Right now, I’m working on a fantastic ghostwriting project with the good people behind Speed of Sight (http://www.speedofsight.org).

Speed of Sight is a charity which provides disabled people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds with the opportunity to drive a specially adapted car around a race track, giving them the experience and thrill of driving that they wouldn’t normally be able to achieve as a result of their disability.  I’m working closely with the charity’s founders, Mike Newman and John Galloway, to write their first book.

Mike, 8-times Guinness World Record holder for being the fastest blind man on the planet, was always hesitant about writing a book.  Despite his insurmountable glories, abundance of ambition and somewhat apparent lack of fear, he remains one of the most reserved, softly-spoken and modest men I have ever met.  The idea for the book was actually John’s – Mike’s closest friend and Co-Founder/Commercial Director for Speed of Sight.  John believed that Mike had a fantastic story to tell, whilst Mike simply wanted to keep all of his focus on getting their charity out on the road and developing full-throttle.

I first sat down with the dynamic duo last year, and through a mix of professional discussion and friendly compromise, we agreed that we would write a book that would indeed focus on Mike Newman ‘Superhuman’, as he’s affectionately referred to by John, but that the true purpose of the book would be to explain, promote and celebrate this life-changing charity that really does ‘drive the difference’ for disabled people – as their tagline suggests.

Once or twice a month, I meet with Mike and John at Mike’s house, and we spend quality time together working on this fantastic project.  The guys will open up and reminisce, and I will type, jot and craft the findings until things start coming together in a draft that I will then go home to piece together ready for our next session, where we begin by having a read-through and re-drafting exercise until all parties are happy.  This includes Mike’s guide dogs, Baxter and Stanton, who are always a key part of the action!  We’ll joke over the inclusion of risqué stories and anecdotes, we’ll argue over Mike’s modesty, and we’ll weigh up the pros and cons of the inclusion of some truths that are perhaps best kept private; the same problem faced by every non-fiction writer.

It’s absolutely vital in working with all my clients that I am able to develop trust and encourage genuine relationships.  When it comes to writing with Mike, John, and Speed of Sight, it’s a relationship that their openness has allowed me to quickly become so invested in, that I sometimes forget that it’s work!  Sitting in the kitchen at Mike’s table, sharing in our mutual love of puns, and wondering what diamond of a mixed metaphor John will come out with next, we do what every ghostwriter or copywriter should be able to do with their clients; we laugh, we thrash around an abundance of ideas until we get one that ignites us both, and we enjoy the process as one of creation and excitement.

I hope that anyone who reads this can say they feel the same about the clients they work with.

If you would like to find out more or support the charity in any way, please get in Contact !