I always wanted to write a book on the inner workings of scientific research. What might sound like a dull topic to those outside the field has been exciting and lucrative to me, and I wanted to share my experiences. I envisioned writing a memoir-meets-explainer in the vein of Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential—funny and informative, and full of interesting characters. However, I’d never written a book like this and had nowhere to start.

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As a first step, MemoirGhostwriting.com matched me with a professional writer who had written a bestseller in an adjacent field. She worked with me to craft every chapter over the course of around a dozen hourlong interviews. I was concerned that such a partnership would dilute my own voice, but it did not. Once the structure was in place, I had complete freedom to write and rewrite—revise and revise again. I have a public profile as a podcaster and YouTuber. I have also published almost a million words of (albeit highly technical) copy, and considered myself a competent writer. Thus, it was important that the voice be mine—as in the vast majority of the words ending up in the book should be physically typed by me. So, the relationship I had with the professional writing colleague with whom I was paired was that of a teacher, not that of a “ghostwriter.”

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Once the manuscript was finished, they handled the process of editing and publishing the book from end to end, connecting me with a marketing firm as well as a full service production company for the audiobook. I couldn’t be more proud of the product, Science Nonfiction: Behind the Scenes in University Research, now available on every major platform and endorsed by leaders across the scientific community, including Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian.

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For any academic who wants to retain full ownership of their book while handing off behind-the-scenes logistics, I highly recommend the team at MemoirGhostwriting.com.