From Draft to Publish-Ready Manuscript in 6 Steps: How I Work With You to Ghostwrite Your Memoir

People have varying, (and often) wrong definitions of ghostwriters and ghostwriting. So, if you have never worked with a ghostwriter, specifically, a memoir ghostwriter, and want to work with one, you are probably wondering how it works.??

In this article, I will break down my memoir ghostwriting process for you. If you have more questions after reading, please contact me here.

But before we begin, who is a memoir ghostwriter and why would you need one???

Who is a Memoir Ghostwriter???

A memoir ghostwriter is a writer who expertly and tenderly takes your story and wraps it in words that connect and leave a startling legacy. This story could also be your biography, autobiography or even an anthology of your life stories.??

Memoir ghostwriting is serious. Memoirs are stories that help the reader navigate life better. That's why when ghostwriting your story, I'm intentional about helping you present it in its authentic light.??

Using a ghostwriter to write your memoir doesn’t take away your rights to your published work. The rights remain yours because it is your story.?However, depending on your agreement with the ghostwriter, they can ask for some form of recognition or credit.

This could look like:?

1. Front Cover Credit: The ghostwriter’s name appears in smaller fonts below yours, preceded by the words, “written by,”?
2. Title Page Credit: The ghostwriter’s name appears on only the title page. Also preceded by the words, “written by,”?
3. Co-Authorship: The ghostwriter’s name appears alongside yours as a co-author.?
4. Acknowledgment: The ghostwriter gets a mention in the acknowledgments as a writer, collaborator or editor.?

But, as the author, if you don’t want to give credit or don’t want it known that you used a ghostwriter, you can ask the ghostwriter to sign a non-disclosure.??

Note: Don’t go into a ghostwriting project without first signing a contract with your ghostwriter. This contract should set guidelines for the writing of your story, and expectations from you and the ghostwriter.?

Some ghostwriters insist on some form of credit or recognition in their contract, and some don’t mind signing a non-disclosure. Depending on your budget and preference, you can seek a ghostwriter who matches your project goals.?

Why Do You Need a Memoir Ghostwriter???

In the past, authors were judged for using ghostwriters. This often stemmed from the fact that the authors hid the ghostwriter’s contribution while crediting the writing to themselves. However, times have changed, and the stigma of using ghostwriters is reducing.

Authors, even celebrity authors, are now transparent about using ghostwriters to tell their stories.?Why? Because sometimes, the difference between using a ghostwriter or writing it yourself is having your memoir done, or having it done right.

Using a ghostwriter has become a convenient and acceptable norm. There is nothing wrong with using a ghostwriter to write your memoir. And, even more, there's nothing wrong with admitting you used one.

That said, here are three big reasons why you need to use a ghostwriter.?

• Because You Can’t Write ?

And that’s completely fine. You are probably good at many things, but writing doesn't have to be one of them. That’s why ghostwriters exist, to help you put to words what you can’t.?So, instead of struggling to write your memoir yourself, hand it over to a ghostwriter.?It’s our job to make your story look good on paper.??

• You Can Write But Don’t Have the Time??

I have worked with clients who are good writers but couldn't find the time to write and needed their book written within a specific time frame.?That’s one major advantage of hiring a ghostwriter. They work within a deadline to deliver your book not just quickly, but beautifully.??

• You Have a Disability Preventing You from Writing??

From dysgraphia, to dyslexia, these disabilities can prevent writing and reading. I have worked with a client who had dyslexia, and it was a real honor to work on her book.?

However, you don’t need to fall into these categories to use a ghostwriter. You can decide to use a ghostwriter for any reason you choose, because it’s your story and your choice.??

Some authors have even used ghostwriters simply because they were too close to their story and wanted a fresh perspective. I highly recommend this reason.?

My 6-Step Memoir Ghostwriting Process?

Every ghostwriter has their unique process. This is why before working with one, you should learn about their process to see if it’s one you can work with. Compatibility with your ghostwriter is crucial to the writing of your story.??

So, what does my memoir ghostwriting process look like??

Step 1: Interviews??

This interview is divided into two:?

• Publishing Interview.?

• Story interviews?

Publishing Interviews?

Here, I’ll interview you in detail to determine what your publishing goals and budget are, so I can help you determine the best publishing option for you. There are three kinds of publishing: self, hybrid, and traditional. Each one comes with benefits and drawbacks. That’s why you have to choose based on your objectives for your story.?

Why have a Publishing Meeting First??

It’s wise to choose your publishing option in the beginning, so you can get the wheels turning on that while we write—especially if you have big plans for your book. If you are traditional publishing, you will need to submit a book proposal. Having that accepted by an agent or publisher will largely determine the trajectory of the rest of your memoir.?

If you are self-publishing, and are intentional about putting out a great memoir, promoting your brand, and making profit; you will need to have the best self-publishing resources on standby. This is even more important if you have a strict timeline for when you want your memoir to be published.?

If you are hybrid publishing, you will need to choose and vet your hybrid publisher to make sure your story is in the best hands.?

Recommending and vetting your publishing options are things I will help you with. So, it’s important we decide on this and get on with writing your amazing story.?

Alternatively, if your memoir is a legacy project and you have no desire to publish, this interview will be me explaining how we will take your story from draft, to a beautifully printed copy of your book.?

Story Interviews?

In 10 – 20 hours of interviews, I'll collect enough material to lay the foundation and structure of your memoir.?I love the interview phase because at that moment, I’m one of the first people in the world to hear your story for the first time. It’s an incredibly brave and vulnerable moment, and I treat it as such.??

If you’ve never done an interview like this and are anxious about it, let your ghostwriter know. It’s part of our job, to make you feel relaxed and safe throughout the process.?That’s something I aim for with my clients.??

Step 2: Outlining and Structuring??

Here, I take everything I’ve learned from the interview and create an outline and chapter-by-chapter structure for your story.???

This outline will contain the sellable book, target audience, the why of your memoir, the subject of your memoir,?the reader’s benefit (what you hope your reader takes away after reading your memoir), the themes, the characters and the key events?of your memoir.

While the structure is a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of your memoir with highlights detailing the major points or events to focus on in each chapter, and questions to help you reflect and introspect as we write.??

When writing, I prefer to treat each chapter like a short story so it’s fully formed, but still ends with a transition, and a need for the reader to flip the next page.?

This outline and structure provides enough guidance that if you decide to write your memoir yourself, you have the guidance and resources you need. I offer it as a standalone service because of how effective it is.?

My favorite thing about outlining and structuring your memoir is figuring out the best way to tell your story. I love it when the story starts to take form in my head, and I can see it laid out. It’s very exhilarating.?

After structuring, we move on to:?

Step 3: The First Draft??

This is where I build your story. My aim here is to get it all out first before cleaning it up in a second draft. A tip I have for writing the first draft is: don’t try to perfect it, just write it.?

If you intend to change names or characteristics in your memoir, don’t do it in the first draft. Write your story as it happened in the first draft, and then decide how and what you want to change in the second.??

Alternatively, changing names can be tackled during structuring. It’s why characters are outlined too.?

I've had authors compliment me on their first drafts, saying how beautifully I captured their stories. And, I've had first drafts that needed more work.?Either way, a good story never stops at the first draft. There’s always more refining to do.??

During the first draft, I send you an agreed number of chapters each month. As you read, you can go through them and leave comments that help me better caption your voice and your story.?

Step 4: The Second Draft??

The second draft comes after a month of letting the first draft sit. This is important for clarity. The second draft is where I refine your story based on the feedback from the first draft. I’m meticulous here because I want to ensure I’m getting the details right, while weaving a compelling story.??

After I’m done with the second draft, with your approval, I send it to my editor for an evaluation.?

Step 5: The Third Draft??

In the third draft, I incorporate all the feedback from my editor, while making sure everything that needs to, has been included and excluded from your manuscript.?I also ensure that, to the best of my knowledge, I have made your manuscript free from plagiarism.??

However, because I’m not a lawyer, I always advise you to run your manuscript through a lawyer just to make sure. Why??To prevent possible issues of libel and defamation. I write what you tell me, and believe you have told me the truth to the best of your memory.

But, truth is subjective in memoir and there could be people in your life who don't agree with your version of it. The odds of getting sued are low. But, it's always best to be safe.?

Once the manuscript has been approved by you, I send it off for copy-editing and proofing.??

Step 6: Copy Editing and Proofing?

Depending on the word count, this could take a month or more. Any excellent editor knows this stage shouldn’t be rushed. It is the final stage of the writing process and should be done right.??

Once this is done, you have your publish-ready manuscript!

Okay. What About Publishing??

Because we have tackled this in the beginning, with my publishing recommendations you can transition into publishing your memoir seamlessly. Publishing can be tedious and overwhelming. So, deciding ahead of time will help you reduce stress and enjoy the process rather than making panicked and last minute decisions.?

However, if yours is a legacy project, you can move straight from the final manuscript to formatting, cover design, and printing.?Either way, deciding this in the beginning is always best.?

My memoir ghostwriting process usually takes between 8 - 10 months. During that time, regardless of the publishing decision you’ve made, you should already be building a brand and platform for yourself.?

It’s important to have a community of readers and followers before you publish. This way, you aren’t publishing into the void.??

And that’s my memoir ghostwriting process. Thank you for reading!?

Hi, I’m Ezinne Njoku, ghostwriter of unforgettable memoirs. I can help you:

????Ghostwrite, edit, and structure your memoir for publishing.

????Ghostwrite your personal stories and family history so you can leave a beautiful legacy.

????Recommend the best publishing path & resources for your memoir.

Send me an email at [email protected] to get started.

Or book a discovery call here.

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