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What Details Should You Include in a Memoir?
As a ghostwriter, I often help authors determine what belongs in their autobiography (covering someone's life) or memoir (covering specific events in their life). Without professional guidance on what to include, they often suffer from the opposite problem: They want to include the kitchen sink.
Here are some questions I ask clients to help them decide what to include or leave out of their manuscript.
Can AI Write My Book?
Recently, I listened to a podcast with other editors chiming in about book-related topics. A conversation struck my interest around the use of AI in publishing. One question went something like, “Should an author use AI to write their book?”
The answers were a bit mixed, with one editor saying, “definitely,” and others offering softer versions of “maybe.” Even the “definitely” editor (definitely) presented some strict caveats. So I’d like to chime in with my experience—and opinions—on the topic.
The Truth, Your Truth: Navigating the Ethics of Memoir Writing
Knowing how to share the truth in your memoir can feel muddling. Let me demystify this process from a book editor’s perspective.
We’ve provided editing and ghostwriting for authors with trauma and abuse. Just as often, we help authors tell stories of entrepreneurial success. One of the top concerns we hear from all memoir authors is: How much of the truth should I tell? And how should I do it?
Writing Engaging Blogs or Articles
Since book authors also often write articles or blog posts, I want to share some tips on how to do it effectively. But instead of writing a how-to post, I want to show you an example of engaging short-form copy, such as might appear in a blog (on leadership, which is another of my businesses as a speaker and consultant). I’ll break the article itself down by sharing elements [in bold and brackets, like this] that, obviously, wouldn’t typically appear in a published article. These are tips you should be mindful of when you write.
An Editor’s Perspective: Developing and Preserving an Author’s Voice
If you’re writing a book, you’ve probably heard about author “voice.” One of the most common concerns I get from new authors is, “I want to make sure whatever editor I work with preserves my voice.”
That’s critical to me too. In our work as editors and ghostwriters, our goal is never to dilute or arbitrarily change your voice. Instead, we want to amplify it—to sharpen it, soften it, or work to make it as clear and impactful as possible.
But I often see confusion around author voice, so I’d like to demystify it a bit here.
Why Your Ghostwriter (or Editor) Needs to Be a “Fit”
A while ago, I contracted with “Antonio” (not his real name) to ghostwrite his highly personal memoir about a traumatic life event. When we first met, Antonio told me I was the fifth ghostwriter he’d interviewed, and he still hadn’t found his ideal writing partner. Before we finished the first meeting, we both knew we felt instant “chemistry” and would make an outstanding writing team. But I urged him to conduct his due diligence.
The ghostwriter/author (or editor/author) relationship is an intimate one. The last thing you want is to share the most personal details of your life with a ghostwriter only to discover quickly that you can’t stand the person writing your story!
Explore posts by topic:
All Blog Posts
- author coaching 1
- author spotlight 7
- book editing 2
- book writing 2
- courage 1
- fear 1
- ghostwriting 1
- guest author 2
- hiring an editor 1
- hybrid publishing 1
- leadership book writing 1
- maya angelou 1
- memoir writing 2
- poetry 1
- protest 1
- self-publishing 2
- traditional publishing 1
- voice 1
- who can edit my book? 1
- writers block 1
Search all posts: