I am the queen of instant gratification. So I get it.
Authors often get antsy as they move through the ghostwriting process to see how the book is coming together. They want to see how their knowledge and stories translate to the page, ensure the content they’re most passionate about is included, etc. All of that is more than understandable.
As part of my process, clients get a preview of their book at the beginning of the journey, where they have the opportunity to comment on tone, structure, etc. I then take this feedback into account throughout the writing process so that the client loves their book at the end and so we can get to that point in the most efficient and effective way possible.
But when it comes to reviewing the first draft of the full manuscript, the review is most fruitful and effective when it’s reviewed in its entirety. As an author, you may be tempted to review part by part as the book is being written, but here’s why a review of the whole is most worth your while.
Order & Flow
At the beginning of the book journey, we create an outline that serves as a foundation for how the book will come together. However, we’re not married to the outline. Things change as we move through the process and new insights and clarity arise. This often causes the order of the book to change as we move through the interview and writing process.
Authors will have new epiphanies, realize new content they want to include, gain additional clarity on certain philosophies, etc. On top of that, how the book comes together while it is being written is often different than how it came together when creating a basic bullet-pointed outline. All of this leads to changes in the order and flow throughout the process.
If the client is reading the book as it’s being put together, the ghostwriter and the author begin stepping on each other’s toes. If the author is reviewing parts of the book while the ghostwriter is still working on other parts of the book, the ghostwriter is unable to move parts around to be more ideally placed. The author also devotes more mental energy to whether the story is best placed elsewhere and imagining where it would go if they don’t have the full picture. If the first draft is reviewed in pieces, content can’t be moved around with ease, and the review becomes confusing for both parties.
What Content to Include
Authors are passionate about the content they include in their books. They should be! This is often the hardest part for the author to wait and see. They want to make sure their key ideas are coming through effectively and want to ensure the stage is set correctly for those ideas. Here’s the thing: the most important ideas will be talked about throughout the interview process. Presenting them too early in the process will allow them to show up potentially half-baked and not in the most powerful way that the ghostwriter and author would eventually get to. Furthermore, the introduction is an incredibly crucial part of the book. It needs to hook the reader in, introduce them to the author, and provide a summary of the book. Because of this, it comes last in the interview process but also often contains some of the ideas that the author is most passionate about. Providing premature reviews of the book can make the author uneasy about whether their key ideas are really coming through.
Live reviews also make it easy for the author to get stuck on where a certain piece of content should be included. It may be slated to be included later in the book, or the ghostwriter may need to add it to a prior section to accommodate a change in order or flow.
It’s easier to ensure that all content is included in its most impactful way without any extra or repetitive content when the first draft is ready in its entirety for review.
Representative Tone
Reading the manuscript in its whole and complete form also ensures that the tone is consistent throughout the book and that it aligns with the author’s expectations. A check to ensure that the tone is aligned with the author’s voice happens during the preview phase, but tone is more than just the author’s voice.
The portion of tone that is more likely to change throughout the process is the lens that is put over the content of the book. This often relates to how the content is viewed. For example, the level of persuasion in the book, the actions that the reader should take at the end, etc. While there shouldn’t be wholesale changes to this during the process, there may be some nuances that need to be incorporated.
If you’re looking for a ghostwriter who will be transparent but will also help guide you through the process in a way that is most effective for you, I’ve got you covered. Let’s chat in a free strategy session!
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.