Tim Smedley

Tim Smedley – Ghostwriter

In-demand award-winning writer (BBC, The FT, The Guardian, The Sunday Times) and non-fiction author (Clearing The Air, and The Last Drop).

Overview

I'm an award-winning freelance writer (BBC, The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Sunday Times) and book author. My debut book 'Clearing the Air: the Beginning and the End of Air Pollution' (Bloomsbury, 2019) was shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Society Science Book of the Year Prize. My next book, 'The Last Drop: Solving the World's Water Crisis' (Picador, Pan Macmillan, 2023) was named one of The Times' Top 100 books of 2023. I focus on sustainability, the environment, renewable energy and climate justice.


As a ghostwriter I enjoy helping experts, leaders and academics to tell their story. Not everyone can write for a general readership - and nor should they be expected to. But there are many people out there with important, world-changing insight and research, who simply don't know how to communicate it to a mainstream readership. I help them shape a narrative with maximum impact and page-turning readability. This has included UN bodies, climate leaders and CEOs (plus some I can't link to below, who prefer their ghosts to remain invisible). I specialise in turning difficult-to-understand information into engaging, flowing copy for a mainstream audience.


*FEES NOTE*


► Due to time demands, I have to be very selective about the books I take on. So please ensure your project is a good fit - ie. non-fiction and environmental in focus - before reaching out. But if it is, you have my full attention.


► Book writing is extremely time-consuming, and the costs reflect that. My fees are determined on a project-by-project basis - taking into account the level of research needed, number of interviews etc - but as a rough guide, writing manuscripts of 30,000-40,000 words start at £13,500 / $17,000. Editing only is charged at $500 a day.


You will not get a quality job by opting for the cheapest option. I'm an award-winning author who has appeared at multiple international literature festivals - as such, you can be assured of an extremely high standard. Your book will stand the test of time.

Services
Non-Fiction
Agriculture Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences Life Sciences Nature Technology
Languages
English (AUS) English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • The Royal Society Science Book Prize: Shortlisted
  • National Journalist of the Year: Winner. Towers Watson Journalism Awards

Work experience

Self-employed

Jun, 2017 — Present

My book, 'Clearing the Air: The Beginning and the End of Air Pollution', was published by Bloomsbury in Spring 2019. This journalistic investigation of air pollution took me around the world, including Delhi, Beijing, Paris and London. Alongside shocking facts and humbling stories, I also found hope and inspiration. Clearing The Air went on to be nominated for the Royal Society Science Book Prize. My second book, 'The Last Drop: Solving the World's Water Crisis' (Picador, 2023), was again a global exploration of a pressing climate topic, and was named one of The Times' Top 100 books of 2023. I have presented talks on both topics at numerous literature and science festivals, including Cheltenham Science Festival, Belfast Science Festival, and Hay Literature Festival. I've also made multiple media appearances including The Today Programme, BBC World Service, The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, and Rare Earth on Radio 4.

Self-employed

Sep, 2010 — Present

As a freelance features writer, my long-form articles have appeared in The Guardian, BBC, Financial Times, Sunday Times, The Observer, and magazines including The New Scientist.

Self-employed

Jun, 2010 — Present

I work for a range of clients and sectors, on issues from sustainable technology to workplace wellbeing. As well as books and e-books, this has included white papers, reports, roundtables, case studies and blog articles.

People Management magazine, Redactive Media

Sep, 2006 — Sep, 2011 (about 5 years)

People Management - the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) magazine - covers key developments in HR, management and Corporate Social Responsibility. As full-time features writer I worked on writing, copy editing, commissioning, blogging, and video interviews.

Portfolio

Book Ghostwriting
By 2020, cities throughout Europe will have banned entry by internal-combustion engine vehicles. Almost all countries will have considerably stricter urban transport regulations in place. Most... read more
Book Ghostwriting
Book Ghostwriting

Tim has 6 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Jenny M.

Jenny M.

Oct, 2024

Honestly, I would need to Tim to edit this review to help me best articulate the value of his work and partnership. Tim is a fantastic writer, editor, and collaborator. I was looking for a partner to help bring my book draft to the next level and Tim did that and more. He took time to truly understand my goals, my values, and how I want the book to be ultimately received in the end. The process...
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Soul S.

Soul S.

Jul, 2024

Tim goes much beyond just editing chapters. He offers a deep sense of partnership and works closely with the author to shape their artistic vision. His gentle encouragement style allows an author to find their unique voice in their writing. What's best about working with him is that he brings a strong sense of intensity and clear direction to the project and believes in doing what's best for th...
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Rob C.

Rob C.

Nov, 2023

Tim was a real pleasure to work with. He was very personable, communicative, responsive, and engaged throughout the project. His work products were both timely and of caliber quality, a pleasant surprise given the obscurity of the subject matter. He demonstrated a strong commitment to the project, conducted his own research, read and incorporated resource information provided to him by the clie...
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Antonio G.

Antonio G.

Sep, 2023

I had the privilege of collaborating with Tim, and the experience was nothing short of comprehensive, in-depth, and immersive. While one might expect the role to revolve primarily around the writing of the manuscript, Tim's involvement extended further. He took the initiative to research, seeking additional information and insights that perfectly complemented and enhanced my original thoughts. ...
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Christina W.

Christina W.

Sep, 2023

Working with Tim is a great pleasure. The communication was smooth and he shared any thoughts or initial products to ensure that he was going the right way. The result was delivered as per the agreed timeline and achieved the expectation. I would really recommend working with him, especially for works related to climate change and environmental issues as he is clearly well-versed in these fields.

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