Attention aspiring memoir ghostwriter! Are you ready to unleash the transformative power of your words and embark on a journey where empathy meets creativity? Imagine the thrill of giving voice to untold stories, of capturing the essence of lives lived and dreams realized. Picture yourself as the conduit through which the extraordinary narratives of others come to life on the page.
But it’s not just about storytelling—it’s about empowerment. As a memoir ghostwriter, you have the unique opportunity to make a profound impact on individuals and communities, to preserve legacies and inspire future generations. And yes, it’s also about financial freedom.
In this dynamic field, your skills are not only valued but highly sought after, offering the potential for a lucrative income doing what you love.
But I know the journey is not easy, that’s why in this special interview edition, you’ll be discovering the journey Ezinne, one of Linkedin’s finest a memoir ghostwriter, and learn how she combat and thrive as a memoirist…
So, if you’re ready to seize the reins of your destiny, to channel your passion into a rewarding career, then I implore you to keep reading!
A Tale of Memoir Ghostwriter
Can you please introduce yourself and elaborate on how your journey as a writer led you to specialize in ghostwriting memoir?
I’m Ezinne Njoku. And I’ve been a memoir ghostwriter for over two years. My journey as a memoir ghostwriter really kicked off after I got dissatisfied with content writing. I started my writing career as a content writer.
I was great at it, but it held no meaning, value or purpose for me. I wanted to connect with my writing when I wrote, and no matter how I tried, I just couldn’t do it as a content writer. And it didn’t help that most of the topics I wrote about were just very random and un-relatable to me.
After some reflection, and advice from my loved ones, it didn’t take me long to realize I wanted to write stories. And as soon as I realized, I couldn’t believe how obvious it was! I’ve been writing stories my whole life, I just didn’t think it was something I could do as a career.
However, I wasn’t ready to tell my own stories yet, and I didn’t want to be a fiction ghostwriter. So I thought, “what now? How do I tell stories, meaningful stories? And that’s when it hit me again: memoirs! I could help people tell their stories.
The idea of capturing someone else’s life story seemed perfect. Scary, but perfect. So, I took the plunge, switched up my Upwork profile and waited for my first memoir writing gig. But it took me an entire year to get one.
Anxiously waiting for a gig that whole year was frustrating. Also I was honestly scared that I’d made the wrong decision. But I knew I wanted to write stories, and despite my fears, I stuck with it. Eventually, I got some practice ghostwriting short stories for a Christian publication. They were real stories, about real women and their experiences with God. That gig refined me and my writing in so many ways and eventually led to me ghostwriting my first memoir.
What unique perspectives do you bring to this craft?
I believe my empathy plays a significant role in the success of the stories I’ve ghostwritten. Being able to step into my clients’ shoes, to imagine myself experiencing their challenges and lessons, allows me to authentically convey their narratives.
In ghostwriting memoirs, capturing the client’s voice is essential. It requires immersing yourself in their perspective and experiences. By temporarily embodying their essence, and listening, which is so crucial to the process, I can effectively translate their voice onto paper.
When assisting my clients in writing their stories, I strive to engage the reader fully. Placing the reader in the heart of the narrative allows them to extract valuable insights that can foster their personal growth and transformation.
From your professional experience, do you believe a ghostwriter can authentically capture a person’s life story in a memoir?
Absolutely. Once, a client left me a beautiful message commending me for capturing her story beautifully. She said I’d written it how she would. So, yes, I believe that a ghostwriter can authentically capture someone’s life story in a memoir because that’s what I do. I’ve done it, and I’ve had great reviews.
As I said, writing a memoir is about putting yourself in the client’s shoes, being empathetic, and really listening. If you are intentional about doing that, you won’t lose the client’s voice.
Have you ever encountered ethical dilemmas while ghostwriting memoirs, and if so, how did you approach and resolve them?
I wouldn’t say I’ve encountered ethical dilemmas. But I have turned down a client because his views and beliefs were directly opposite mine. I try to be as transparent as possible. If I don’t feel comfortable with a client, I don’t work with them.
If I feel that they are not comfortable with me, I advise them to take their time. You know, there’s no hurry. Take your time and decide if you want to work with me. It’s important that the chemistry between me and the client is right.
What measures do you take to ensure transparency and maintain the subject’s trust throughout the ghostwriting process?
I’m as open and vulnerable with them as they are with me. I share my stories with them as they share theirs with me. I do that to build trust, but also to let them know their messiness is welcome here because my life’s not in any way perfect. I have messy parts too and I want them to feel comfortable sharing theirs.
Also, I aim to build rapport and let them know that if they have any questions, they should feel free to ask. I work to put them at ease as much as possible. And so far, I haven’t encountered any issues with any clients.
How do you establish and maintain effective communication throughout the writing process?
Easy. I add them to my WhatsApp. It’s easier there to simply send messages and have them respond in time. It’s straightforward and more personal. So, yeah, I add them to my WhatsApp. We do voice notes, voice calls, video calls – whatever they are comfortable with and whatever makes the process easier.
However, my initial story interviews are all done via zoom. That’s where I have the client narrate their stories as they know it to be.
Can you share any tips or strategies for fostering a collaborative and respectful working relationship with memoir subjects?
Yes, just be respectful. Be respectful of their time and their story. Also, listen. Be empathetic. Don’t disrespect them. It’s an honor to have someone tell you their life story. They’re paying you to write, but they also chose you.
So that’s an honor. They haven’t chosen just anyone. So, they chose you because they trust you. You must return that trust. And while doing that, you must be respectful of the story.
How do you navigate differences in perspective or interpretation between yourself and the subject while ensuring the memoir remains true to its story?
First and foremost, it’s the client’s story. I’m not trying to impose my perspective or beliefs on them. I’m simply narrating their story in the most unforgettable way. Navigating this aspect isn’t really an issue for me. If it were a collaborative effort on a fictional story, then there might be an issue.
But since it’s their story, I’m not attempting to enforce a particular viewpoint. Ultimately, the story must align with their vision. I can and do highlight paths that can enhance the story, but it’s essential to collaborate with them. Even the structure of the storytelling has to be approved by them.
I advise on the best structure to follow (and my clients almost always take it), but I don’t impose it. And I don’t insist they put parts of their stories they’d rather leave out. It’s imperative not to impose my perspective on the clients. Listening to them allows me to present their stories in the best possible light.
What are some common challenges you’ve encountered while ghostwriting memoirs, and how do you overcome them?
I guess it would be the same as any ghostwriter: finding clients who can afford you and who will respect your work and your process. Sometimes you meet clients who don’t really think what you are doing is worth the amount you’re charging because they think writing is just, well, writing. So encountering clients like that can kind of make you feel bad because they don’t fully appreciate your worth.
I’ve actually encountered one who said I had no right to charge as much as I was charging. It was really condescending but I shook it off and moved on. You also find clients who try to treat you like an employee, forgetting that, no, you’re not an employee. You’re a contractor, and you’re working on your own time.
They need to respect that as much as you respect them. So, whenever I meet clients like that or potential clients because I end up not working with them, I move on. If I notice things like that, I bid them goodbye very respectfully and move on.
But, by God’s grace, I have been able to find the most amazing clients. And I’m always thankful for that. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to tell their stories – even more so, when a client moves from client to friend because you are so inspired by them and cannot help but respect their journey.
Reflecting on your experience as a ghostwriter, what impact do you believe memoirs have on readers and society?
Huge impact. Experience is the best teacher. But, it doesn’t have to be your experience. And that’s the point of a story. It’s not just to entertain. Listening to someone else’s experiences and learning from it, maybe while you are in the middle of a similar experience or learning from it so that you know what to do if you ever encounter such a situation is amazing and validating.
The beauty of memoirs is that they help readers appreciate and navigate life better. When you read the memoir of a person who has been through the most horrific things, and then you reflect on your own life, you realize that you don’t have as much to be sad about because look at what this person overcame. It gives you a deep appreciation for life and helps you connect better with people. It offers a different perspective on life.
Finally, what advice would you offer to aspiring ghostwriters or individuals considering enlisting the services of a ghostwriter for their memoir?
The process of writing a client’s story from beginning to end is very taxing and challenging. At some point, you have to put yourself in their shoes and write the story as if you’re them. So, it’s not something I would simply advise anyone to go into.
You must love stories and believe in their value to be a memoir ghostwriter. So, if you want to get into ghostwriting memoirs, ask yourself: Do I love stories? Do I believe in their value? Because if you believe in the value of stories, it helps you better believe in your client’s story. Also, don’t be in a hurry to get your first gig.
Learn every little process. It will help you because it’s important to form your own process that works for you. You don’t have to copy another ghostwriter. Learn from them and then create yours.
And as an author who wants to hire a ghostwriter, make sure the chemistry between you and the Ghostwriter is right. Make sure it’s someone you are comfortable with, someone you potentially see yourself being friends with. And of course, make sure you’ve read some of their writings and loved it.
Also, don’t go for cheap. This is your life story, so cheap won’t cut it. But also, an expensive Ghostwriter doesn’t always mean quality. What you want to go for is affordable. You want to spend money on a quality writer, but you shouldn’t go broke doing it
So, set a realistic budget, and I promise you will find a great Ghostwriter to tell your story.
Let’s wrap up
Before you dive into the world of memoir ghostwriting, equip yourself with the knowledge and tools necessary to excel in this rewarding craft. To do this, click here to discover a special guide on how to become a ghostwriter. In addition you can learn how to structure the outline of a memoir from the expert insights shared by our guest. Above all I wish you all the best in your writing adventure.
