Why more celebrities are writing memoirs
Do you know what’s crazy? By the end of 2023, at least 396 celebrity memoirs (or memoirs by public figures) would have been published this year alone.
That’s almost 100 more than the celebrity memoirs published in 2022. That’s a lot of books written by a lot of famous people.
We’ve got comedians, actors and actresses, princes, sports personalities, evangelists, and people who I honestly don’t know what they do for a living—everyone rich and famous is writing a memoir.
Why? Why are celebrities writing memoirs? What’s that about? What about books as a form of entertainment makes it appealing for these public figures to dabble in them?
As a memoir ghostwriter, I have noticed an uptick in the number of people—some rich, some famous—reaching out to me with requests to work on their memoirs. And I’m not alone in this observation; several other ghostwriters I know share the same sentiments.
I took some time to revisit recordings and notes of conversations I’ve had with memoir authors I’ve worked with and prospects who have considered collaborating with me. I did this to understand why more people, particularly celebrities and public figures, are writing or considering memoirs.
My mini-research turned out to be quite helpful and informative. So, I thought I’d share my findings with you. Here are three reasons more celebrities, public figures, and famous people are writing memoirs, based on my personal and professional observations:
They want to share their side of the story.
For starters, a book is an opportunity for celebrities, public figures, and famous people to set the record straight. Considering the fact that these people’s lives are constantly being written and spoken about in the media, you can understand why they may want to get in on the action and share their perspectives.
Many times, what’s being written and spoken about them is false or doesn’t tell the full story. With a book—specifically, memoirs—of their own that explores their life story and details their personal experiences from their point of view, celebrities can reveal who they are, shed light on areas of their lives that have been misconstrued for so long, and have the final say on how they are being depicted.
They want to grow their brand.
Even for celebrities and people with a fanbase, a book is a great way to expand their brand and extend their reach. Of course, they can earn a good amount from their publishing deals, but the true return on investment for books is the doors a book can open up for the author. For celebrities, a book can open even more doors for careers and businesses.
Think about it: before former first lady Michelle Obama released her memoir, Becoming, how much did you know about her? In fact, you could argue that she was sometimes misunderstood during her husband’s presidency.
But post-presidency, the book release immediately improved her public perception. People finally saw the behind-the-scenes of her life, career, and relationship. On some level, they could relate to her challenges and spirit of resilience. And most importantly, having read about her, people wanted to listen to everything else she had to say.
Now, she has a documentary based on the book and podcast that is well-followed, amongst other business and professional ventures. Thanks to her memoir, she’s expanded her brand and has become a personality in her own right, without the attachment to her husband’s legacy. So, even for someone as well-known as she was, a book can be the starting point for truly owning and expanding their brand.
They are giving the people what they want.
The third reason we’re seeing more celebrity memoirs is simply because people want to know. We live in a celebrity-obsessed world, and there is a market for celebrity stories.
We are constantly paying attention to what they are doing because we think that their lives are so far removed from the realities that we live in. It’s natural to want to know about people and events that seem out of the ordinary. So, more people are reading celebrity memoirs and seeking them out. And like most things, when there is increased demand, you’re going to get increased supply.
So, that’s why you’re seeing several celebrities' memoirs coming out. 2023 gave us Britney Spears’ Woman in Me, Kerry Washington’s Thicker Than Water, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, Anne Heche's Call Me Anne, and of course, Prince Harry’s Spare amongst several others. Almost 400 celebrity memoirs have been published this year alone, and this trend will likely continue for a while.
As a ghostwriter, I believe it’s a good thing. Generally, the more books are written and made available to the public, the more people read. And if people are reading books, then society is headed in the right direction.
Plus, behind every celebrity book you read, there’s a ghostwriter like me, a team of editors, and publishing personnel who are doing a lot of good work. They deserve credit for their contributions and for giving the market/readers what they want.
Whether you’re a celebrity or not, if you’ve ever considered sharing your story, there’s never been a better time than now to write your memoir. Feel free to schedule a brief chat with me; I’d gladly answer any questions you may have about the memoir writing process.