What do you look for when you’re hiring a contractor, consultant, etc.?
You may consider what other types of work they’ve done, what they specialize in, their pricing, etc.
When you’re hiring a ghostwriter or book coach, your first thought is probably to evaluate the quality of their writing, what genres they specialize in, their pricing, etc. Basically, your first thought is probably to consider the typical tangible and logistical aspects when deciding on someone to work with.
But there is one MAJOR item missing from this list, and it’s the glue that holds the high ticket offering together…
Do you trust and can you be authentic with this person?
Writing a book is often a vulnerable process as you sort through your stories, experiences, and thoughts. You need someone who will hold the space for you, ask thoughtful questions, and help guide you down a path toward a book you love.
Let’s talk more about this.
A good ghostwriter is part coach
A good ghostwriter will often exhibit many of the same qualities of a good coach (and, of course, a book coach will too).
Aside from relieving the burden of doing the actual writing of the book, a ghostwriter will help keep you focused and accountable. By helping you to organize your thoughts and structure regular interviews around these, a ghostwriter ensures you stay on track in completing a project that is very easy to procrastinate.
Furthermore, a good ghostwriter will structure the interviews in a way that makes it comfortable and easy to talk about the topic at hand while asking thoughtful follow-up questions that may add more depth to the content.
The ghostwriter will use their experiences to help you open up a realm of possibilities to help make your book a success.
Holds space…
A good ghostwriter or book coach will also hold space without judgment for you to dig deep into the thoughts and stories that will fill your book.
The process of writing a book (whether you write it yourself or hire someone to do the writing for you) typically involves a deep dive into your experiences to pull out stories and lessons to support your thought leadership or memoir.
It’s hugely important that you feel comfortable being authentic with the person you are partnering with on your book so you can freely share your trains of thought and let the creativity flow.
Because guess what? Your thoughts and the flow of these thoughts won’t always be formed on the first try. Sometimes you’re going to want to follow a thought that doesn’t directly get included in the book but contributes significantly to the essence of the book.
And spends several months with you
While a ghostwriter saves you a significant amount of time, you are still spending several months working with this person.
You want to make sure you are finding joy in the process, are excited to get on the calls, and are loving what is being produced. If you pick someone who isn’t a good fit for you, chances are that you’re going to dread the process.
Writing a book is an investment in yourself. You want to partner with someone who is going to be supportive of that journey in more ways than just their writing skills. Be mindful of this when creating your book dream team.
If you’d like to get to know my ghostwriting style better, check out my free Non-Fiction Book Blueprint! And if you want to see how we connect and could work together, reach out to schedule 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.