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Your story, told by you, written by me, read by everybody. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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WELCOME

Welcome to Black Dot Writing, where you finally get to tell your story.

With a Ph.D. in writing, over ten years of teaching university writing courses, and five+ years of professional ghostwriting/editing experience, I can help you craft and edit your memoir. I pride myself on honoring the subject, hearing the story, and maintaining the voice of the author (that's you!). I understand what it takes to write a compelling memoir that captures the complexities of your family history, your career, and your family dynamics.

I also edit your manuscript flawlessly and get you published. 

Contact me today to discuss your project: kate@blackdotwriting.com

 
 
 
 
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SERVICES

I specialize in ghostwriting memoir, specifically legacy memoir, book coaching, and editing manuscripts. To learn more about each service, please read below.

ghostwriting

When we do a ghostwriting project together, you tell me your story, and I create a compelling narrative arc based on pertinent themes in your life.

Ghostwriting with me is a very collaborative process. As a former writing professor, I know how to make the experience fun, professional, and timely—never intimidating. The process goes like this…

We spend several sessions interviewing where I ask questions, clarify details, and sketch out the narrative. Then, I create a detailed timeline of events which serves as our outline for the project. Once you approve the outline, I begin writing. There are typically several follow-up interviews to fill in any details.

The first draft of the manuscript is given to you for your review and input.

Next, I create a second draft of the manuscript and send it to a beta reader for review and feedback. Together, you and I discuss the beta reader’s suggestions and determine final edits.

I then deliver the second, complete manuscript to you. You will finally hold that book you always dreamed of writing.

Congratulations, you are an author!

Throughout the entire process, the story belongs to you. You are the author, and I am the ghostwriter. 

Why Ghostwriting?

For me, it's really pretty simple: I was a writing professor. I got cancer and everything changed. What would my legacy be? What would people remember about my life? Luckily, I beat cancer and shifted my focus to help others tell their life stories and leave their legacies. No matter how complex your story is, I can weave it into a beautiful, compelling narrative.

For you, choosing to ghostwrite is likely because you have the desire to tell your story but neither the time nor the know-how. If you have ever thought about writing a memoir but didn't know where to begin...this is where.

What is a legacy memoir?

Great question! A legacy memoir differs from a “typical” memoir in that it is often longer, includes more family history, and is privately published and distributed to a small group of people. Some clients choose other publishing options, which we can discuss.

Legacy memoir is my specialty because, as my legacy memoir clients can attest, I excel at research which can be a big component of this particular genre.

BOOK COACH

Excited to write your memoir yourself but don't know how? I do! Hire me to be your 1:1 book coach to help you establish a manageable timeline and structure. I ask the right questions to get you thinking about your book from the reader's perspective, and I hold you accountable for your writing progress. Together we get your book written, edited, and published. 

EDITING

I also offer developmental and line editing (or both!) depending on your needs because every manuscript needs to be edited. 

Developmental editing:

  • Substantial revision and restructuring of your already written manuscript

  • A "big picture" edit

  • I review your book and help you achieve the best character development, highlight the most important aspects of the narrative, establish a comfortable pace for the reader, and create an appropriate narrative arc.

Line editing:

  • Line-by-line review of your already written manuscript

  • A "nitty-gritty" edit

  • I correct all errors in grammar, usage, spelling, and style.

  • I help you reword sentences to make them the most impactful.

All manuscript edits are accompanied by a thorough written review of general feedback on the book and next steps.  

 

 

 

 
 
 
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PORTFOLIO

Featured
This book provides evidence, theory, and practical information to guide medical programs toward a gold standard of care. Topics covered include ethics, competencies, partnership structures, and much more. Kate Read’s section focuses on understanding

This book provides evidence, theory, and practical information to guide medical programs toward a gold standard of care. Topics covered include ethics, competencies, partnership structures, and much more. Kate Read’s section focuses on understanding important gender concepts, gender theory, and explores how gender impacts global health care and access.

We edited this beautiful book of photography and poetry.

We edited this beautiful book of photography and poetry.

This book is about how to teach students to write about both personal and national traumas. Kate Read’s co-authored chapter is entitled, “Discovering the Erased Feminism of the Civil Rights Movement: Beyond the Media, Male Leaders, and the 1960s Ass

This book is about how to teach students to write about both personal and national traumas. Kate Read’s co-authored chapter is entitled, “Discovering the Erased Feminism of the Civil Rights Movement: Beyond the Media, Male Leaders, and the 1960s Assassinations.”

Kate Read’s co-authored chapter is "Countering the Trafficking Paradigm: The Role of Family Obligations, Remittance, and Investment Strategies among Migrant Sex Workers in Tijuana, Mexico."

Kate Read’s co-authored chapter is "Countering the Trafficking Paradigm: The Role of Family Obligations, Remittance, and Investment Strategies among Migrant Sex Workers in Tijuana, Mexico."

We have helped them write case studies, marketing materials and edit blog posts.

We have helped them write case studies, marketing materials and edit blog posts.

Kate Read is a POPSUGAR contributor writing specifically on the sex work industry. To read her blogs, click here.

Kate Read is a POPSUGAR contributor writing specifically on the sex work industry. To read her blogs, click here.

We researched and wrote all blog content to drive traffic to the site.

We researched and wrote all blog content to drive traffic to the site.

We’ve edited dozens of dissertations and helped transform dissertations into manuscripts for mainstream publications.

We’ve edited dozens of dissertations and helped transform dissertations into manuscripts for mainstream publications.

Kate Read published "Sex Work: Constructing ‘Families’ with Community of Practice Theory." This is a peer-reviewed, academic journal article that examines the construction and maintenance of fictive kinships within a street-level sex work community.

Kate Read published "Sex Work: Constructing ‘Families’ with Community of Practice Theory." This is a peer-reviewed, academic journal article that examines the construction and maintenance of fictive kinships within a street-level sex work community. The article is based on interviews she conducted with 14 sex workers.

Kate Read published the article “’Yeah, he’s my daddy’: Linguistic Constructions of Fictive Kinships in the Street-Level Sex Work Community." This article is the jumping-off point to understanding how kinship terminology is used between sex workers

Kate Read published the article “’Yeah, he’s my daddy’: Linguistic Constructions of Fictive Kinships in the Street-Level Sex Work Community." This article is the jumping-off point to understanding how kinship terminology is used between sex workers and "pimps."

Kate Read published “Queering the Brothel: Performance and Identity Construction in Carson City, Nevada.” This is a peer-reviewed, academic journal article based on my research and analysis of 8 brothel sex workers and 7 brothel staff members about

Kate Read published “Queering the Brothel: Performance and Identity Construction in Carson City, Nevada.” This is a peer-reviewed, academic journal article based on my research and analysis of 8 brothel sex workers and 7 brothel staff members about the everyday social relationships within a legal sex work setting.

TESTIMONIALS

“Kate is well versed in editing all forms of written content. Her developmental and line editing process was easy to follow. For anything that needed clarification, she kept my target audience in mind, did her research, and made the right call. I highly recommend her!”
— Jeremie Y.
“I was so glad to find Kate Read as an editor for my memoir, the first book that I have ever tried to write. She was very good in the editing role, including details, concepts, and style. She also encouraged me to keep going over the manuscript, time after time, to get the right voice and to include poignant details and remembrances. She had a wonderful way of praising what I started with but encouraging me to improve and add to it. Kate’s role in finishing this memoir is a major reason why readers who knew me praised ‘my true voice’ in their feedback to me. Kate made the whole experience fun, engaging, and productive.”
— Wells W.
“Kate is more than an editor. She is an editor, yes, and also a strategic thinker, not afraid to challenge one’s thesis, writing, or perspectives. The end product is one that exceeds expectations. I have had the opportunity to work with many editors, and she is absolutely one of the best. ”
— Sandra L.
“Kate Read is smart, thorough, innovative, and creative. You will delight in working with Kate.”
— Jeanine L.
“You can’t get a better editor. Reasonably priced, excellent quality, goes the extra mile to make your work powerful.”
— Patrick S.
“Kate is an incredibly talented editor. She’s fast, friendly, and catches all of those little annoying mistakes that would otherwise slip through the cracks. I highly recommend Kate and Black Dot Writing.”
— Doug R.
 
 
 
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ABOUT

Kate Read, Ph.D. is a recovering academic who has been a professor of writing and sociology for over 10 years. Her doctoral research centered on the sex work community, where she found a passion for people's life stories. Outside of academia, her love of books and people translated perfectly to ghostwriting. She is currently a ghostwriter, copy editor, and heavy coffee drinker. If you'd like to see her complete C.V., please click here.