We all have that person in our life who is just impossible
to gift for. It’s not that they are overly picky or hard to please. They just
have plenty of money to buy the things they want and need, so shopping for them
feels nearly impossible.
While buying the latest Louis Vuitton bag or Rolex watch may
seem like the obvious solution, we’ve found that what most wealthy people want
is something unique and from the heart.
So, with that in mind, we have come up with a list of
thoughtful and customized gifts for the millionaire in your life.
Chances are that the millionaire in your life has led a pretty fascinating life.
After all, it takes more than just sitting around twiddling your thumbs to acquire that kind of wealth.
It’s likely, though, that they have not shared their life story with many people, and even more likely that they’ve never taken the time to put their legacy on paper.
By giving the gift of a personalized book of their life story, you can help them preserve their legacy for generations to come.
So, how does it work?
Within 72 hours of your purchase from The Writers For Hire, you will be
contacted by a talented team of ghostwriters who will discuss your goals and
desires for the book and work with you to set up a time to interview your recipient.
Your writing team will then spend time asking questions,
listening to stories, and recording the interviews, which will be transcribed
later into a professionally printed, 100% custom, personalized hardcover
book.
This thoughtful gift is a sure way to show how much you care about and appreciate that special person!
Most millionaires have more than enough material things. The last thing they want is another knickknack collecting dust on their shelves.
By giving that person in your life the gift of an experience, not only will they have a fun adventure, they will make memories that are sure to stay with them forever.
While there are endless possibilities when it comes to
experience gifts, here are some of our favorites:
Season
tickets to the theatre, concerts, or sporting events
Does the millionaire on your list have a cause or two that is close to their heart?
Are they huge animal lovers, or big advocates for human rights?
In lieu of a traditional gift, consider making a charitable donation in their name.
Organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Feeding America, the American Diabetes Association, the ASPCA, and the Histiocytosis Association rely on charitable donations to keep their programs running. So, a donation in your recipient’s name will not only be appreciated by them but will also go a long way to helping the charity that they love.
For a list of charitable organizations and their ratings, check out charitynavigator.org.
Unlike other delivery services like Hello Fresh and Blue
Apron, which still require some cooking, these services provide ready-made
meals that just have to be heated up and served.
House Cleaning Service
It’s possible that the millionaire in your life already has
someone to help keep their home tidy, but if they don’t, this is a great gift!
Nobody wants to spend their precious free time cleaning the
floorboards or scrubbing toilets. Hiring an in-house maid service is just the holiday gift
your loved one didn’t know they needed!
A Personal Virtual Stylist
For busy professionals, finding the time to go shopping for clothes
is a challenge, to say the least. But what if they could try on tailor-selected
clothes from the comfort of their own homes?
The gift of a virtual stylist service like Stitch Fix or Trendsend
will allow them to do just that!
All your recipient will have to do is answer questions about
their clothing sizes and style preferences. Then, their personal stylist will
go to work creating beautiful outfit choices, which will be mailed directly to
their home. And if they get something that they don’t like (or that doesn’t fit),
all they have to do is send it back in the postage-paid envelope.
Ultimately, finding the perfect gift for the millionaire who has everything does not have to be as daunting as it sounds. It just takes a little creativity and some out-of-the-box thinking. And don’t forget to make it come from the heart!
A life story is something to be remembered. Writing a book is not only a great way to share such a story; it may also help and inspire those who read it.
However, many who set out to put their life story to the page are caught off guard by just how much time, energy, and commitment writing their autobiography or memoir demands.
In this article, we will go over the differences between an autobiography and a memoir, how you can start writing your own, the challenges to expect, and how to get help if needed.
What’s the difference between a biography, an autobiography, and a memoir?
The differences between the three may not be obvious, but they are actually relatively simple.
Biographies are written in the third person, with or without the subject’s direct involvement, and detail the events of the subject’s life from start to finish.
Autobiographies are written in the first person, usually, but not necessarily, by the subjects themselves. Like biographies, they detail the chronological events of the subject’s life. Because of this, many authors choose to wait until later in life to write their autobiography.
Memoirs are also written in the first person, like autobiographies, but they focus on specific moments in the subject’s life that hold significance.
Memoirs retell these significant events to reflect on them and build emotional connections with the audience. They are much more intimate than biographies and autobiographies because of this.
Consider whether it would be best to pursue a memoir or an autobiography before you start writing.
If all you desire is to record the overall events of your life with some light introspection, then an autobiography is probably best.
However, a memoir is the way to go if you have a central message to convey using your reflections on significant events in your life.
How would I get started writing it?
Where you start depends on whether you’re writing an autobiography or a memoir.
For an autobiography, you should begin outlining the events of your life in chronological order, as that will serve as the outline for your book.
This includes collecting any resources you may need to fill in gaps, especially for events in your early childhood. These could be old scrapbooks, diaries, and accounts from your parents or other relatives who recall more about an event than you do.
If writing a memoir, you should first figure out which events from your life you want to focus on.
What message do you want to convey, and how do these events relate to it?
It’s generally best to go through these events chronologically, filling in time gaps with necessary details of what happened between them.
That’s not to say that doing something different, like starting on the most pivotal moment of your life and then flashing back to explain what led up to it, can’t work. But it will complicate the structure of your book and require more skill as a writer to pull off effectively.
There is a variety of challenges to be aware of, including, but not limited to:
Writing long-form content such as a book is much easier said than done. It takes tremendous time and energy to complete such a project.
It may be challenging to find time to write in your existing schedule.
Even if you find time, you may not have the ability to translate the events of your life into a compelling story that will keep readers engaged. There’s no shame to this, as writing is a skill acquired over time. It’s unreasonable to expect yourself to hit the ground writing like an experienced author.
You’ll likely have to go through several drafts of your autobiography or memoir before you have a manuscript good enough to publish. This means a lot of editing that will also take significant time and energy.
Then comes the challenge of pitching your autobiography or memoir to publishers until you get a ‘yes,’ which is the final hurdle to getting a book out there.
You can avoid this final step by choosing to self-publish, but be aware that going through established publishing houses can provide you with resources you won’t get otherwise.
Chief among these is their established marketing teams and budgets, which can go a long way to helping a book do well commercially.
If that’s a significant concern for you, it may be worth it to put in the extra effort to get a publisher.
Just know it can take a considerable time to get the book to market even after you finally get that ‘yes’ from a publisher. According to Writer’s Digest, it can take anywhere from nine months to two years for an author to go from signing the publisher’s contract to seeing their book published.
If you want to get your autobiography or memoir out into the world and aren’t as concerned about commercial success, then you can try self-publishing. Keep in mind that the initial investment and marketing effort will fall on you, and your work may not spread as quickly.
Consider hiring a ghostwriter if you find yourself in need of help writing your autobiography or memoir. They can help you extensively throughout the process, from working out the outline to writing and editing the manuscript.
In some cases, they can even assist you in finding a publisher for your work by leveraging existing connections.
You may wonder if your book will still be an autobiography or memoir if it’s ghostwritten. The answer is yes.
Since autobiographies and memoirs are differentiated from biographies by being written in the first person, it doesn’t matter if you write it yourself or have someone more experienced write it in your name.
Not only this, but because ghostwriting by nature involves the understanding and explicit permission that the work will be attributed to the client instead of the writer, it does not count as plagiarism.
For further details on how the process of developing an autobiography or memoir with a ghostwriter works, please refer to this blog’s case study on The Obedient Child.
“When you write down your life, every page should contain something no one has ever heard about.” — Elias Canetti
More often than not, the thought of an autobiography conjures thoughts of famous individuals and historical figures.
The truth is that you don’t need to be the president of a country or a war hero to chronicle your life’s story. Everyone has a wonderful story to tell.
Some folks go through incredible life journeys. Others work hard for years as they reach singular achievements. It doesn’t matter where you come from. What matters is the journey you’ve lived.
If you’ve ever thought about penning your story, or if you’re currently on that road, here are five expert tips that will help you write a killer autobiography.
5 Expert Tips for Writing a Killer Autobiography
1. It’s all about your journey.
Your autobiography is all about your journey. As such, your focus must be on telling your entire life story.
Sure, some parts may be more interesting than others. There may also be extraordinary moments in your life.
Nevertheless, these moments don’t happen in isolation. There is an entire backstory that leads to these unique events.
If you think that readers aren’t interested in your whole story, think again.
Readers want details. They want context.
They want to know what makes you tick.
Regaling your readers with cool stories and fun anecdotes is all well and fine. However, you’ll lose them without putting your entire life story into focus.
Think about it this way.
An athlete writes about their proudest moment: winning an Olympic medal. While that is a great achievement, readers want to know the story behind that medal.
Readers crave a narrative detailing how an ordinary person achieved an extraordinary feat. Otherwise, your autobiography might sound like you’re just tooting your own horn.
There is something else to consider. An autobiography is about your entire life. Therefore, readers want to know about your childhood, teenage years, singular moments, and even failures.
Readers want the whole enchilada, so to speak.
If you plan to focus on individual events, then you might be better off writing a memoir. A memoir differs from an autobiography in that it focuses on singular events without telling one’s entire life story.
Never forget: Your autobiography is all about your journey. So, don’t be stingy. Give readers what they want. You might be surprised to find how much readers crave to know about your whole life, not just snippets of it.
2. The devil is in the details.
A great autobiography pays close attention to detail. After all, the devil is in the details.
Details are key since they help readers get the full picture of what your story is all about. Without details, readers may get the feeling they’re missing out on something.
Think about it…Why do readers dive into an autobiography?
They want to get details they wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. They expect to get insider information.
When you deliver, your autobiography becomes a true page-turner.
Please bear in mind that details help frame the entire journey. They provide depth and substance to the narrative.
However, there is one caveat: The details you include must be relevant to the story. They must contribute meaningfully to the story you are looking to tell. Otherwise, you may create a disconnect between your readers’ expectations and the story itself.
Above all, salacious or inappropriate details may derail your autobiography’s purpose. So, it’s always a good rule of thumb to carefully review what details go into your autobiography’s final draft.
3. Consistency is the key.
Consistency is crucial when it comes to crafting a gripping autobiography. In particular, consistency applies to the overarching narrative you seek to build. This narrative must be consistent with your theme.
So, ask yourself the following questions:
What is my autobiography’s major theme?
What message do I want to convey to my readers?
What do I want my readers to take away from my story?
Think about it this way:
Your book’s theme, or themes, ought to focus on aspects such as courage, resiliency, compassion, and love, for example. These themes ought to underscore your autobiography’s overarching structure. In doing so, you’ll give your readers something to look forward to as they navigate through every page.
Your message must focus on what you want to tell the world. In other words, your autobiography’s message should reveal your motivation for writing your story. For example, your purpose may center on telling folks to follow their dreams in spite of adversity. This message must be patent throughout the story. Moreover, your story’s details must support your theme.
When you think about what you want your readers to take away, you must think about what feeling you want your readers to have when they finish the final page. Do you want them to feel inspired? Are you looking to create awareness? Whatever your specific aim, your story needs to leave readers with something they can hold on to after finishing the last page.
As you build your message within your overarching theme, please don’t neglect following a clear, chronological order.
How so?
A common mistake is leapfrogging from one event to another. Some writers like to start from the end and work their way back.
While that is an effective approach in creative fiction, it is not the most appropriate for an autobiography.
Leapfrogging from one moment to another may create confusion in your readers, who may get tangled up in the details.
Moreover, you may need long and highly detailed discussions to unravel the main points in your story.
4. Keep it real.
One of the most important factors in every great autobiography is keeping it real. After all, readers want to hear the truth in your words.
They want the real deal. They want the truth—even if they can’t handle it!
Seriously, though, readers want to learn about events just as they occurred.
While it may be fun to play around with facts, in reality, readers expect you to be as accurate as possible.
Indeed, accurately depicting events is key. Depicting characters accurately, however, is even more so.
Readers want to hear about the characters in your life as clearly as possible. Naturally, readers will get your perspective. While that is absolutely fine, you must make an effort to portray other characters just as they really are.
Consider this situation:
Some characters may be villains in your life. They may have hurt you in some way. Nevertheless, it would be best if you resisted the temptation to bash them in your narrative.
You must, instead, try to be as objective as possible. In doing so, readers will see that you’re objective. They will understand that you want to paint the reality of your life and not what you intend people to believe.
Describing one’s parents is a common pitfall in autobiographies.
When folks have great parents, they tend to glorify them, often overlooking their faults. Therefore, it is important to praise their great qualities but also shed some light on their missteps.
On the flip side, when folks have terrible parents, they may completely disregard their parents’ good points.
It’s only fair to also shed light on the good things that bad parents did at one point or another.
In some cases, there are characters that cause great harm. But it’s these bad characters and negative experiences that enable the story to unfold.
For instance, a coach tells you that you’re too short to play basketball. So instead of overly vilifying this individual, the narrative can reflect their role in fueling you to be the best basketball player you could be.
Please remember that always keeping it real should be your top priority. Readers expect to hear your truth. So, lay it on the table for them to see.
5. Don’t sweat minor details.
A major caveat of an autobiography is dwelling too much on minor details. Throughout this discussion, we’ve drilled down on the importance of providing accurate details. Focusing too much on details, however, may lead you to include minute or inconsequential details.
So, how can you tell which details are important?
Always ask yourself: How does this information contribute to my overall narrative? The answer to that question ought to determine what information to include.
Consider this situation:
When describing your childhood, there are key moments that define your life. These key moments are what readers want to know about.
These events ought to help you build your narrative as you traverse your path.
In contrast, including too many details, such as what you had for lunch at school every day, may not necessarily contribute to your overall purpose.
One way to add depth to your story is to include photographs. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words! Including photographs and images can help save you valuable space.
For example, instead of describing your childhood home, including a photograph can help save writing time while giving readers a perfect sense of where you grew up.
How can a ghostwriter help write a killer autobiography?
Writing a killer autobiography is a painstaking endeavor. It requires time and dedication. It also demands special attention to your writing skills.
Unfortunately, there may be times when you may run into some obstacles along the way. At that point, a ghostwriter can come to the rescue.
So, how exactly can a ghostwriter help you write a killer autobiography?
Ghostwriters are experienced professionals. They have the know-how and experience to craft a wonderful narrative. They can take your life’s story and transform it into a seamless narrative. Best of all, a ghostwriter can capture your voice.
At first, that may seem unlikely. In reality, a professional ghostwriter has the skills to build a narrative that is consistent with your personality. An experienced ghostwriter can take the information you provide them to depict your life’s journey accurately.
How can a ghostwriter capture your voice?
A professional ghostwriter typically begins by talking with you. They help you discover your overarching theme and message. From there, they take the information you provide to build the narrative while capturing your voice.
This process includes interviews, reviewing documents, examining photos, and doing research. From there, a professional ghostwriter can gather the information to construct your life’s narrative.
The best part of working with a ghostwriter is that you get a say in every step of the process. You have full control over the entire process. Your trusted ghostwriter takes your instructions to build what you want people to see.
It’s like having an architect take your design vision to build the house of your dreams.
In this case, you’re not building a house. You’re building a structure that represents your life. You’re like an Egyptian pharaoh getting a pyramid sculpted in your honor.
A ghostwriter may be the perfect way to get the ball rolling if you’re still on the fence about your autobiography.
If you’ve started writing, but have gotten stuck somewhere, don’t let your project linger. Talk to a ghostwriter. They can help you fulfill one of the most ambitious projects anyone can undertake: telling their story to the world.
When most folks think of working with a ghostwriter, they believe they must share credit with them. However, that is only true if you want it. There is no need to share credit with a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is a professional writer who understands that your autobiography is yours and yours alone.
A great alternative is to work with a ghostwriting agency. A ghostwriting agency is a team of writers that work with you to build your autobiography. Ghostwriting agencies have a number of qualified staff members who can help you build the autobiography you have always wanted.
If you’re still on the fence about working with a ghostwriter, working with a ghostwriting agency can put your mind at ease. If working with a professional ghostwriter is great, imagine working with an entire team!
“I constantly think that I am so glad that I finished writing my biography with your great help. I think it is one of the most important accomplishments and most enjoyable experiences of my life.”
Joyce Marleau, author of The Obedient Child
Producing a high-quality autobiography can be a complicated endeavor for those with little or no writing experience. In fact, many autobiographers find that the process is a lot harder than they bargained for.
However, with some help from a ghostwriter or team of ghostwriters, producing a long-awaited life’s chronicle can be achieved.
After working closely with a team of ghostwriters, Joyce was not only able to complete her autobiography, but is now receiving praises for her story and is even being recognized in public by strangers.
In this article, we will explore the role that a ghostwriter plays in helping extraordinary individuals, like Joyce, get their unique life stories out to the rest of the world.
Moreover, we will discuss how Joyce's book, The Obedient Child, is a textbook case study on how a ghostwriter (or team of writers) can assist talented individuals in achieving one of life’s crowning accomplishments: writing an autobiography.
What Is an Autobiography?
Simply put, an autobiography is the story of a person’s life told in the subject’s own voice. A subject’s own voice entails having their personal experience jump out at the reader. This characteristic is what defines an autobiography.
Traditional biographies—that is, a person’s life story told by a third party—while accurate, do not reflect the subject’s personal thoughts and feelings. What readers get is the author’s views, biases, opinions, and conclusions. In a manner of speaking, there is an invisible barrier between the reader and the subject.
An autobiography’s main purpose is to take the subject’s voice to articulate their thoughts and feelings regarding their own life’s events. This approach allows readers to have a conversation with the subject. Readers get to imbibe the subject’s perception without the filter that comes from a third-party biographer.
On the whole, most autobiographies are the result of an individual’s writing acumen. Nevertheless, there are instances in which a third-party writer crafts the prose that reflects the subject’s true voice. This task is what ghostwriters do when they set out to produce an autobiography.
The Ghostwriter’s Role in Writing an Autobiography
Some people believe that an autobiography written by a ghostwriter is not an autobiography. But nothing could be further from the truth!
A ghostwriter’s role in an autobiography is not to produce the book's ideas.
Instead, the ghostwriter’s role is to articulate the subject’s voice and vision into prose that communicates with readers. As a result, a ghostwriter is merely an enabler that facilitates the culmination of an autobiographical project.
The question then begs, “What does a ghostwriter do in an autobiographical project?”
The answer to that question reveals the integral role that ghostwriters play in producing an autobiography.
Please remember that a ghostwriter’s role is to bring the autobiographer’s vision to life. A ghostwriter will mirror the author’s voice, tone, and inflections, so that prose flows just as the author intended.
As the American poet Maya Angelou once said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Indeed, ghostwriters help many untold stories come to fruition. They make it possible for the world to hear those stories.
Without ghostwriters, many stories would slip away into oblivion.
Ghostwriters at Work
Ghostwriters have been around a long time. They have helped some of the most famous and influential individuals get their message out there. Such is the case of President Ulysses S. Grant.
Following his retirement, Grant set out to write his memoirs. Indeed, he penned a great deal of the material himself. However, he had the helping hand of a dear friend: Mark Twain.
Twain convinced Grant to accept a deal from Twain’s publishing company, passing on other deals Grant had on the table. While more generous than the others, Twain’s offer came with an extraordinary benefit: Twain’s support. Twain officially provided Grant with consulting services. Mainly, he helped Grant edit his writing. However, the unique prose in Grant’s memoirs has been the subject of speculation for decades, which lies in the view that Twain actually ghostwrote Grant’s memoirs.
In the example above, Twain exemplified Maya Angelou’s words. He helped take a story and bring it to life. While there is evidence that Grant supplied the information in his memoirs, it was Twain who aided his dear friend in articulating the message he wanted to tell the world. Unfortunately, no one will ever truly know to what extent Twain helped Grant compose the words on the printed page.
Like President Grant, Joyce Marleau has lived an incredible life and has an equally impressive story to tell. So, she set out to share it with the world. She endeavored to produce her autobiography. However, she ran into some bumps along the way. So, she decided to contact the writing team at The Writers For Hire for help.
As with many first-time writers, Joyce had a head full of ideas. She had a treasure trove of photographs, stories, and experiences to share. She had a wonderful life journey waiting to come to life.
But instead of letting her life’s project languish, Joyce made a wise choice. She brought in a ghostwriter to help her bring her life’s project to fruition.
The result of this endeavor is The Obedient Child.
The Obedient Child is the story of a remarkable woman who left her home country at the age of 19. She set out from Taiwan to the United States without truly knowing what to expect.
She had lived through the Japanese occupation of her country through WWII, and the subsequent Chinese government rule. Undoubtedly, change has been her life’s overarching theme. Dreams have also been a major theme in her life. And one of those dreams was to study in the United States.
Through incredible bravery and encouragement from her parents, this amazing young woman made her dream come true.
She attended university in Kansas after leaving everything she had ever known in her life. Embracing uncertainty, this remarkable young woman— named Chwen Erl at birth—now became Joyce.
Joyce embarked on this new stage in her life, determined to be an American success story. With her husband, Joe, Joyce built her life on the foundation of her past to transform herself into everything she had always wanted to be.
Joyce and her husband settled in Seattle, Washington, where they started investing in real estate. Years later, after vacationing in Mexico, they decided to use their real estate experience to buy and renovate a home in the beautiful coastal town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Joyce and Joe now live half of the year in Seattle and the other half in Puerto Vallarta, where Joyce has fully embraced the magnificent Mexican culture.
The Encounter
In March 2019, Joyce reached out to The Writers for Hire. She had finally set out to make her dream come true: write her autobiography.
The spark for this great endeavor stemmed from a chance meeting with author Alan Drury who, upon hearing about Joyce’s life experiences, encouraged her to write a book. From that meeting, Joyce has been determined to get her story out to the world. She had a message to communicate with the entire universe. Nevertheless, she merely needed a helping hand.
Joyce began fulfilling her dream with the help of a team of professional ghostwriters from The Writers For Hire.
Joyce’s ghostwriters, Jennifer Rizzo and Dana Robinson, helped her map out the path for her book.
This path led to an intensive four-day interview session in which Joyce laid out her remarkable life.
Throughout the interviews, which took place in Joyce’s home in Puerto Vallarta, Jennifer and Dana asked Joyce a series of questions about her life, and took notes as Joyce told her story (with a little input from her husband, Joe).
Those notes, along with the recordings of the interviews, would provide the basis for what would become The Obedient Child.
Armed with their precious cargo, Jennifer and Dana set out to compile Joyce’s wealth of information. From there, they crafted an outline of the book and began producing a narrative that captured Joyce’s true voice. This endeavor was not about just writing Joyce’s autobiography for her. It was about working closely with Joyce to mold her own words into a chronicle that aptly communicated her message.
Throughout the writing process, each completed chapter was sent to Joyce by email. Joyce then made any changes or additions that she saw fit, to ensure that the book was accurate and that it conveyed the exact message she wished to share.
Getting the Message Out to the World
Once completed, it was time to get The Obedient Child out to the world. Joyce’s ghostwriting team put her in touch with Houston-based publisher Stellar Communications. Stellar has a singular track record of publishing wonderful books, and The Obedient Child was not the exception.
Joyce’s ghostwriting team worked closely with the team at Stellar Communications to get Joyce’s book formatted exactly as she wished, with beautiful images added throughout.
Jennifer and Dana then did a final proof of the printed copy, to make sure that it was as perfect as possible, and ready to be published.
Upon publication, Joyce’s story has deliberately etched a place for itself in the literary world. It is currently available on Amazon.
However, the aim of the book is not to merely reach publication. This endeavor has not been about becoming a “published” author. For Joyce, this endeavor has been about reaching as many people as possible and touching as many lives as she could with her life’s essence.
And that, she has done.
Getting Through to Others
There is no greater satisfaction for any author, artist, or performer than to have others acknowledge their work and contributions. Receiving positive feedback from the public makes the hard work and sacrifice that comes with writing a book worthwhile.
For Joyce, that feeling of satisfaction would come soon enough.
As soon as her friends and family started reading The Obedient Child, praises for Joyce’s book and her life story started pouring in.
Joyce’s younger sister even remarked that, through the book, she learned things about Joyce and her childhood that she had never known before.
But family and friends were not the only people impressed by Joyce’s fascinating book.
One morning in Puerto Vallarta, Joyce and Joe were running errands. Their errands took them to a local bank office where Joyce was pleasantly surprised by an unexpected encounter.
While at the bank, another customer approached Joyce to compliment her on the book. The lady had recognized Joyce from the photos in the book, and just had to meet her in person!
What a momentous occasion. Joyce now had fans!
Indeed, it is an author’s dream come true to have strangers stop to tell them about how much their book connected with them.
This encounter was the height of this incredible journey that started so many years ago.
The Lessons Learned
Joyce’s story highlights three key lessons regarding the role that ghostwriters play in developing an autobiography.
1. It is all about the author.
The author, Joyce, is the story’s focus at all times. She is the star of the show. As a result, the entire project revolves around what Joyce brings to the table in her book.
So, what did the ghostwriters do?
The ghostwriters were merely a conduit that allowed Joyce’s voice to shine through the pages.
When readers flip through a page in Joyce’s book, they get the real Joyce. The reader does not get a filtered view from a third-party perspective. Readers get the real deal.
It is worth noting that a ghostwriter is a consultant. Like Mark Twain, a ghostwriter assists the author in getting their message across. Ultimately, the ghostwriter does as much or as little as the author needs.
2. It is all about the message.
A great autobiography circles around a core message. Therefore, a ghostwriter assists the author in articulating that message so that it reaches their intended audience.
The aim is to ensure the prose resonates with the reader. Otherwise, the autobiography may prove to be a sterile exercise.
Joyce had a message she wanted to communicate to the world.
Working in tandem with her ghostwriting team enabled her to craft her message so that it resonated with her readers.
Ultimately, Joyce achieved her aim. Her readers now recognize her when she goes to the bank. How many people can claim that?
3. It is all about partnership.
Working with a ghostwriter is about building a partnership. This partnership creates a two-way collaboration. Please remember that a ghostwriter does not just write a person’s autobiography. A ghostwriter is also a consultant.
A professional ghostwriter is about helping the author find their voice as they navigate the waters of the literary ocean.
Writing can also become a lonely experience.
Writing an autobiography can be quite challenging. It is even more challenging when a first-time author attempts to go it alone. Therefore, having a trusted partner helps make the journey much easier to manage.
Joyce had a helping hand to guide her throughout every stage of writing her autobiography. Undoubtedly, producing her autobiography would have been much harder without the guidance of her trusted ghostwriting partners.
Like Joyce, there are plenty of first-time writers out there. These aspiring authors have a message they yearn to communicate to the world. However, they may not know how to find their true voice.
Reaching out to a professional ghostwriter can mean the difference between having an untold story within and sharing their unique experience with the universe.
Ultimately, finding a trusted partner can make a dream come true. Joyce found her trusted ghostwriting partners at The Writers For Hire. It was indeed the right choice.
You’ve had an interesting life, and you want to share your story with the world. You want to share lessons learned, leave a legacy for your family, or preserve favorite memories. You’ve thought about writing a book more than once, but you’re not sure where to start.
In fact, you’re not even sure what kind of book you should write.
Should you tell your story in chronological order, starting with the day you were born? Should you aim for a series of “snapshots” of important events in your life? Do you want to focus on one aspect of your life, like your career? Do you want to write about a challenge you’ve had to overcome?
We know. That’s a lot to think about.
First of all, don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed. A book is a big project, and there are several great options for writing your life story. In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular options, and help you decide which is best for you.
Autobiography or Memoir?
Although you’ve probably heard these two terms used interchangeably, there’s actually a difference between an autobiography and a memoir. Both are great options for telling your story, but the option you choose will depend on things like your goals for the book, the focus of your book, and the types of stories you want to share.
The Autobiography
An autobiography is a sweeping factual narrative of your life.
It’s written in chronological order from your birth to the present moment.
It is based on factual events rather than memories and emotions, and highlights the experiences and accomplishments throughout your lifetime.
All autobiographies are written in first-person, typically by the author themselves, but can also be written by a ghostwriter.
While this format is normally used by famous people who have a lot of accomplishments and experiences to document, anyone can write an autobiography.
Within the autobiography format, there are two main approaches.
You can write your life story strictly based on your history and accomplishments, listing the events of your life in consecutive order so your readers can learn about you and your life experiences.
You can write your life story based on a particular theme. How would you define your life in one key message? Maybe it’s the idea that love conquers all, or a theme like overcoming adversity and never giving up. By determining one main theme and weaving it through the all facts of your life, it makes for a more interesting story and creates a better flow.
In fact, many of the best autobiographies out there have a central idea that blends with the author’s entire life story throughout the book.
Pros: This is a little easier to write, due to the chronological and factual nature of the format. Unlike some of the other options available, an autobiography can be straightforward and simple; there is no need to use literary devices or embellishments.
Cons: Presenting your life story in a strictly factual, linear way can be less interesting than a memoir. The “just the facts” approach also means you’ll need to do lot of fact checking and research. Also, it can be difficult writing about yourself, especially in the first person, without it feeling stilted. You might find that you sound too humble or even too arrogant — it’s hard to strike the right balance.
Unlike an autobiography, a memoir focuses on a more specific point in time based on your memories and the feelings of that time period.
It is meant to re-create the past instead of merely record it, which makes for a more interesting read.
This format is also written in the first person but is less formal. Instead of emphasizing factual events, a memoir is focused on how you remember or were affected by these events.
One of the great things about this type of format is that it gives you, the author, great flexibility. You can write about anything. This is also a great option if you find that you really enjoy writing: because a memoir covers only one aspect, event, or time period in your life, you can write numerous memoirs about other experiences.
You can write a memoir about your childhood, your travels, your family, your career, or anything else. Think about a key theme or lesson and how it affected or shaped you then and now. You can write about a single personal event that happened; a single historical event; a series of connected events that have a common thread; or an external person or event to you and how it/they affected or shaped you, your life, and your outlook on life.
Pros: You can write about virtually any topic, theme, experience, or event. Plus, because you’re writing about your own memories and events in your life and not about your accomplishments, it’s easier to write without sounding stilted or over-indulgent. And if you love to write, you can write numerous memoirs.
Cons: Writing a memoir takes a little more writing skill to make the story flow in an interesting way. Also, your memories could be less clear than the real events which could possibly open you up to liability issues. Other things to consider are privacy of others and the potential of alienating yourself from friends or family depending on your subject matter.
Now that you know the difference between an autobiography and a memoir, it’s also important to know that these aren’t the only two ways to write your life story. Consider these optional formats:
The Diary or Journal
Many people regularly journal or keep a diary to chronicle their life’s experiences. If you have kept a journal over the years, then you are even closer to writing your life’s story.
It doesn't matter if you have never journaled before.
You can start right now to keep track of your daily life and use that as a springboard to writing your story.
Using a theme or single topic as you journal can be a good way to get started.
Plus, if you do it in this format, you can take a mix of both the autobiographical format and the memoir format by doing it chronologically but with more emotion and not as much fact.
You can also simply intermix the memoir and diary formats together and write your memoir as if you were doing journal entries.
Pros: You may have already been keeping a diary or journal throughout your lifetime, so it makes a great format to start with as much of the writing is already done. You can also still build around a central theme or simply write your memories out in this format.
Cons: Many diaries or journals contain mundane thoughts, feelings, and daily events that aren’t interesting to write about or read. It can be harder to go through each entry and extract the interesting parts from what is probably not all that interesting. Oftentimes, keeping a diary or journal will lead to a lot of rambling and usually there isn’t a cohesive theme or event to it.
A biography is the telling of person’s life story—typically a famous person—by another author.
It is usually written in the third-person voice (he/she) and is also factual in content and written in chronological order from birth to the present moment, just like an autobiography.
But just because biographies are normally written by someone else, there is no rule book that says you can’t write your own biography!
All you need to do is take your story and write as if it happened to someone else.
You can also write your memoir this way using a he/she form of writing.
Pros: Writing in the third person vs. first person can help you detach from your story so you can see it more objectively. Also, much like an autobiography, this format is based on facts and an easy to follow timeline, so you can write in a more direct way without a lot of added fluff like you would in a memoir or autobiographical novel.
Cons: Writing in the third person form can be difficult when writing about yourself and your achievements. You also must still focus on the historical events of your life and the facts which means a lot of research and fact checking is necessary.
Another way to present your life story is writing a fictionalized book based on the true or remembered events of your life.
Why write your life story as if it were made up and put it into novel form?
Certainly, there are risks when you write your life story and present a factual (autobiography) or semi-factual (memoir) account.
Liability, privacy, protecting other people who are still living, and a sensitive subject matter are all good reasons to choose this format.
Of course, writing in a fiction format can also be a good way to embellish on facts that aren’t quite so interesting. Just remember to never make up facts and portray them as truth within your life story. You can use truth within your fiction, but not the other way around.
Pros: By choosing this format, you can avoid hurting family, friends, and other people that are a part of your story. You can also protect yourself from liability issues by presenting sensitive topics and information as fiction. Plus, if you don’t fully remember all the events you’re writing about, it might be better to present them as fiction. And writing in novel form allows you to embellish on the facts that aren’t quite so interesting.
Cons: Presenting the truth as made up doesn’t give the healing or closure on certain events or topics in your life which is something many people try to do when telling their life story. Also, you want people to know it is your story and writing in fiction can cause confusion to your audience.
The great thing about writing your own story is that, well, it’s yours. And that means you can tell it any way you choose.
The only limit is your creativity.
Here are some ideas of other formats you can try:
Like almost everyone, you probably have a phone in your hands at any given moment. Start taking video of important experiences and events to create a video autobiography.
Create an audio or oral autobiography by voice recording yourself talking about your life, history, events, or anything you want to talk about to your intended audience.
Take a series of photos of you with captions and create a digital photo autobiography that chronicles your life by placing it online, CD, or another digital format.
Using photos, letters, certificates of achievement, journaling, and paper, make a one-of-a-kind keepsake scrapbook that tells your life story. It will be visual, unique, and something you and your family can treasure.
Do you like to take your own photos? Create a digital memoir using photos you have taken across a life event, experience, or topic.
Maybe you’re an artist and have created paintings and drawings over the years. Consider putting them all together into book form that helps tell a story of your life, similar to a memoir or across your life like an autobiography.
If you are an avid social media user, you could consider taking your social media conversations, social media posts, even your text conversations and compile your life story around these things, even using a similar format. Group them together by topic or theme to make for easier reading. If using text messages or comments made by others, be sure to get permission from them before you publish in any sort of way so as not to plagiarize.
Write a series of short stories and put them together into a book, like an anthology. They can be stories about similar topics or events or can be completely separate and random.
Create a book of poetry with each poem detailing aspects of your life or memories.
Pros: You can present your life story in anyway you choose! You can be as creative as you want while possibly even starting a new niche in this genre – you could be a trendsetter!
Cons: You have fewer examples to follow to help you along with telling your story, especially if you are a new writer. You’ll have to be extra creative and make up your format as you go which might extend the time it takes to get your project completed.
When you tell people about your life, do you often hear, “you should write a book!”?
Have you lived a life that inspires others, or do you have a fascinating family history that you are confident would be a bestseller?
If you are reading this, chances are you have a spark burning inside you to get your story out into the world. There may be obstacles standing in your way. Maybe it is time, money, skills, or even the frustration of how to tackle such a massive project.
You may be under the impression the public only wants to read about well-known people. The truth is you do not have to be famous to write your life story.
Helen Garrison-Williams, publishing director at 4th Estate (owned by HarperCollins), says, “Celebrities aren’t inspiring anymore, and people don’t want to be them.”
Instead, Garrison-Williams says regular people’s autobiographies are becoming more popular. “What readers want is people who are normal and who they feel they can trust.”
Unfortunately, though, many people who want to tell their life stories never follow through. They fear that it will be too much work or that they don’t have the necessary skills.
They don’t realize that hiring a ghostwriter to co-author your life story keeps you and your voice at the epicenter of the project.
The purpose of a ghostwriter is to uncover your voice and author your story for and with you.
Ghostwriters not only have a robust understanding of narrative but also an exceptional ear for individual voices.
Their job is to recreate your story in an effective and authentic voice—your voice, a voice you may not even realize you have—and to tell that story using the skills and elements of narrative writing.
Jennifer Rizzo, a ghostwriter at The Writers For Hire, explains how autobiography ghostwriters successfully write using their client’s voice. “Ghostwriters are skilled at really listening to the way our clients speak, in order to genuinely mimic (their) style and rhythm of speech.”
Autobiography ghostwriters seamlessly bring clients’ voices to life. Rizzo says, “We use those unique inflections and ways of saying things to weave their characteristics into the story.”
All you have to do is hand over the reins to your ghostwriter and remain available for interviews, answering questions, and periodically approving the writing throughout the project.
Reasons to Consider Hiring a Ghostwriter for Your Autobiography
Many people joke about drafting the stories of their lives. And the truth is that many really would love to produce a book to share with their families—including future generations—or to publish on a larger scale.
However, very few actually do so.
Below are some great reasons to consider hiring a ghostwriter for your autobiography.
1. You have a remarkable story but not the writing skills to publish your book.
You know that you have a story people will want to read but you also realize your dream of others reading your book will not come true without the support and expertise of a ghostwriter and editor.
2. You have written out bits and pieces but need someone to put it all together coherently.
You may have written down ideas and thoroughly enjoyed the process. You may even want to continue writing sections of your autobiography, but you know you need an experienced co-author to organize those sections into a coherent narrative.
3. You have the skills to write your autobiography, just not enough time.
Crafting your autobiography solo involves a huge time commitment and you may not have the time to make it happen. An autobiography ghostwriter is a partner who can help you efficiently move the process along.
4. You have great ideas in your head, but you need someone to help get them onto paper.
You have a clear mind movie of your autobiography, and you may have even begun drafting your story, but you know you need structural help with pacing and other elements of your story.
What is the Difference Between an Autobiography Writing Coach and a Ghostwriter?
Now that you have established the need for some outside help, you may wonder what distinguishes an autobiography writing coach from a ghostwriter.
There are several differences, ranging from the amount of writing and research each of you will do to the total cost of your project, as well as how much time you will need to invest.
Autobiography Writing Coach
An autobiography writing coach works closely with clients to establish the book’s theme, content, research, and outline. The writing coach’s primary purpose is to help clients draft their own books.
An autobiography writing coach does not complete any of the actual writing—instead, they help clients set goals and give them strategies to succeed as an author.
A coach’s services are based on the client’s needs and wants, such as research or editing. Typically, coaches are given partial credit for authoring the book.
Autobiography Ghostwriter
Like a coach, an autobiography ghostwriter also works with clients to establish themes, plan content, and create an outline—however, a ghostwriter provides additional services.
Ghostwriters serve as co-authors and interviewers as they discover and develop the clients’ stories.
Ghostwriters can complete and verify all relevant research and track down any necessary supporting documentation.
The most significant difference between a writing coach and a ghostwriter is that ghostwriters compile all the content and draft the book, generally receiving no credit. No one reading a book written by a ghostwriter will know someone else is the author; instead, the client gets full credit.
In most cases, hiring a ghostwriter will cost more than hiring a writing coach, because of the larger scale of services offered. However, if money is a deciding factor, there are ways to reduce your costs by playing a more active role in the process.
For example, supplying your own documentation and providing images may significantly reduce the costs of working with an autobiography ghostwriter.
How Hiring a Ghostwriter Can Help You Get Published
The grand finale of your autobiographical journey is getting it published. Although self-publishing is not new, the recent popularity of self-published books like “The Martian” by Andy Weir and “50 Shades of Grey” by E.L. James has given this format of publication a widespread stamp of approval.
It also offers new authors a variety of options to get their story out into the world.
Although self-publication can give authors additional options for success, it can be difficult for new authors to determine which path to take.
This is where working with a seasoned writing partner can pay off.
Not only will ghostwriters sharpen your content and weave your story into a literary work you can be proud of, but they can also help guide you through an overcrowded marketplace that is often hard to navigate.
Ghostwriters are not agents, but they can be insightful allies on your journey to publication.
“While we are not publishers ourselves, we work very closely with several independent publishing agencies,” says Rizzo when asked about ways The Writer’s For Hire can help clients get published. “We are very well versed at getting autobiographies written and formatted in a way so that they are in good shape to hand directly over to the publishers when completed.”
Working With a Ghostwriter
Hiring a ghostwriter offers a multitude of benefits. You will have someone who listens carefully to every detail of your past while learning your goals, dreams, hopes, and fears. The ghostwriter will come to understand your story in a way no one has before.
Working with a ghostwriter is a partnership with someone whose entire goal is to understand your story, from your point of view, wholly and wholeheartedly. Someone who will provide feedback to your ideas and construct your story in a way that will satisfy you and resonate with readers
“The process can take many forms, depending on the client’s needs,” Rizzo says. “Some clients know exactly what they want their autobiographies to say, but struggle to put those words to paper . . . In other cases, a client may want to take a stab at the writing themselves, and just need a ghostwriter to help smooth things out and do edits.”
Authoring a book takes time. It does not happen in a month or two. Rizzo stresses, “Writing an autobiography is a marathon, not a sprint.”
Good writing is honest writing, and ghostwriters must take time to get to know you in order to convey your story and your truth, in your own voice.
Considering Writing Your Autobiography?
Writing your life story is one of the most fulfilling projects you can ever embark upon, regardless of whether it is for yourself, your family, or a broader audience.
Hiring an autobiography ghostwriter means building a relationship based on trust and honesty.
Finding a skilled ghostwriter with whom you feel comfortable will allow you to relax and enjoy the creation of your memoir while maintaining creative control.
“A memoir is about handing over your life to someone and saying, this is what I went through, this is who I am, and maybe you can learn something from it.” — Jeannette Walls
You are thinking about writing your memoir or autobiography to record your life experiences and share them with the world.
That is a wonderful idea!
Your first instinct might be to go at it alone. So, you sit down at your computer and fire away. Then, you realize that a project such as this is not quite as straightforward as you thought.
Of course, you have a head full of ideas. But you may have some difficulty translating them into an articulated text. Moreover, this may be the first time you set out to write something of this magnitude.
For many folks, writing a memoir or autobiography is a unique undertaking. Sometimes, they lack the experience and expertise necessary to complete a writing project of this scale.
Then, there is time. Indeed, some folks do not have the time to produce a full-length book. As a result, admirable projects like memoirs and autobiographies languish. Eventually, they remain incomplete.
However, a failed project is not the worst tragedy.
The worst tragedy is depriving the world of your valuable and meaningful contribution. After all, we all have worthwhile stories and experiences to share.
With a writing team on your side, your memoir or autobiography is sure to become a reality. So, stay tuned for some great tips on how to build the right team for your writing project.
Why Should You Write Your Memoir or Autobiography?
Founding father Benjamin Franklin once said, “Either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing.”
Well, what if you have done something worth writing? Then, it is time to write something worth reading.
Undoubtedly, we all have something to share with the world. We have stories, anecdotes, experiences, wisdom, and lessons to share. Moreover, other people are interested in hearing what we have to say.
The question should not be why should you write your memoir or autobiography. The real question is why shouldn’t you!
The reality is that there is no reason why you should not put pen to paper. You have absolutely nothing to lose by communicating your singular life experience to the world.
By holding back, you deny others the wealth of your wisdom and insight. So, the real issue becomes how to get started.
Getting Started with Your Memoir or Autobiography
The first major hurdle to clear is defining whether you wish to write a memoir or an autobiography. You must first have a clear idea of which approach best fits your goals.
Memoir
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a memoir as a “narrative composed from personal experience.” In short, a memoir emerges from your personal account of your life. As such, a memoir must contain first-hand knowledge.
Of course, supporting information can help boost your narrative’s credibility. Nevertheless, a memoir should be your narrative above any other information source.
Also, a memoir is more akin to a snapshot of your life. It generally serves to chronicle a specific chapter in your life or career.
A classic example is the choice of former presidents: Often, ex-presidents write memoirs about their time in office. These memoirs serve a dual purpose. First, they help preserve a former president’s legacy. Second, the memoirs allow readers to gain first-hand insight into what transpired during a specific administration.
Please note that the value in a memoir lies in the privileged access to information readers get. Access to this information would not be possible without the author’s willingness to pen their life experience.
Autobiography
Now, let’s consider what an autobiography is. Merriam-Webster defines an autobiography as a “written account of a person’s life in their own words.”
As you can see, we are talking about a person, writing about themself, using their words. Thus, an autobiography is a first-person narrative that takes readers through an entire life experience.
Herein lies the biggest difference between a memoir and an autobiography.
If you aim to chronicle your entire life journey, then you must consider writing an autobiography.
However, if are interested in focusing on a specific chapter of your life, you must concentrate on writing a memoir.
Once you have made the biggest decision regarding your project, it is time to assemble your writing team.
Why Do You Need a Writing Team?
Producing a full-length book is no easy task. Therefore, you must consider all the elements that go into producing a top-notch publication.
To begin with, producing a book takes time. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time to research, write, edit, proofread, and prepare a book for publication.
Additionally, these tasks require a certain degree of experience and expertise. While you are certainly an expert in your field, you may not have the necessary knowledge and familiarity with the publishing industry.
Here is where your writing team comes into play.
Your team can handle the heavy lifting for your memoir or autobiography. They can help you translate your ideas and vision into a neat package that is ready for publication.
Furthermore, your writing team allows you to concentrate on the most important task: getting your story out to the world.
They can help you take notes, write a rough draft, and polish the final manuscript into a finished product. This endeavor is similar to polishing a diamond. You have produced the most precious part of the process already. Your team will make sure your diamond is ready to present to the public.
Putting Your Team Together
A successful writing team consists of various members. Each one plays a key role in the content’s development. Moreover, they should all work together to form a seamless unit. Ultimately, they can help you produce the high-quality material you envision.
Let’s take a look at each member in detail.
Hiring a Ghostwriter
When you hear the term “ghostwriter,” you may not be entirely sure what it means. You may have even heard negative stories about ghostwriters. However, a professional ghostwriter can mean the difference between your project gathering dust and having it come alive.
Let’s be clear about something. A ghostwriter is not going to write your memoir or autobiography for you.
A ghostwriter will merely take your ideas and thoughts and translate them into professional-grade copy. In other words, a ghostwriter has the linguistic tools to articulate your ideas in the most suitable way.
A ghostwriter’s linguistic ability makes hiring this professional a worthwhile investment in both time and effort.
First, hiring a ghostwriter saves time in terms of penning the narrative. In particular, a ghostwriter can drastically cut down the time needed to produce the bulk of a draft.
Please bear in mind that there is a specific reason behind this assumption. Professional ghostwriters measure their productivity in terms of time. An experienced ghostwriter will strive to get the job done as quickly as possible. Therefore, a talented ghostwriter will do their best to produce quality material efficiently.
Second, a professional ghostwriter will seek to get the job done right the first time. This approach prevents wasted time with lengthy revisions and costly rewrites. Ultimately, hiring a professional ghostwriter greatly facilitates the entire production process.
Renowned actor Bruce Boxleitner once remarked, “So I had a ghostwriter, they call them, or somebody who is an experienced writer, to help. I’ve got the ideas in my head. It’s getting them properly on paper.”
Indeed, these words encapsulate the role a ghostwriter can play on your team. They can make the difference between an idea floating around in your head and a work of art coming to life.
Recruiting a Historian
Historians play a key role on an autobiography or memoir team. They can help fill in gaps in ways ghostwriters cannot. By definition, historians are familiar with events surrounding specific points in time. Consequently, they can provide accuracy and credibility to any book.
At their core, memoirs and autobiographies contain first-hand accounts.
However, these accounts may require corroboration to ensure their accuracy. But this is not to say that you need to “prove” your story.
The point goes beyond that.
Crafting the entire context around the events in your narrative helps the reader understand its underpinnings. Readers need to see the broader context to grasp an author’s circumstances fully. Without this context, the reader might miss important elements of your story.
Consider this situation.
An autobiography set during the civil rights movement needs to expand out to the broader social context of the 1960s. Otherwise, the reader may not fully appreciate how meaningful the content truly is. It is the larger picture that helps readers gain a full understanding of the situation around the author.
Historians can help craft that context accurately and concisely.
Like a professional ghostwriter, a historian can help you bring your story to life. Of course, your account is compelling enough on its own. Nevertheless, a historian will help you place your narrative within its rightful historical context.
Choosing an Editor
No team would be complete without an editor. A professional editor helps you refine your book’s content. Editors play a crucial role, especially if you hope to release your book through an established publisher.
Please note that editors are not merely proofreaders.
A proofreader checks for spelling and grammar mistakes. An editor does so much more than that. A professional editor can take your narrative and provide insights on various levels.
First, an editor can provide a “developmental edit.” This type of edit consists of providing suggestions and ideas on a manuscript’s contents. For example, the editor might suggest introducing a climactic event earlier in the book. Also, an editor may suggest changing the tone or pacing of the book.
Second, an editor can provide an “editorial assessment.” This is a list of recommendations on a draft that aim to make the finished product more engaging to a target audience. For instance, an editorial assessment may suggest you use a lighter tone if you want to reach a younger audience.
Now, here is a remarkable characteristic of your autobiography or memoir team: Your chosen editor and ghostwriter can work in tandem to produce your book. This approach saves a considerable amount of time and effort. By the time a manuscript reaches your hands, you will find a neatly polished work. Then, you can provide your input.
Once you feel satisfied with the finished product, you can confidently release it.
Deciding to Hire a Proofreader
Traditionally, editors handled the proofreading process. However, the use of automated proofreading tools nowadays has drastically facilitated the proofreading process. As such, you can choose to have your writing team use automated tools to check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Alternatively, you can choose to hire a professional proofreader to go over the content.
Please note that the difference between a proofreader and an editor lies in the suggestions they make.
While an editor suggests changes in the story and the narrative’s structure, a proofreader only highlights linguistic issues. Consequently, a proofreader should never make suggestions on the writing itself.
If you prefer the human touch, a professional proofreader can deliver the plus that no automated tools can.
Bringing Your Team Together
Generally speaking, there are two ways to bring your team together.
The first approach is to hire individual members. Note that you will need time to reach out to ghostwriters and editors. Then, you will need to evaluate their track records and interview them. Lastly, you will need to meet with your entire team to review your ideas.
Once you have your ideas out there, you will most likely need to share any writing you have already done or record your stories. From there, the ghostwriter will set pen to paper. Meanwhile, a historian can conduct research to provide the ghostwriter with the elements they need to craft the narrative. Finally, the editor can review the entire narrative.
The second approach is to hire a writing agency. Writing agencies typically have an in-house staff in place. As such, they are essentially a one-stop-shop. You only need to engage with a single point of accountability while ghostwriters and editors work in the background. In the end, you can involve yourself as much, or as little, as you see fit.
Whichever approach you choose, it is important to consider bringing in a writing team for your memoir or autobiography. If you decide to go at it alone, that is perfectly fine. Nevertheless, a writing team may be exactly what you need.
Conclusion
Producing an autobiography or memoir is a dedicated labor of love. It is an endeavor that requires careful planning, time, and attention. Unfortunately, you may not have the luxury of spending days, or even weeks, in front of your computer devoted solely to writing.
Suppose you feel that you cannot get around to completing your autobiography or memoir? In that case, you must consider hiring a team to help you produce your book. Hiring a professional ghostwriter, editor, historian, and proofreader can help you bring your project to fruition.
As the great poet Maya Angelou once said, “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”
So, what are you waiting for to get your song out there? A writing team can help you get that song out of your head and into the world.
“A good title is the title of a successful book.” — Raymond Chandler
As the renowned American minister Frank Crane once said, “Next, in importance to books are their titles.”
Indeed, while a book’s content is its most significant attribute, a bad title can do a book a huge disservice. After all, readers judge books by both cover and title.
If an author wants their memoir to have a chance, they must first give it a good title.
But what makes a title “good”?
In this article, we will explore eight helpful tips for finding the best title for your memoir.
8 Helpful Tips for Finding the Best Title for Your Memoir
Tip #1: Keep it Simple
Frequently, authors feel tempted to incorporate outlandish titles for their books. The aim is to shock and awe would-be readers.
The rationale is to pique readers’ curiosity just enough to give their books a chance. However, this strategy can backfire quite easily.
Firstly, an extravagant title, especially for a memoir, may not convey the subject’s personality appropriately. Consequently, it may build an inaccurate image.
Secondly, over-the-top titles may not necessarily reflect the book’s content. Therefore, readers might misunderstand the memoir’s general message. As a result, readers may choose to pass on it.
Consider this example:
The Wild and Unforgettable Life of the One and Only John Doe.
The title above is certainly eye-catching. Nevertheless, it fails to express what the book represents. After all, would readers be truly interested in this character’s remarkable life?
As Leonardo DaVinci famously put it, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
Opting for a title such as “An Extraordinary Life Journey by John Doe” better communicates an essential element: John Doe’s life was an extraordinary journey. As such, readers can expect to go on a journey as they read the book.
In the end, readers can expect to come away with a singular experience.
Tip #2: Focus on Tone
Often, titles miss the mark by not settling on the memoir’s tone. After all, memoirs can have a myriad of tones. Some are solemn; others are hopeful. Some memoirs are serious, while others are fun and playful. Therefore, the title must match the book’s tone.
Consider this example:
Emerging from the Shadows: A Journey from Obscurity to Prominence.
What tone does this title convey?
Initially, one might assume the title signals an inspirational story. Hence, readers would assume the memoir is filled with stories about overcoming struggles.
However, if readers find a collection of disjointed anecdotes masquerading as humor, they may find the book disappointing at best.
Ideally, a memoir’s title must give the reader a good sense of the book’s overall tone. In the example above, perhaps a less serious title would serve the book best.
Consider this possibility:
How I Made It: My Journey to the Top of the Mountain.
In this version, the reader can glean an inspirational story. However, the title is less solemn and more lighthearted. Thus, the memoir’s contents would better match its title.
The renowned Israeli writer Etgar Keret summarizes this by stating, “I think tone gives birth to the story.”
Undoubtedly, giving a title the wrong tone does a major disservice to the project’s entire purpose.
Tip #3: Choose A One- or Two-Part Title
Most book titles nowadays consist of two parts. This practice is highly common in the nonfiction domain. Many authors believe it is necessary since it enables them to narrow down on the book’s precise contents.
As for memoirs, they are seemingly in the middle of the fiction and nonfiction domains. On the one hand, memoirs are factual. On the other, they are artwork. As a result, authors must ask themselves, “Is my book more art or more fact?” The answer to this question would reveal the way to go.
Memoirs scripted as novels should consider a one-part title. For instance:
A Memorable Walk Through Life.
In this one-part title, the author looks to communicate an artistic rendition of the subject’s life. As such, readers can expect facts wrapped up in colorful prose.
Now, consider this alternative:
Great Business Leaders: The Life of Jane Doe.
This two-part title indicates that Jane Doe was a great business leader. Therefore, readers can expect a more journalistic, matter-of-fact approach with this memoir. Indeed, this title resonates much more like a nonfiction title than a novel.
Like tone, a one- or two-part title must accurately reflect the book’s purpose. Serious works benefit more from a two-part title, whereas creative narratives do well with a unique one-part title.
Tip #4: Tell the Truth
Telling the truth pertains to accurately representing the book’s core message.
Unfortunately, some authors believe that using misleading titles will translate into more sales. Their rationale focuses on enticing readers. Once readers pick up a copy, the sale goes through, and the money is in the bank.
However, word gets around quickly. Consequently, misleading titles will kill book sales in a heartbeat.
Some authors also use salacious titles to drive public interest. The expectation that builds on such titles may initially drive sales. However, the book had better deliver on its title. Otherwise, the disappointment could leave the book dead in the water.
Consider this title:
The Secret Life of King John Doe: The Untold Tales.
A title this scandalous suggests a collection of titillating stories never heard before. As such, the book needs to deliver. Anything short of outrageous stories will miss the mark.
Additionally, a shortage of “untold” stories would certainly kill the book’s momentum.
Motivational speaker and bestselling author Larry Winget offers this insight:
“I write titles that are confrontational. I write titles that make people want to pick up a book and find out more about it. I write good books; I write great titles though.”
A “great” title on a “good” book may come up short. Ideally, authors should strive for a great title on a great book. That aim is possible when the title accurately represents the book’s contents.
Tip #5: Get to the Point
There is nothing more counterproductive than an ambiguous title.
An ambiguous title defeats a memoir’s purpose by confusing the reader. After all, an unclear title makes it hard for the reader to ascertain the book’s contents.
Consider this title:
An Amazing Life Story.
The title above, while certainly poetic, does not tell the reader what the story contains. Consequently, the reader may not feel compelled to pick up a copy of the book.
In contrast, a well-crafted title would make it much easier for the reader’s curiosity to kick in.
Book publishing consultant Nancy Peske offers this succinct tidbit: “Think about word combinations that capture the heart and soul of your story.”
Indeed, the aim is to capture the memoir’s heart and soul. For that to happen, however, the writer must be clear on what that heart and soul are.
Memoir writers must understand the message they want to transmit. Often, this message gets lost in a sea of anecdotes. Thus, the title can serve as a guiding beacon for the writing process.
With the above example, a two-part title can help drill the point home. Consider this alternative:
An Amazing Life Story: Success in the Face of Disability.
This alternate title indicates the memoir’s message. The reader can expect to find an inspirational story of someone who overcame their disabilities to find success in life.
Tip #6: Do the Research
Inspiration can hit at any time. And a great title can suddenly appear when least expected.
However, there is one catch: The amazing title you just came up with may already be taken by someone else.
Undoubtedly, coming up with a great title is the first step in any great book. Nevertheless, it is crucial to do a cursory online search to determine if the title already exists.
In the worst cases, the title is already in use, or another very similar form of it. Therefore, there is a need to change the title to avoid copyright issues.
On top of that, there is another more compelling reason to check out memoir titles. Book publishers tend to frown upon book titles that are too similar to that of another already published book.
When this happens, publishers are often quick to change the book’s title, especially if they like the content. This situation could lead to unwanted conflict between author and publisher.
Thus, it is best to do away with all the drama. Once again, Nancy Peske offers this insightful piece of advice: “Let’s say a quick Internet search reveals that no one has used your memoir title except perhaps for one article and certainly not for a book. That’s a good sign that you have or are close to having a terrific title for your memoir!”
An original book title is crucial to a great memoir’s success.
Tip #7: Don’t Forget About Marketing
At its core, a title is a book’s first line of marketing. Naturally, a great title will drive sales. In contrast, a bad title may hold sales back. When sales are a primary objective, a great title is an essential tool.
Seasoned memoir veteran Jerry Wexler provides this highly useful reflection: “If a book’s title tickles my interest, I move to the next step. I look at the blub or description and read reviews online. If still curious, I look up the author’s home page, blogs, and social media. However, I continue to rely on the title as the centerpiece for all this interest.”
This reflection pinpoints the importance of a book’s title. Readers do not focus on reviews, comments, or even visit an author’s website unless the book title somehow appeals to them.
It should not come as a surprise to see interest dwindle due to a bad title. Of course, great reviews may rekindle interest. However, good comments may not be enough to overcome a bad title.
Great titles usually have a catchy component to them. That component often comes from somewhere in the book.
When authors struggle to come up with a title, they can resort to the text itself. It is quite common to find some phrase or line that encompasses the memoir’s spirit. As such, authors should not be afraid to borrow from their own ideas.
Tip #8: Create a Personal Connection
Undoubtedly, generic book titles will derail any momentum a book can generate.
A title such as The Life Story of Jane Doe is as bland as it gets.
Needless to say, titles such as these do little to forge a personal connection with the reader.
A personal connection should also emerge with the author.
After all, this is the author telling their story through their voice.
As a result, the title must materialize from within the author.
Jerry Wexler has this to say about the personal connection a memoir can create in the reader:
“After we close the book for the last time, we continue to associate the story with its title. So, when you look for the best possible title, consider the image it will leave. The title should haunt readers, please them, and continue to evoke images. Ideally, the title should roll off the reader’s tongue when friends ask for a recommendation.”
This savvy piece of advice encapsulates the purpose of a superb title. When a title creates a personal connection, it will “haunt” readers well after they have finished the book. In some cases, their connection may last a lifetime.
Something deeply personal such as Uphill Battle: How I Beat the Most Challenging Enemy of my Life has the potential to strike an extremely personal chord with readers. The outcome may well be a profound link between reader and author.
Conclusion
International bestselling author J.K. Rowling once said, “I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.”
Of course, this quote goes beyond the obvious connection with the magical theme of her books. This quote underscores how significant a book can become in a person’s life.
All of that begins with a great title. A great title should not just be a piece of great marketing copy. It should also be a personal message the author wants to communicate to their readers.
A creative narrative should explore a unique one-part title. This title should encompass the very essence of the book’s message. By the same token, a more solemn memoir should consider a two-part title. The title would then provide enough material to entice the reader’s curiosity.
Ultimately, great titles boil down to sharing the author’s internal passion. With such efforts, the title can haunt the reader well after flipping through to the last page.
