WRITER'S FORUM

BUY A GHOST FOR CHRISTMAS

There are many things we treat ourselves to and why not; life without indulgences would be dismal. We buy holidays and personal things like health insurance, weekend hotel spas, cars. We never expect others to pay for them.

Of all the writers books I have ghosted nearly all were paid for by the client. Ironically they write their books not so much for the pleasure it gives them but as a legacy for family and friends. There was one exception; a writer whose book was paid for by a family member. There was a catch; the lender wanted his money back when the book was selling.

I do recall an innovative idea pioneered by former UK journalists. For a fee, they would sit with an aged family member. Having first of all acquired a little background knowledge they would spend several days gently questioning the aged subject. Whilst they were interviewing the subject the journalists would write and they would record. Soon afterwards the family would be rewarded by their receiving a professional video recording of the experience.

I recall one lady saying how long after her ex-serviceman dad died she would play the recording of her father as he recounted his life story. It made her feel very humble. How I wish I had one such recording of my mother and father who died in the 1970s and 1980s.

What a wonderful gift for mum, dad or grandparents. If you have parents still living, a member of your family or close friend with a story to tell why not suggest that you gift their story? It doesn’t need to be paperback length. I re-write stories from 10,000 words to 200,000 words (a paperback is about 70,000 words long).

I charge a very reasonable €20 per 1,000 words. Feel free to compare prices. The staged payment fee is a very small price to pay for the pleasure that goodness knows how many will derive from listening to your story or that of your family or friends. Michael Walsh 662 067 490 or email me at keyboardcosmetics@gmail.com