Books, as we all know, come in many genres and one of the most popular is memoirs. These are usually associated with people who are, or have recently been, in the public eye – politicians, actors, athletes. Motives for writing them are various: the author may want to ‘put the record straight’ (politicians), catch the eye of a director before they completely lose their lustre (actors), or make a bit of money pre-retirement before a new batch of sporting heroes take over the headlines. Memoirs do not require the rigorous accuracy of a biography (or autobiography). The author can jot down their recollections and, as the Queen famously said recently, ‘recollections may vary.’
During the pandemic a new phenomenon in memoir writing evolved, with quite ordinary people putting pen to paper to write about their lives. The aim was not vainglorious, or to settle scores, or to write for profit, and certainly not to get their work published via an established publisher. They simply wanted to record their thoughts and day-to-day doings over the decades for their children and grandchildren. Many were encouraged to do this by younger relatives, keen to capture Mum or Dad’s (or Granny’s) memories whilst they are still around and mentally able.
Rarely does a ‘print run’ of such works extend to more than 25-30 copies; they are writing just for family and friends. A growing number employ ghostwriters rather than write themselves, and there are a number of businesses, such as Bound Biographies, Forever Stories, and Story Terrace, offering such services. Such businesses have noted a huge increase in workload – as much as 400% in 2021. Jobbing writers take note!
There is a huge range in the services offered – Forever Stories, for example, charges £600 for a one-hour interview, from which they will produce an 18-page booklet of short anecdotes and family photos. At the other end of the scale, Bound Biographies can offer ten one-hour interviews, and produce a 50,000-word memoir, for which they charge up to £7,500. Being a ghostwriter for such firms can be a full time job; one such writer has ghosted over 250 memoirs – and some of his clients have become friends.
What are the skills required to be a ghostwriter for these types of memoirs? Well, you need to be able to build a relationship, gently probing and prompting, checking (tactfully) for accuracy. You need to be able to bring some order to what may come to you as a jumble of events and friends and relations. You need to write up the memoir in a suitably jaunty or serious manner, depending on the nature of the material you are given, and the personality of the official author. You need project management skills so that you deliver on time and within budget (including ensuring you are appropriately remunerated for your efforts).
It can help too, that you are not easily shocked; whilst many clients may have been pillars of society, a few will have had some pretty exciting (read saucy / criminal / scary) moments. Sometimes the ghostwriter will be the first to know a family secret, such as illegitimacy, drug use, extra-marital sex …
Maybe such memoirs would sell well on Amazon, and boost your income as well as the author’s – but don’t bank on it!
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