Two stories within one: ghost writing that reveals both sides

Good book writing reveals that a story is never just about one thing. Ted Turner’s autobiography Call Me Ted tells a lot about Turner’s expansive business career. But the writing is personal enough to also convey the restlessness born out of aleniation from his hard-driving, alcoholic father. So while Amazon lists it as a business book, the writing really serves up two great themes: business, and the rupture between father and son. Kudos to his no so ghostly co-writer Bill Burke.

In a current book project I’m writing for the men’s fashion designer Remo Tulliani the subject ostensibly is success and how different people have arrived at it. The book will include interviews with a broad mix of men who have made it from Warner star-maker John Esposito to the designer Donald Pliner to Muhammed Ali.

But the story that runs in parallel to these men’s insights on focus, passion, vision and whatever else helped them get the top, is Tulliani’s own search for connection, mentoring and friendship along the way.

By telling both stories, rather than just one of them, we not only enrich the readers experience, we broaden our readership to include more people. So it’s not just good storytelling, it’s good marketing as well.

 

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