April 13, 2018

Where do memoirs come from? 
Should you write one?
Should you get help writing your life story?

"Oh Maude, why don't you write your memoirs. You have so many good stories. People would love to read about your life."  Perhaps someone has said the same to you, or words to that effect. You've thought about it quite a few times, but never pulled the trigger. Friends and family are starting to almost badger you about it and it's beginning to look more and more like maybe it is something you should do.

I've received countless calls from people who say they want help writing their life stories, which is a good thing for a ghostwriter, right? Yes and no. To be honest, not all life stories are worth writing a book about. Don't get me wrong. Everyone should sit down at one time or another and write about his or her life. It's good for the soul. It's good for keeping memoirs alive. It's good for your family, your grandchildren and it may even be entertaining to others beyond your family and friends. It can be a legacy that survives you through generations. It is, after all, proof that you were here, that you did worthwhile things, and that your life made a difference to others. But, is it worth retaining a ghostwriter to help you? After all, we are an expensive proposition in general. The process can take months or longer, and it requires a great deal of effort on the author's side as well as the ghostwriter. On the other hand, you're pretty sure you don't have enough skill to write a 250 page book well, and you're even more certain you couldn't discipline yourself to work at it every day for the next six months or more. Hiring a ghostwriter may be exactly what you need.

Having started this on a somewhat negative note, and if you're willing to listen to an in depth conversation about this process, I'd like to show you who should and who should not get help with his or her autobiography, life story or memoir--there are millions of you! I'd like to paint a more positive picture about a challenge that is both exciting, important and within many people's ability and reach.

(Continued April 19, 2018)

There is a technical difference between an autobiography and a memoir. An autobiography is generally considered your entire life story from youth until the present day.

A memoir is generally considered a "portion" of your life. This portion could be just one incident or event that is fleshed out to either a short or an extensive book form. A memoir can be a career you had among many, just your childhood, or just a part of your adult life. A memoir can also be a combination of your business career and parts of your personal life.

Regardless of what it is called, your own personal story whether that is a single event that happened over the course of your summer vacation, or your entire life story, is one of the most rewarding challenges you will likely ever undertake. 

There are many reasons people want to write their stories: sharing insights about enormous challenges they have overcome, leaving a legacy for their families, entertainment coupled with insight, wanting the world to know they were here, or just as a historical document. 

Some people go it alone, take classes or read books on how to write a memoir. Even though I write memoirs for a living, I always encourage people to try to write their own story first. I tell them to begin by developing an outline and then to keep notes or start a journal to flesh out all the stories that will ultimately become a cohesive book--an autobiography or a memoir. At some point in this process, it becomes self-evident how the rest will progress, or a person will decide he or she is better off hiring a professional.

Why should you write your life story?

Whatever your motivation for finally sitting down and capturing your story, they are all valid. Want to help others? Want your grandchildren and their children to know who you were, what you stood for, and what lessons you want them to gain from your life? Want to entertain people and make money publishing your book?

WARNING! There are two questions you have to answer first before hiring a ghostwriter to help you. 

(1) can you afford the costs? (generally anywhere from a low of about $25,000 to well over $100,000--commensurate with the length of your story and the experience and knowledge of the ghost). 

(2) do you have the time and energy to see this project through to the end? Your time with a ghostwriter can be weekly or even daily interviews of several hours over a six month to a year period of time. It can involve your reading and re-reading your story many times over the life of the written work to insure it is progressing the way you envisioned it would. And it will most likely involve retrieving various documents, letters, photos and other memorabilia. 

Assuming these two factors are not a deterrence, then hiring a ghostwriter is the best possible choice you can make. 

(to be continued)