your book is grammatically correct and error-free.
Complete confidentiality about your personal life. I typically require a nondisclosure agreement to make sure we are clear about what can and cannot be discussed.
Time Targets and Cost
The time it takes to write a memoir and the cost involved can vary greatly depending on your life story, how many compelling vignettes you have, and the level of detail needed. Publishing is a significant investment and it is worth taking the proper time to ensure it results in a truly inspiring book.
Hiring a high-quality ghostwriter can cost anywhere between $35,000 and $250,000. Celebrity ghostwriters earn even more. My rates are very competitive and tend to run on the lower- to mid-range of the scale.
In order to start, I will need a deposit that ranges from 30 percent to 50 percent, depending on the type of project, your specific needs, and complexity.
If you are looking to make this investment to share your story, please reach out to me so we can discuss your ideas! My preliminary consultation is free, so contact me today.
Things I Need to Get Started
Book a free consultation
A resume or bio of your life.
Seriously consider why you want to publish a memoir and who your audience should be.
During our meeting, which can be by telephone or videoconference, be prepared to tell me what major struggles you have faced and overcome in your life.
Be prepared for meetings on the phone or over videoconference in order for me to interview you about the details of your life.
Be ready to provide originals or copies of photos, journals, articles, resumes, and other parts of your history for me to review in detail.
What's included
Storyboard
Every good story has a particular arc and endpoint. It is critical to figure out the crux of your story even before you start writing a sentence. After a series of interviews, we will craft a storyboard that identifies the critical ingredients to make your story one people will want to read.
Overarching Outline
Once we review your story and ensure it has a solid direction, we will create a chapter-by-chapter outline that will fill in critical questions and the challenges you faced and overcame to make you the person you are today. We will identify lessons you've learned, the dragons you've had to battle, and the wisdom you've gained.
First "Rough" Draft - Just getting the words down on paper
When we have established critical story criteria and steps, I will begin the first detailed draft of the story. This will probably be the longest phase of the entire process, but I will keep you updated along the way.
Second Draft - A more refined version
We both review the first draft together, looking for gaps, plot holes, and unresolved blocks that might slow the reader down. We also look for aspects of your life that need to be added or taken out. We ensure it matches the original vision of our storyboard. If the story needs changes to make it more compelling, we review those as they come up.
Copyedited and Polished Final
Once the second draft is completed and reviewed by you, we send it to a copyeditor who will ensure all our grammar, spelling, and flow are correct.
Example projects
Recommendations
(5.0)
Client • Apr 5, 2023
Recommended
Chris is a gifted writer. I had the pleasure of working with him on a number of client projects over a two year period. Chris’ biggest strength was his ability to take complex information, turn it into a coherent strategy, and create narratives and other content that met the client needs. He is a dependable advisor and a conscientious teammate. I’d highly recommend Chris if you need someone who can see through complexity and write something that will move the needle for you.
Client • Apr 5, 2023
Recommended
I worked with Chris for 5 years on a number of diverse projects. Chris was the head writer for the company and is an exceptional story teller, writer, and author. Chris is able to combine research and concepts and turn it into captivating stories that move his audience. He has extended story telling expertise and has been a story consultant for other writers. He is extremely creative, articulate, and conscientious in his writing. The word I heard most often from our clients was, "WOW!"
Skills and tools
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