Sophie’s story about the death of her mother on her 18th birthday appeared in That’s Life magazine.
 


Sophie said: “I was a bit worried about selling my story to a magazine. After all, it was about something so personal and tragic. My mum had died on my 18th birthday and it was obviously something that I wanted dealt with appropriately.
 
“Chris made it easy for me. He was sensitive and professional and allowed me the space and time to make my decision.
 
“In the end I know he got the best possible deal for me and made sure I was happy with the content. I felt like I had control with Chris that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere. I would recommend him to anyone with similar doubts.”

Hello and thanks for visiting this site. I’m guessing, given you’ve pitched up here, there’s a good chance you’re someone who’s thinking about selling a story.

It could be something quirky or funny, which is great, but it could be something very personal. Even a good, positive real life story can require you to reveal something personal about yourself.

Now, I’ve written all kinds of stories – true life stories for tabloids and long features for broadsheets – and even revealed one or two personal details about myself over the years, including the time I was molested by a man. But I’ve never actually gone to someone else, a stranger at that, and sat back and waited for my story to appear in a national newspaper or magazine.

It isn’t an easy thing to do and is a worry. That’s why I’m here: to give you as much control as possible and take that worry away.

The first thing to say is that your first email to chris@sellingastory.co.uk and chat will be entirely confidential and does not mean you’re committing to anything. I’m not going to do anything without your say so. If I did you could go to the press complaints committee and have me closed down. It is just not going to happen.

Suppose we had a chat and I went through all the different options and we decided to go ahead? Well we’re not just going to give up all of our control. I’ll actually, physically show you any copy I write before sending it to any given publication. If we go to a magazine we can be sure to get another check before publication.

I’ve never had any complaint about this kind of thing in all my years in journalism. I don’t intend to start now.

What’s more I know I’m going to get you the the largest amount of money for your story that it is possible to get. Control and as much money as possible. I can’t say fairer than that!