Getting any book traditionally published as a first-time author is rough — but it becomes even more difficult if you’re writing a memoir.
Celebrity memoirs are a notable exception because readers crave deeply personal insights into the real lives of the public figures that fascinate them. Even in that case, as Prince Harry’s memoir Spare recently proved, publishers may have second thoughts. When your life is already a public affair, an oversharing habit may make it hard to convince readers that your memoir will reveal anything new or exciting.
Have you already written a memoir, or are you just embarking on the process of writing one? You may want to think ahead. Discover what you can do to get your memoir published quickly in this quick guide.
Make sure your story is interesting and well-written
Plenty of people consider writing a memoir, and many of them would like to publish their stories. It only takes a quick look around any literary forum or YouTube channel to find out that even very young people who have thus far lived uneventful lives are excited to share their experiences with the world.
All good memoirs have two things in common — they’re well-written, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the story, and they tell interesting tales in a raw, authentic way.
If you can get it right on both counts, you don’t have to be a celebrity when you publish your memoir. Tara Westover, who wrote the memoir Educated, is a prime example. Westover became a well-known author because of her memoir, which offers a beautifully-crafted look into a genuinely remarkable life.
Do you have a great story, one that would be a shame not to tell? Do you have enough self-knowledge to admit that you’re just not a great writer? Don’t worry. A memoir ghostwriter can help you get your message across. A skilled ghostwriter helps you tell your story, marrying your life story with their writing talent. You’ll be involved in the process every step of the way, and retain control over the creative direction of your memoir.
Did you mention you wanted to publish your memoir quickly? Hiring a ghost also saves time, which comes in handy if you’re a busy professional.
Always hire a competent book editor to edit your memoir
Writing a memoir is a deeply personal experience, and often a difficult one. Memoirs have a way of covering some of the most difficult periods in a writer’s life, after all. You will have the hard job of struggling your way through your first draft alone, unless you hire a memoir ghostwriter.
However, it’s a downright terrible idea to query publishers or literary agents before a competent book editor has carefully combed through your memoir. A memoir editor becomes even more important if you are considering going the self-publishing route, because you’ll be solely responsible for the style and content of your memoir.
Book editors come in multiple flavors. Developmental editors get a bird’s eye view of your overall story arc, ensuring your memoir has a coherent structure that makes sense and makes for a fascinating read. Line editors and copy editors focus on style and structure at the paragraph and sentence level, while proofreaders get down to the nitty-gritty. They catch typos and style inconsistencies.
Consider your choice of publishing house carefully
Memoirs are notoriously hard to get published. You generally can’t just pitch to one of the Big Five and expect to be welcomed with open arms. Unless you are already a celebrity or other well-known public figure, you are often better off pitching to publishing houses that specialize in memoirs.
Examples include City Lights, Persea Books, Memoirs Books, and Chicago Review Press. Don’t limit yourself to just one, though — querying multiple publishing houses means you have the best chance of getting your memoir on the shelves.
Not all publishing houses require aspiring authors to have a literary agent, but some do. Working with a literary agent has many benefits. A good literary agent knows exactly which publishers may be a good fit for your memoir and has the necessary connections to take the first steps. Do your research before you start pitching to increase your odds of having your memoir published quickly!
Don’t underestimate the power of self-publishing
Self-publishing is a perfectly respectable way to get your memoir out there today. In fact, this choice has some powerful benefits — including the ability to get your memoir out there much faster and total power over its contents. In some cases, self-published books even make more money.
If you’re interested in this path to getting your book published, do realize self-publishing is a hands-on experience.
As self-published author Mark Dawson (who made over a million dollars!) explained to Business Insider, marketing plays a crucial role in the success of a self-published book. This includes direct contact with readers, and virtual book tours are a great way to reach out!
Consider taking time off to write your memoir
Are you about to embark on your memoir-writing journey? If you want to get it published quickly, actually finding the time to write can be one of the biggest challenges.
If you’re a busy CEO at the height of your career (to name just one example), you probably can’t just take a sabbatical to get that memoir out of the way. You may, however, be able to reduce your hours or commit to spending most of your free time on your memoir.
Your memoir is important — whether you see it as your legacy or as a story the world needs to hear. Give it the attention it deserves. Get yourself in that writing zone, establish the flow you need put pen to paper, and don’t stop until you’re satisfied.
Writing a memoir is daunting, but it gets easier with every word.