Autobiographies - Biographies

We are not just after sports biographies, although that does make up a large part of our biographical heritage. Subjects can be across any social, entertainment, historical or sporting world. They need to be 80,000-100,000 words, with some photos for a section, or interspersed throughout the book. You need to be knowledgeable about the subject (maybe you have interviewed them) and a good writer. Think about the structure of the book, is it a straight chronology, or is it based on events in the life of the subject.

See the Commissioning page for details on how to submit your idea.

Football and Sport:

Are you an ex-player, manager, chairman, scout or someone who has a connection with the sport that fans would find interesting. If you have a good story to tell, then we’ll consider it. If you are a biography writer and have a subject in mind, then think about why you are the best person to write the book. Do you have first-hand interviews, or have you researched the subject thoroughly. The juicier the stories, the better the sales potential, but we are not after hatchet jobs. We appreciate that you have friends in football and the innate sense not to offend is in most of us. However, if you have a lot of great stories that are just a bit embarrassing for you and others, then put them in. The hard and fast rule is, if it is true it is not libel, BUT you have to think about how you can prove it happened (or can someone prove otherwise).

What we are not after is a bland re-telling of a career, leave that to the history books. We need to know what the history books cannot tell us. What were your emotions when things happened, how did you feel? Why did you make that career choice and do you regret it? Who was your favourite manager? Who didn’t you get on with? Etc.

Approx. 80,000-100,000 words with a 10-30 photos needed.

Other biographies

Of course, there are many people out there who are well-known but not necessarily a sportsman. Do you have a story to tell? Are you a journalist who has covered some of the great stories and so you can provide some real inside knowledge? Have you competed in amateur sport, or you have pioneered something that people know about?

Let us know what you have done and why you think your story will sell. We do have a large social history section, which you may fit into, so check out that section of the website too.

See the Commissioning page for details on how to submit your idea.