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Have A Ghostwriter Write Your Life Story
Your Life Story Written For You, The Way You Want It!
Be Remembered With Your Own Memoir Without Having To Write A Single Word Yourself
Robin has shown sensitivity, dedication and patience in the process of recording my elderly husband’s memoirs. The family is so happy that we arranged this before his memories became irretrievably lost. The quality of the writing is professional. The voice is my husband’s, the tone and content are his. We are thrilled with the result.
MARTA HARDEMAN
Bob's Life Story
Bob’s gnarled hand shook as he sipped his cup of tea and placed it precariously back in its saucer.
‘I’m interested in this class you’re running,’ he said. ‘I’ve written some of my story already. But it was years ago, and it’s not finished.‘
I was running a life story writing class at a local aged care facility and Bob had asked me to visit him in his unit to talk about the possibility of his attending.
I've Been Thinking About It For 20 Years
But it was soon obvious that Bob was not a suitable candidate for the class.
‘He can’t see very well and he’s deaf, and he can’t write because of his arthritis,’ his wife Gwen told me.‘ I think you need someone to write your story for you,’ I told him.
‘I know,’ Bob said. ‘I’ve been thinking about it for 20 years.’
We All Have A Story
Bob was a pioneer and innovator in the Queensland Ambulance Service, and was one of the chief instigators in setting up training courses for ambulance officers in the late 1950s. Believe it or not, there had been no formal training before then.
Bob’s story was about the struggles and achievements of his 39 year career in the ambulance service in bringing it up to date.
He wanted his story written and published, not so much for his own recognition, but so that the general public, particularly modern paramedics, could understand and appreciate the history of their organisation and the efforts that went into making it the first class service it is today.
I Want To Get It Done
I told Bob I’d be happy to consider writing his story, if he would find a copy of what he had already written to show me. I didn’t hear anything more from Bob until a few weeks later, when he asked to see me again.
Tears rolled down his face as he told me that his wife had recently passed away. ‘Gwen wanted me to write my story,’ he said, voice quavering as he handed me a Spirax A4 book of what he’d written so far. ‘Now she’s gone and I want to get it done.’
It was a moment of reckoning for Bob. At 96 he was well aware of his mortality, but Gwen’s death and the fact that his story was still unfinished spurred him to action.
The days now without Gwen were long and lonely, and he needed something to occupy his time and his brain. Bob hired me to write his story. And then the real fun began.
A Matter Of Logistics
I visited him each week to interview him and we created a work-around for his sight-impairment and unfamiliarity with computers. We had a few false starts but together we worked it out.
I printed out each chapter as I wrote it in large print and gave it to Bob to read on his magnifying machine, which enabled him to correct any factual errors.
It was gratifying for me to see how much Bob enjoyed the process of telling me about his life and digging deep into his memory archives, and how having a purpose had rekindled his joie de vivre.
When I’d finished the story, I organised on Bob’s behalf for it to be published.
The Ambo
A box of books arrived at his unit, and the tears were freely flowing again as he held his book, ‘The Ambo – from Field Ambulance to Civil Ambulance and More.’
Bob held a book launch at his aged care facility, attended by family, friends and various officials from the Queensland Ambulance Service.
After the speeches, during which the QAS undertook to buy bulk copies of the book and place them in ambulance stations all over Queensland, Bob sat in the armchair of honour, nursing a beer, surrounded by well-wishers.
A Star Is Born
He looked the happiest I’d ever seen him. But there was more to come. A local aged care newsletter featured the book launch and before he could say ‘ambo’ Bob was being feted by the media.
Someone had done some research and discovered he was the oldest debut author in Australia. (Because I had ghostwritten the book Bob was attributed as the author).
He was interviewed for newspaper and magazine articles and also appeared on national TV current affairs show 7.30. It was the cherry on top of the cake.
The more people who got to hear about the book, Bob reasoned, the more acknowledgment the QAS would receive for its wonderful work.
The Story Continues
It was a privilege for me to help Bob make his dream come true. I thoroughly enjoyed the work and learning about this wonderful man's life. I have been fortunate to do the same for many others.
Sadly, Bob has since passed away, but his story lives on. The book is a cherished memory held by his family, but the best part was the contentment he felt at accomplishing such a long-held desire. He told his story...the way he wanted it.
Why work with Me
To create an engaging story about your life, you need someone who is prepared to listen. Who will take the time to discover your most compelling life events, while not glossing over the everyday details of your life. And you need someone who can write it, in your voice, so that others want to read it. I can do that for you. Continue below to find out more.
How Robin Can Write Your Life Story The Way You Want It
Consultation
Robin offers an initial, no-obligation, free consultation to first determine the potential for your memoir.
Once hired, Robin will dive deeper into this process to help you to create a framework for the finished product, as well as an overview timeline of production so that you are always kept up-to-date.
Researching and Writing
Robin will take all the material you have, do additional research as necessary, and will write your memoir/life story up to the stage of first draft.
Robin will then be in contact to review the draft with you and to make changes or additions if necessary. Extensive re-writes are not included in any initial costs.
Second Draft/Proof Reading
The memoir/life story will be completed based on any changes and corrections required, and Robin will then send it to a professional proofreader.
Proofreading (editing for spelling, punctuation and grammar) is essential for a polished manuscript, whether it is being commercially published or self-published.
This is normally an added cost, but see the Limited Time Bonuses below.
Meet Robin
Robin Storey is a gifted ghostwriter of memoirs and autobiographies, whose compassion and experience has enabled her to bring out the best memories of her clients' lives through her exceptional writing style. Robin is also a prolific fiction writer, most notably in the comedy/crime and noir genres, and has achieved great success with her novels through the clever use of humour and life experience. She is a renowned blogger on her storey-lines.com website and has a faithful following in the thousands plus many ghostwriting clients on the Sunshine Coast, in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Australia-wide. She also welcomes international enquiries - all contact and interviews can be done on Zoom or other video app.
Robin can sum up her writing with the following Gloria Steinem quote.
“Writing is the only thing I do that when I do it, I don't feel like I should be doing something else.”
Robin Storey
GHOSTWRITER
Featured In...
5 Reasons To Write Your Life Story
You Don't Have To Be Famous To Be Fascinating
Just because you're not in the news everyday doesn't mean you haven't made an impact on the world. A ghostwriter can highlight your unique experiences. Your friends, family and others would be fascinated by the life you've led.
Build A New Level Of Status, Mystery And Intrigue About Yourself
Use your memoir or life story to promote your business and be seen as the expert in your field, by sharing your story and creating intrigue among your colleagues.
Your Family Will Always Remember You
We live...and then we move on. Sadly, it's a fact of life, but a memoir or autobiography means your family can always revisit you whenever they want, reliving the stories that made you so memorable.
It Becomes A Great Research Tool
Your memoir can be a trove of information for family members, friends and future generations. The best memoirs provide fantastic historical background for readers and writers alike.
Because There's No Time Like The Present
Be in charge of the story written about you, rather than having it done after you're gone. Have your memoirs written NOW while you have something important to say to the world.
What My Clients Say
Bob McDermant
MY BOOK IS RECEIVING RAVE REVIEWS
At age 96 I thought my dream of writing my Autobiography was unattainable. I’d left it so late my writing was illegible, my eyesight virtually gone, my hearing poor. Robin Storey proved herself to be a very patient, understanding and diligent Ghost Writer for my project. My Book, The Ambo has now been published and is receiving rave reviews already. This would never have been possible without Robin. I will always be grateful to her for that and I am proud of what we have achieved together.
Pam Mariko
HELPED ME TO CREATE A BOOK I'M VERY PROUD OF
Robin gave me a lot of valuable feedback during the process of writing my memoir Red Moon - Secrets of a Sixties Schoolgirl. She critiqued all facets from character development to the pace and structure of the story, and helped me to create a book that I am very proud of and which was a semi-finalist in the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest. If you're looking for help in writing your memoir, I would thoroughly recommend her services.
Graham Reid
I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW WELL THIS TURNED OUT
From the time we were first introduced to Robin I knew she was the right person to help me put my story into a usable document. Many of our passengers have read Characters & Campfires and commented on how well it is presented. Thank you Robin for your clever work, it's a nice compliment to our tour.
Marta Hardeman
THRILLED WITH THE RESULT
Robin has shown sensitivity, dedication and patience in the process of recording my elderly husband’s memoirs. The family is so happy that we arranged this before his memories became irretrievably lost. Facts were checked with other family members. The quality of the writing is professional. The voice is my husband’s, the tone and content are his. We are thrilled with the result and will certainly publish.
Why Hiring A Ghostwriter is Your Best Option
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING
Ghostwriting, and memoir writing in general, is an art form that requires time, experience and a lot of gnashing of teeth to ensure it's done properly. All you have to do is to give your ghostwriter the facts - during interview, on a written document, or a combination of both - and let them do the hard work of putting it all together, while you enjoy your free time.
IT SAVES YOU TIME
If you've ever tried to put your thoughts to paper, you know how much time it takes to get it right. A ghostwriter can save you months, or even years over the life of your project.
IT SAVES YOU MONEY
Most people have no idea how much it actually costs to write a memoir themselves. You have to factor in how much money you are NOT making, while doing the actual research and writing. It adds up.....FAST.
THE END RESULT IS A PROFESSIONALLY WRITTEN PRODUCT
You want a memoir that people enjoy reading. You want it to flow, to be coherent and to engage the reader right to the end. A professional ghostwriter can create a book you'll be proud of.
YOU GET TO CAPTURE THE MEMORIES THAT MATTER THE MOST
A good ghostwriter knows exactly how to frame your content and your life, so that the most important and memorable aspects are highlighted to the reader in the most compelling way.
Do You Need A Ghostwriter Right Now?
Do you want your story written NOW? Do you have the money to do it NOW?
Hiring a ghostwriter can be the best thing you've ever done if you take the right approach.
But you have to be ready, because a life story is a major project and your time and the ghostwriter's is precious. So here's a quick checklist to see if you should get started right away, or maybe wait awhile.
Get Started
Wait A While
To Be Remembered You Need To Be Memorable
If you identified with the Get Started box above, you're ready to write your memoir/life story. You have the right attitude, level of commitment and are the type of person whose memoir is just begging to be written. You realise that you can save time, money and a lot of frustration by having a professional ghostwriter create your story RIGHT NOW.
If your story is not for commercial publication, but just for your family, I can negotiate a reduced price - about 50% of the price quoted above, depending on the length
So it's time to book an appointment and get the ball rolling. Click the button below.
Limited Time Bonuses
If you're ready to start creating your memoir or autobiography today, for a limited time only you will get the following bonuses.
ACCESS To Industry Experts
If your goal is to publish your story yourself, you'll need to find expert printers, formatters, marketers, sales people, and publishers. That's a lot of hard work, so this bonus is designed to take that burden from you. Let Robin do all the work for you to ensure you get the best.
FREE Monthly Calls
Normally an added cost, this bonus means that Robin will not charge for monthly update calls. This can save you hundreds of dollars over the life of your project, while also giving you peace of mind about your story's progress.
FREE Proofreading
This special bonus (normally an additional cost), is offered due to Robin's intimate industry contacts. Her close relationships with a select few industry experts means Robin can keep your costs low, while maintaining the highest quality output. This will save you hundreds of dollars.
GHOSTWRITER FAQ'S
A ghostwriter is a professional who writes personal, literary and journalistic works, plus speeches or any other work that will ultimately be attributed to someone else, i.e you. They provide specialist expertise in the field of writing.
This is the big question and the answer is...it depends. The cost of a life story of 50,000 to 60,000 words (about the length of a 250 page book) for commercial publication is around $35,000, but if you'd like a shorter story, the cost can be adjusted accordingly.
If your story is not for publication, but just for your family,, I can negotiate a reduced price, at about 50% of the above price, depending on the length.
My no-obligation consultation process will help to define a clear figure for you.
About an hour. This should be long enough for both you and me to get a good idea of the size of the project, the costs and potential timeline. I am happy to meet you in person if feasible, otherwise we can talk by phone or on online meeting platforms.
Yours. This book is your autobiography/memoir, so it will have your name on it. Some people like to acknowledge the fact that they’ve had professional assistance by including the word ‘with’ and the name of the ghostwriter after it. But it’s entirely up to you.
This is rare, as I take great care to accommodate your wishes, but if it should happen, your contract provides for either party to terminate the agreement upon written instruction. We will both be adequately protected against loss and can leave the relationship on the best possible terms.
My job is to write your memoir, not to publish it, but I can refer you to reputable experts in the publishing industry who can help you, or I can manage the process for you for an extra fee. Whether you just want a few print copies for family and friends, to self-publish your memoir and make it available to the public to buy, or whether you’d like to obtain a publishing contract with a traditional publisher, I can assist you.
If you’ve already written a memoir and are looking for some feedback or advice, I can certainly provide that, at a price commensurate with the size of the book. You’re welcome to contact me and we can discuss it.
A memoir is about a specific incident/time/experience in your life or deals with a specific theme, whereas an autobiography is an account of your whole life.
In general, no. They are paid up front for their work, in much the same way as a consultant. Payment plans vary. I charge 50% up front, with the remainder paid monthly during the writing and editing phases.
As long as it takes. That's the best answer I can give. Each project will have its own timeline but to give a ball-park figure, each 10,000 words will usually take about 2 months. So a 30-50,000 word book may take 6 months, including research. But it depends on so many factors, such as the quality and volume of your own research, so we'd have to discuss that.
If I think your project is not something that would translate well to a memoir, I’ll say so. It doesn’t help you or me if I take on something that I don’t think is going to work. My motto is always ‘How can I get the best outcome for my client?’ In some cases, the ‘best’ is not to write a memoir, but to create something else. This will become evident to you during the initial consultation.
Only in the sense that I guarantee to do my very best to write your memoir the way you would like it written. During the initial consultation, we will come to an agreement on the structure and style of the memoir, and after I’ve completed the first draft, you get the opportunity to read it and provide feedback about changes you would like made.
No. Marketing is an area of expertise on its own, but I can refer you to reputable professionals in the field. We can discuss this during your initial consultation.
If you’re still trying to make up your mind whether to have your memoir written or if there are obstacles, you’re still welcome to contact me. I may be able to give you a few suggestions or ideas to help you.
