If you’ve been apprehensive about hiring a ghostwriter because you’re not sure if the process will work for you, I get it. A book is a highly personal and highly creative journey. But fear not.
A quality ghostwriter recognizes these aspects of the ghostwriting process. While they likely have a general process and framework that they’ll guide you through, they also have the ability to flex to you in a variety of ways.
Ghostwriting is a big investment, and part of the luxury that comes with making that investment is having a partner who understands your needs and goals. More than that, they understand how to make the process and product work for your needs and goals.
Working with a ghostwriter shouldn’t feel like you’re on an assembly line. It should make you feel confident and joyful. Here are some common ways that ghostwriters demonstrate flexibility in their approach.
Different Goals
Each author has unique goals and intentions for both the process of writing their book and what they’d like to do with their book once it’s complete. Sure, many goals can fall into the same general arena – lead generation, booking more speaking gigs, etc. – but the specifics of the goal will still be unique to each author.
The intentions and goals of the author are the most foundational aspect of the whole process. A good ghostwriter will keep these in mind the entire time. They will partner with the author to ensure the process is aligned with their goals and intentions. Furthermore, it will influence how the ghostwriter goes about writing the book. It will impact the audience being addressed, the structure of the book, and the content.
Different Approaches
A quality ghostwriter understands that everyone is different and will make reasonable accommodations throughout the process.
Some people will want their interviews to be more conversational, and some people will want to take the time to teach like they’re giving a talk on stage to a big audience. Some people love to give lots of details in their stories, and some people are more straight to the point in their delivery. The variances in people are infinite.
Your ghostwriter should be able to adapt the interview and other parts of the process (within reason) to ensure that the partnership and product are successful. If the author just likes to talk, the ghostwriter will just let them go but also be sure to keep them on track. If the author is more direct to the point, the ghostwriter will ask a variety of follow-up questions.
A partnership with a ghostwriter is no different than any other partnership. You figure out each other’s working styles and go from there.
Different Paces
Everyone moves at different paces. Some people really want to soak in the process, and some people have a deadline they want to meet, viewing the process more transactionally.
While I tell my clients to expect the manuscript writing portion of the process to take about 4-6 months, there’s some flexibility. It can definitely go longer if necessary. I typically won’t commit to anything shorter than that because we don’t want to sacrifice quality for speed, but we can typically find a pace that is aligned for the partnership.
Regardless of the goals for the timeline for the book, life also happens during the process. Unexpected things come up, work gets busy, and vacations happen. We’re not on an assembly line. A ghostwriter will be understanding just as you’d be understanding of them.
If you’re curious to learn if working with a ghostwriter is right for you, book a free strategy session using the button below!
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.