Welcome! I’m Sally McGraw.

I’m a savvy and versatile ghostwriter, editor, and book coach with nearly 20 years of professional experience. I firmly believe I have the best job in the known universe, although it took me several decades to chase it down.

I spent my college years studying creative writing, journalism, literature, composition, and poetry. (With a side order of a-cappella singing and post-adolescent geekery.) After graduation, I spent more than a decade crafting concise copy and telling engaging stories at various media companies, book publishers, and non-profits. Then in 2011, I felt ready to write, edit, and consult on my own terms, so I took a deep breath and plunged into the world of self-employment.

Since then, I’ve written for newspapers, blogs, magazines, newsletters, and websites, meticulously building a resume that I hope will impress the pants off of you. I’ve taught a class on book proposals for CreativeLive that’s reached nearly 7,000 students. I’ve written three non-fiction books under my own name, and ghostwritten dozens more, including two Wall Street Journal bestsellers. My articles have been featured on the Huffington Post and About.com, I’ve worked as a contributing editor at Adios Barbie, and my marketing and entrepreneurial advice has appeared on the GoDaddy blog.

Pants still on? Then let’s talk about my behind-the-scenes work. I’ve edited books on catalyzing innovation, meaningful allyship, effective decision-making, and the importance of empathy in the business world. I’ve created expressive artist statements, assembled compelling case studies, and generated strategic editorial calendars for popular blogs. I’ve ghostwritten academic cover letters, blog posts, manifestos, and in-depth articles. I truly enjoy the process of collaboration and excel at helping people hone their messages, tell their stories, and find their voices. Want proof? Check out these testimonials from my marvelous clients.

Explore this page for more information about me:

Why do I love ghostwriting?

Nothing makes me happier than capturing an abstract concept and pinning it to the page with illuminating, impassioned, carefully chosen words. Books, articles, speeches, and blog posts may seem like small, self-contained creations, but I’ve seen how the written word can change the path of history. If I can help my clients support, educate, or inspire their readers, I believe that together, we can make the world a tiny bit better. And that’s a worthwhile endeavor

Why do I love book coaching?

SO many people have the genius and talent needed to craft a world-altering book … but lack the insider knowledge or project management skills to keep that book moving forward. And that’s where I come in! Equal parts editor and motivator, I work with passionate writers and thought leaders to maintain momentum, hone their text, and bring their books to fruition. Book coaching is a joyful and deeply rewarding process for me and the authors I support.

Why do I love editing?

I love editing for the same reason I love assembling Ikea furniture: I find the task of rearranging interrelated parts into a cohesive whole to be deeply satisfying. I have a keen eye for sentence structure, excellent instincts about rhythm and voice, and a knack for teasing the meaning out of slightly rambly text. I’d be delighted to take an Allen wrench to your writing, if you’ll let me. I promise to be gentle, flexible, and honest.

Itching to hear some random and slightly bizarre facts about me?

Despite the punishing weather, I love living in Minneapolis with my husband and deeply neurotic cat. When I’m not writing or editing, I’m usually kicking butt at a Muay Thai class, training young women to be leaders, working a shift at Minneapolis Animal Care & Control, fussing with my ever-growing collection of houseplants, or binge-watching Brooklyn 99. I was born in Chicago on a day when it was -50°F, my hair is naturally curly, I’m a teetotaler, and I have a full back tattoo. My hero is Martin Luther King Jr., a person who truly changed the path of history with his words. My motto is, “If you don’t ask, the answer is always ‘no.’” My brain houses a staggering number of useless facts about wild animals. My favorite word is “crepuscular.”

Wanna see my bona fides?

Feel free to poke around my LinkedIn profile for details on my work history.

Since most of my ghostwriting projects involve non-disclosure agreements, I can’t share all titles … but here’s an abridged list of recent projects that shows my range:

Under NDA: book on addiction recovery
Forthcoming, Fall 2025
Ghostwriter

Under NDA: book on the pitfalls of empathetic leadership
Forthcoming, Fall 2024, Page Two
Ghostwriter

Under NDA: book on account-based marketing
Forthcoming, Fall 2023, Skyhorse
Ghostwriter

The Portfolio Life
April 2023, Hachette
Editor, researcher

Farther, Faster, and Far Less Drama: How to Reduce Stress and Make Extraordinary Progress Wherever You Lead
April 2023, BenBella Books
Ghostwriter (mentioned in acknowledgements),

Under NDA: book on data and personhood
Forthcoming, agency representation secured
Ghostwriter

Under NDA: book on investment and passive income strategies – WSJ BESTSELLER
August 2022, Matt Holt
Ghostwriter

User Tested: How the World’s Top Companies Use Human Insight to Create Great Experiences
February 2022, Wiley
Ghostwriter (mentioned in acknowledgements), researcher

Under NDA: book on tackling difficult personal goals – WSJ BESTSELLER
November 2021, HarperCollins Leadership
Ghostwriter

Colorfull: Competitive Strategies to Attract and Retain Top Talent of Color
February 2021, Morgan James
Ghostwriter (mentioned in acknowledgements), editor, researcher

The Empathy Edge: Harnessing the Value of Compassion as an Engine for Success
October 2019, Page Two
Ghostwriter (mentioned in acknowledgements), editor, researcher

New to Big: How Companies Can Create Like Entrepreneurs, Invest Like VCs, and Install a Permanent Operating System for Growth
April 2019, Currency/Penguin Random House
Ghostwriter (mentioned in acknowledgements), researcher

Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces
January 2019, Karen Catlin Consulting House
Ghostwriter (mentioned in acknowledgements), editor, researcher

Pending publication: book on how friends and family can support sexual assault survivors
2019
Ghostwriter, editor, researcher

Under NDA: book on marketing tactics used to sell food, alcohol, and drugs
December 2018
Ghostwriter, researcher

Under NDA: book on middle management techniques
May 2018
Ghostwriter

Under NDA: book on PTSD among the wives of wounded war veterans
October 2016
Ghostwriter, researcher

Under NDA: book on business tactics for wellness practitioners
April 2016
Ghostwriter, researcher

What can I do for you?

Check my services page to find out! I’d love to collaborate with you on your book, blog, or passion project. Let’s make beautiful prose together.