Sports Autobiographies & Memoirs / Co-Writing & Ghostwriting

Sport remains an enduring focus for both literature and film. So many of the most compelling elements of storytelling—triumph, disaster, devotion, luck (or lack of it), the confrontation of internal and external critics, focus, and a fierce desire for self-expression—are a big part of sport.

Under the floodlights, on the court, the track, the pitch or in the ring, universally understood concepts like winning and losing are uniquely, and often brutally defined. Sport is also a field in which individuals, acting purely in the moment, produce what can best be described as spontaneous art. Who can forget the aesthetic of Muhammad Ali knocking out George Foreman in Zaire, one hand cocked over his toppling foe, or Maradona dribbling through the entire English team, or a limping, weeping Derek Redmond helped over the Olympic finish line by his father? More powerful than anything written by Hollywood screenwriters, these images are real and the moments are true. As the saying goes, they cannot be written. But we can give it a go…

Whether telling an underdog story or that of an elite professional, our experienced ghostwriters understand how to draw on the innate drama of sport to create engrossing life stories which are rendered in the author’s authentic voice.

The Process

1. Fill out our enquiry form with a basic outline. We appreciate how some people work purely from memory whilst others may have kept journals or diaries.

2. We will begin to discuss what kind of story is being told. What is the arc? Is it confessional? Observational? Analytical? Does the author have a new angle on already well-known events, or reflections on the sport as a whole?

3. Interviews continue on and we’ll build a chapter breakdown before starting any writing. We’ll agree a sample chapter to confirm style and then write the book to draft; you will then need to invest your own time in the process of review before we start any official editorial process.

4. We spend time refining the writing into a final polish and designing a publishing proposal.

5. We will submit the final polished book to you along with all other items (such as the book proposal and cover letter) and begin submissions to agents and publishers. During this period, minor changes can still be made.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have an idea for a sports book. Do I need to write a proposal?

Yes. In common with most other genres of non-fiction, sports books are generally sold via a package which will include sample chapters, a book proposal document and an ‘about the author’ section. At LGC we will work with you to help create an attractive package for submissions.

How do I sell a sports book? Will I need an agent?

Most of the big publishers have sports imprints or departments, and approaching them will require representation by an agent. There are also several medium-sized and small sports publishers who are happy to consider un-agented submissions. In some cases, this may present a more direct route to publication.

I have an idea for a sports book, but I am not a retired or current professional athlete. Does that scupper my chances?

Not at all. While it is true that many leading sports titles are autobiographies of famous competitors, plenty do not fit this category. Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch, for example, approached football from the perspective of a fan. Donald McRae’s Dark Trade, examined boxing through his eyes, as a journalist and observer. Anna Krien’s Night Games provides an investigation into sexism and female exploitation in sport. All three of these won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, which is considered the world’s most prestigious sports writing award, without the involvement of a famous name. Your concept and perspective are the important thing, not your identity.

My idea is about a niche sport, not football, cricket, rugby etc. Does that mean it won’t work?

Conversely, this can actually be a selling point. There are still many titles published about the major, commonly televised sports each year, but the industry has grown more and more interested in new and unusual angles.

I want to develop my sports idea into a movie. Can you write it as a screenplay?

Potentially yes, although this will depend on the project. Sport is an extremely popular subject in film. However, most sports movies which get made are adapted from books. ‘Spec’ scripts are hard to sell, so it may well be the case that even if a movie is your ultimate goal, it is better to have it written in book form, in the first instance.