Writing someone else's story

The last couple of weeks I have been writing much more than usual - and most of it outside my usual Friday slot. I spent more than 30 hours over the last 10 days working on a rewrite of a autobiography which had been submitted too short and way too light on information by the ghost writer. After editing it down from 33,000 to 30,000 words, I then had to interview the subject (a well-known New Zealand sportswoman) every day for up to an hour, taking shorthand, then build it back up to around 42,000 words. I have been up at six in the morning; I have worked till 10.30 at night. And it is just about done. I could have got it finished today (I just need to edit the appendix and finish composing the preface and it's over) but I went to lunch with a friend instead - I can't work all the time! I didn't really have time to take on the job and would rather have been writing my novel the last couple of weeks but it was a great opportunity to earn some Visa-bill-paying money (those Killers tickets weren't cheap, nor was the Coldplay one) and to get some more experience writing non ficiton and especially biography. It was a real privilege to get to know the subject better - we are pretty much the same age and although we have had very different lives, we got on really well and built up an excellent rapport. I can see myself doing ghost writing of this kind in the future - my journalistic skills have taught me parts are lacking or need to be filled out, and what questions to ask to tease out more information. It was also really interesting writing someone else's story in the first person and trying to retain their distinctive voice. I just hope she likes it!
Not only has all this made me rather tired, I've also got a bit of RSI in my shoulder from using the wheelie mouse and the laptop so much, so am going to sign off. Back on the job next week, with the challenge of trying to get back on track in terms of word count: I will aim for 4000 words the next two Fridays and see how I get on!

Recent reading
I have nearly finished The Birth of Venus and I have to confess, I'm picking up my reading pace so I can get to the end and onto the next thing. While it has great atmosphere, I think the author, Sarah Dunant, skimped on both plot and characterisation. I just don't buy the central romantic connection. But she's a multi-bestselling author, so what would I know?