He wrote a perfectly fine narrative, but it was impersonal because he didn’t know how to ask himself the questions that would allow him to dig deeper - to look at the events that helped shape him, what he sacrificed, what he learned. “I’m ghostwriting for a successful businessman who wrote his own memoir a few years ago. That is, get under the skin of your subject: you. Take the lead from authors like award-winning ghostwriter Sharon Barrett. This may be a good middle-ground option.įor more advice, read our guide to writing an effective book proposal. Working with ghostwriters on a proposal is significantly more affordable than a full ghostwriting project - it’s a great way to get the input of a real professional without breaking the bank to get them to write it. Not only do they benefit from the ghost’s understanding of the submission process, but they also benefit from the interviews that are conducted, as well as their guidance in structuring a compelling memoir. Some authors will work with a ghostwriter to write their book proposal, even if they end up writing the manuscript themselves. As well as providing details about the target market and your book’s place within it, a proposal will also contain a chapter breakdown of your memoir. If you want to sell your memoir to a traditional publisher, bear in mind that you will have to, at some point, submit a book proposal. Perhaps this is something you want to do for yourself, or for your friends and family? This kind of memoir is known as a legacy memoir: intended for a more limited audience, they help writers to recall and cement the memory of a certain time in their lives, or to leave behind important stories and lessons for their family. After all, shifting copies isn’t the only reason to write a memoir. Of course, not everyone has their heart set on a traditional book deal. Identifying this target market will go a long way towards convincing an editor of your memoir's potential.Ī great way to start your market research is with the first two posts in this series: What is a Memoir? and 21 Memoir Examples. So how do know whether your book idea is marketable? Acclaimed ghostwriter Katy Weitz suggests researching memoir examples from several subcategories to determine whether there’s a readership for a story like yours. As harsh as this may seem, the truth is that the market doesn’t care about you or your compelling story the market cares only about compelling stories that also sell copies." Take it from Reedsy editor Rebecca Heyman: "The market won’t buoy you up just because you’ve experienced tragedy, found salvation or traveled the world. If they don't think there's a strong market for your book, an editor won’t take the chance - regardless of your manuscript's quality. Memoir publishers are looking for books that will resonate with a wide range of readers. Then, figure out where your book fits within the existing market. To cut down on your chances of disappointment down the road, you need to know what you’re writing, and for whom.įirst, make sure you’re completely clear about what a memoir is, and how it differs from an autobiography. Writing a memoir can take months (if not years) of your life.
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