Ghostwriting Your Memoir

Our most famous memoir - published around the world in multiple languages.

A memoir is a presentation of a “slice” of your life. It’s an in-depth look at an experience or set of related experiences, a certain period of time, a relationship or some other part of your life. As  readers live these experiences along with you, they gain unparalleled access to your most intimate thoughts – your hopes, dreams, fears, successes, failures, lessons learned and more.

Why hire us to ghostwrite your memoir?

The memoirs we’ve ghosted, edited and written range from Diana and Dodi: A Love Story, which told the story of the star-crossed romance between Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed, to very personal tales of private people. We excel at telling your story, in your voice. We are currently ghosting the memoirs of the former head of Toy ‘R Us.

You’d like to write a memoir, but don’t know if your life has been interesting enough.

You don’t need to have run with the bulls in Pamplona or climbed Mt. Everest to have an interesting story to tell. If you’ve ever faced adversity, wrestled with your feelings, confronted prejudice, succeeded or failed in business, raised a family, left familiar surroundings for the unfamiliar, lost a loved one, walked away from an opportunity because it seemed wrong, or otherwise made an important decision, you have the material for a memoir.

If a memoir is your story, how can a ghostwriter write it?

The ghostwriter doesn’t invent any parts of your story. Instead, he/she uses the information you provide – via interviews with you and perhaps your family and friends, material you’ve already written, your photos and mementos, and other sources. Once all the pertinent information has been gathered, the ghostwriter strives to write as you would, capturing your style and voice on paper.

Is there a format for a memoir?

A number of different formats can be used to structure a memoir. You might, for example, start with a high point or a crisis, then roll back in time to detail the events leading up to that moment. This is the approach we used in Diana and Dodi: A Love Story. This book began with the terrible car crash in Paris in 1997 that ended the lovers’ lives, then went back in time to show how they met and began their romance. The story progressed from there, taking the reader through the fatal crash and its tragic aftermath.

Another approach is to begin with a wish, then relate the ups and downs of the journey leading to the fulfillment of that wish. We used this approach in Take Off Power, the story of Billy, a young boy growing up in Depression-ravaged Oklahoma in the 1930’s, who wanted more than anything to be a pilot. This wish was born when Billy was six years old and he looked up in the sky to see a barnstormer pilot flying so close to the ground that he could clearly make out the pilot’s facial features. Enchanted by the idea of flying away from his grimy poverty, Billy vowed that he would be a pilot when he grew up. Despite having little money, he managed to get his flight training and become one of the first pilots for Continental Airlines, beginning a distinguished career that lasted for more than 30 years.

A third approach is the “heroic journey,” in which the author is followed through a series of difficulties that eventually leads to the development of greater strength and deeper self-understanding.

There is no “right” format, but one will probably be most effective for your memoir. Part of the ghostwriter’s job is to help you find that format.

What’s the difference between a memoir and an autobiography?

A memoir presents enough of your life story to reveal the inner you, offering a glimpse into your heart and mind. An autobiography covers your entire life, from birth to the present, and emphasizes the facts, although it may also reveal your thoughts and feelings.

What are the most popular reasons for writing a memoir?

• To ensure that your children and grandchildren know who you are and what motivates you
• To inspire others to overcome difficulty
• To share a wonderful life adventure
• To shine a light on a problem or cause
• To entertain readers with exciting/dramatic/amusing episodes from your life
• To teach an important lesson about your business, culture, religion, etc.
• To capture a slice of history
• To better understand yourself

How do I know if you need a ghostwriter?

If you have trouble consolidating the details of your life into a cohesive story…you need a ghostwriter.

If you don’t know where to begin…you need a ghostwriter.

If you fear you can’t handle it alone…you need a ghostwriter.

If you hesitate to dig deep and confront potentially troubling emotions…you need a ghostwriter.

Call us at (818) 594-0379 or send an email to Info@Taylor-Fox.com