Memoir ghostwriting & coaching
Your life story, in your own voice
You've lived a story worth keeping — for your children, your grandchildren, or readers you'll never meet. A memoir ghostwriter helps you get it onto the page without having to face the blank page alone. I can coach you while you write, or write it for you from our conversations. Either way, it's your book, with your name on the cover.
Who you'll be working with
I'm a published author and freelance writer with a BA and MA in English literature and 35 years of teaching writing, in high school and community college. I've earned 33 five-star reviews for ghostwriting, and I've written personal essays of my own — about family, love later in life, and the people who shaped me. I know how tender this kind of writing is.
How a memoir comes together
1. A free first conversation
We talk about the story you want to tell, who it's for, and whether you'd like to write it yourself with coaching or have me write it in your voice.
2. Interviews and memories
We meet regularly — by video or phone — and you simply talk. Old letters, photographs, journals and family stories all help. I listen for the way you speak, not just what happened.
3. An outline you approve
Before any chapter is written, you see the shape of the book: where it begins, the turning points, how it ends. Nothing moves forward until it feels right to you.
4. Chapters in your voice
I draft chapter by chapter and you read each one. You correct, add, cut — it's your life, and you have the final word on every page.
5. A finished manuscript that's entirely yours
Your name goes on the cover. The rights are yours. I'm never named, and I never mention the work without your written permission.
Questions people ask
What does a memoir ghostwriter cost?
I charge $30 an hour. After our free first talk I estimate the hours your memoir needs and give you one total, paid in three parts: a third to start, a third when the draft reaches you, the rest on delivery.
I'm not a writer. Can I still do this?
Yes. Most people I work with have never written a book. If you can tell a story at the kitchen table, we can turn it into one.
Will it sound like me?
That's the whole point. I've spent 35 years teaching writing and reading closely; I learn your phrases, your humour and your rhythm, and you approve every chapter.
What about family members who appear in the book?
We talk it through honestly — what to include, what to soften, what to leave out. You decide; I help you tell the truth with care.
Ready to begin?
The first conversation is free. See pricing or my own published writing.
Book a free call