So far, I’ve written stories for the press about various artists including music acts, visual artists and events, theatre, comedy and contributed articles for the trade press.
Wouldn’t you like to be able to read the lifestories of your ancestors? Or know how someone you admire got where they are?
Whether the story is long or short, my process is the same as how I learn about any topic, which is gathering a complete picture with all the pieces fitting together.
Have you noticed that true stories fit together and are more complex and much more fascinating than made up stories or overly fast judgments? Do you think opinions about something can be noisy until facts rise to the surface and different perspectives begin to arrive at the same points?
Have you ever asked someone to tell you about their life – perhaps on a long journey – or their most memorable experience?
We all have a story to tell and if you were to limit it to 300 pages of a book, this would mean choosing the most exciting threads of your life.
Information, experience, observation and understanding must be the most valuable legacies we could leave for future generations.
Please get in touch if you would like to explore writing your lifestory. This would be a co-operation wherein you can provide your whole story verbally or include your own writing.
My 20 years in journalist, which includes 5 years editing contributed articles for a range of business publications and getting editorial publicity into newspapers for artists and businesses involved proof-reading, minimal editing to keep the subject’s voice consistent throughout and reducing to keep the story’s momentum going.
I would like to get my first full-length commission, therefore will work for £10 an hour or £80 a day (up to 3 days in a week). That includes anyone including via companies. To clarify, as a first-timer it would take me longer than a seasoned pro. This would be to complete a first draft. Once that is accepted, I will work on edits, amendments and getting the text ready for publishing free of charge for my first 5 commissions.
I know I am a risk as I haven’t written a full-length book before and this may seem like an absurd proposition. However between us we can work it out to tell your story in a readable, fast-paced and memorable way.
Sophie Sweatman 