How many brilliant people out there — leaders, inventors, celebrities, creatives — would love to write a book, if only…?
…if only they had the time.
…if only they had they talent.
…if only they had the attention span.
…if only they had any idea how to write a book.
For many of these people, who are experts in their fields and/or have amazing stories to tell but who may not have the time or inclination to write the book themselves, hiring a ghostwriter can be a fantastic way to achieve their authorial goals.
What Is a Ghostwriter, Exactly?
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who can build your story, your experiences, and your insights into a book on your behalf. But isn’t that cheating? This is a common kneejerk reaction from people who wonder how they can call themselves the author if they’re not the one putting pen to paper.
Well, if the ghostwriter was making up stories from scratch and then slapping the author’s name on them, that would be one thing. But in a good ghostwriter-author relationship, the author is heavily involved in shaping the story the ghostwriter will ultimately write.
Here’s a high-level overview of the process to show you just how collaborative it is:
Initial Conversation
Before any decisions are made, the ghostwriter and author have an in-depth conversation about the author’s vision and goals for the book. The ghostwriter’s goal is to get a sense of the story and determine (carefully and honestly) whether she believes she can do it justice. The author’s goal is to assess whether the ghostwrite has the skills and temperament to bring her book to life. (And each is sussing out whether the other is someone she wants to work closely with for the next six to twelve months!)
If both parties agree this is a good fit, the ghostwriter sends the author a proposal and contract that’s customized for her project. Once the contract is signed, the work can begin!
Book Outline
The first step in the process is defining the structure of the book, and this is best done with serious author input. The ghostwriter and the author will have several hours of recorded conversation about every facet of the author’s story, who she’s telling it for, what she wants readers to take away from it, and more. Then, using the transcripts from these interviews, the ghostwriter will identify a potential book structure and outline, which she and the author will revise together until it’s just right.
Interviews
At this point, the author’s involvement in the process is just beginning. She and the ghostwriter will sit down together for many more hours of interviews, diving deep into each chapter. As the interviews progress, the team of two will revise the outline, conduct external research, and reach out to others for their insights as needed.
Once the ghostwriter and author have turned every stone, created hundreds if not thousands of pages of interview transcripts, and bulked up the final book outline sufficiently, only then does the author get a break.
Drafting
Armed with mountains of recordings, transcripts, and notes, the ghostwriter goes away to do what she does best: draft the book. She knows the author’s voice as well as her own at this point, and she strives to write a manuscript that sounds like the author. This process may take several months, and this is where the author saves serious time.
Revisions
The author may get to see the draft in stages, a few chapters at a time, or she may wait until the full manuscript is complete to provide feedback and edits. Here again, the author has an opportunity to be a close collaborator, adding additional content and personalizing the text. (She may also involve beta readers at this point to collect additional feedback from potential readers.)
The ghostwriter will work closely with the author to implement revisions. Once both parties are satisfied, the ghostwriter’s work is done and the editing and publication process begins.
See? Teamwork! And it’s more common than you might think. Many books you’ve read by politicians, celebrities, corporate executives, and more are actually written by ghosts. It’s not a very well-kept secret, and there’s no shame in it whatsoever. (If you’re still feeling a little guilty, though, know that most ghosts will happily accept a “with” credit on the book cover!)
How Do I Know if I Should Hire a Ghostwriter?
If you’ve always wanted to publish a book, but you haven’t done it yet, it might be time to consider a ghostwriter. Here are three questions to ask yourself to decide whether this might be the right move for you:
Do I Have a Story to Tell?
If you are burning to share your experiences with the world — if your startup story is sure to inspire other entrepreneurs or your no-waste journey will encourage others to minimize their trash or your experience in the cosmetics industry could help others learn to feel beautiful on the inside — then you have a story to tell. The question is, how will you tell it?
What Does Your Time-to-Money Ratio Look Like?
There’s no denying that hiring a ghostwriter is a significant investment, so you have to consider your means. If you’re excited about publishing your own book and you (a) have decidedly more money than time and/or (b) consider it an investment in your business/career/personal growth, then hiring a ghostwriter may be a good move for you. But if it’s going to put you in a precarious financial situation, then you’ll be better off considering other ways you might get help bringing your vision to life.
Does the Idea of Sitting Down to Write Excite or Terrify You?
For some people, the idea of publishing a book is thrilling, but the idea of actually sitting down to write sounds…less appealing. If this is you, then a ghostwriter could be just the ticket. But if the idea of writing your book on your own intrigues you, why not give it a shot? If you’re excited but intimidated, you might consider hiring a book coach to guide you through the process.
Working with a ghostwriter can be a really fulfilling way to make your bookish dreams come true. If you’re interested in learning more about whether this is the right move for you, please be in touch! I’d love to learn about your story and your vision for telling it!