 | What You Should Know About Ghostwriters By Barbara Munson Becoming an author is one of the most satisfying experiences you can have. Your book is your legacy to the world, a permanent expression of you, your ideas and your story. Yet many books aren’t getting written because of the misconception that becoming an author is an insurmountable task. Would-be authors say, “Write a book? Who me? I don’t have the time or the talent!” But becoming a published author doesn’t have to be that difficult, with the right help. Consider calling a ghostwriter. DEFINITION OF A GHOSTWRITER A ghostwriter is an experienced writer who has the ability to assemble your thoughts, ideas and stories into a book or article for which you receive full credit as author. WHEN TO CALL A GHOSTWRITER You should consider a ghostwriter if you have a good idea for a book, but a. you do not like to write b. you are too busy c. you want a book completed within a specific timeframe d. you have a draft of your book written but it needs substantial rewriting e. you have a lot of material for your book but need help compiling it all into book form. WHAT TYPES OF BOOKS DO GHOSTWRITERS WORK ON? With few exceptions, any category of book is fair game for a ghostwriter. Some ghostwriters specialize in a particular genre of book, such as mystery, spirituality, technical or memoir. Some focus on specific topics, e.g., personal finance or divorce. If you have an idea for a book, chances are there’s a ghostwriter out there for you. Incidentally, many “best-selling” books have been ghostwritten. (A note: Most ghostwriters do not publicly discuss the books they have ghostwritten, unless the author says it’s OK to do so.) WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GHOSTWRITER AND A COLLABORATOR? Although there is no hard-and-fast rule on this, generally a collaborator assists an author with writing, research or related areas on the book, and usually receives an attribution or byline. An example of a collaborator’s byline is: The Cookie Book, by Suzy Smith with Barbara Munson. A ghostwriter, however, is responsible for writing the book. He or she is always “out of the picture” and does not receive attribution. HOW A GHOSTWRITER TYPICALLY OPERATES Since you’ll want your book to reflect your own thoughts and goals for the book and who you are and how you sound, ghostwriting involves a lot of communication between the author and writer. Much of that can be accomplished through emailing questions and answers, but telephone discussions and interviews, in-person meetings and sending letters may be part of the process too. After discussing your goals for the book, the ghostwriter asks for copies of any and all materials you have that are relevant to the book. That might include notes, audiocassette tapes of talks you’ve done, handouts from your talks, diaries and journals, published articles about you, biographical write-ups, etc. Copies of photos, statistics, charts and graphs, and an outline to follow are helpful too. The rule is: provide your ghostwriter with everything! The most seemingly inconsequential piece of information could spark a brainstorm and a new focus to the book. The actual ghostwriting process includes a minimum of four drafts of the manuscript. The first draft is simply a typed compiled version of the material you provide the ghostwriter. After that, a discussion on the tone and direction of your book, arrangement of chapters and major points to bring out in the text follows. The actual writing starts in the second draft. The third or fourth version can be used to get reviews or feedback from colleagues, professionals and friends. A final draft, including the suggestions from reviewers, polishes the manuscript for acceptance by a publisher. This process can take from four months to a year or more, depending on the length and complexity of the book, how much research is involved by the ghostwriter, and how much time you can spend on interviews and reviews of the work in progress. During this entire time, the ghostwriter will be in touch with you on a regular basis, providing updates, asking for feedback, and fine-tuning the project. WHAT MAKES A GOOD GHOSTWRITER? The two most important considerations in hiring a ghostwriter are compatibility and confidence. You and your ghostwriter will be sharing details about your life, ideas and confidences. He or she also will need to know you well enough to write like you talk. Both of you must be able to share honest feelings about the work. So, having a good rapport and trusting each other is essential. Most importantly, you need to feel confident that, when all is said and done, your book will be great! TIPS ON HAVING A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE WITH A GHOSTWRITER Hire someone who knows the book industry and understands the market for your book. This knowledge will be very helpful in the writing process, from deciding what material to include or leave out to coming up with a good title for your book! Discuss the timeframe for completing the project and fees after you are confident you can work well with the ghostwriter. If you are considering other ghostwriters for the project, make sure you are comparing apples and apples, not apples and oranges. Compare book experience, knowledge of the topic, and abilities along with fees. Remember that faster or cheaper is not always better in the case of your book. A ghostwriter worth his or her salt will want your book to succeed as much as you do! Finally, treat your ghostwriter as you would any professional. He or she is now your business partner—and your ultimate product is your book. ###
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