But I don’t want to talk about how busy you are, or how intimidating it can be to actually sit down in front of your computer and write your book, day in and day out, month after month… (Or sometimes, year after year…)

I want to talk about a different aspect of why you might need a ghostwriter… And why I think it’s one of the most important qualities of the relationship…

Ghostwriters are people who can write, yes (at least they should be)… if you’re in the market for a ghostwriter, you’ll want to check out their writing samples…

But you want a ghostwriter who’s more than just a good writer.

You need a ghostwriter who can take your ideas, your passions and your knowledge and experience… and use your words, your style and your “voice” and get it down on paper. You want someone who you’re comfortable with, who “gets” you… And of course, someone who has the skill of an impressionist – who can mimic your words, thoughts and feelings on paper.  You don’t want your ghostwriter to have too strong a “voice” of their own, because it’s not their book they’re writing, it’s yours… So you want to make sure they’ve got the ability to write in different styles, across different genres – which means they don’t necessarily have to have a lot of experience in your particular field of expertise.

When you hire a ghostwriter, you need to be prepared to develop a close, intimate relationship with them.  Part of my job is to get inside your head, and understand who are you, and what you’re passionate about.  It’s also to learn how you feel, and the way you communicate – both in writing and in person. A ghostwriter needs to understand “why you” and why “this book” in order to help ensure that it achieves your goals.

Which means your ghostwriter is someone who will be asking a lot of questions – and then really listening to your answers.  At the same time, it’s my job to keep the purpose, the platform and your audience in mind… and make sure the book stays on track – which again, means it’s got a better chance of success.

My goal, when I’m working with a client, is that no one knows which parts of the manuscript were written by me, and which parts were written by them.

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This is one of those things I love doing, partly because I love the way the energy and excitement starts flowing during the brainstorming process.

But the other reason I love it is because I’m good at it.

I’m not sure if it comes from the days when I worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations and we had to design special events – and the publicity campaigns that went along with them – on little or no budget, or if figuring out ways to get positive publicity is just one of my strengths, but either way, helping clients get the publicity they need, want and deserve is a whole lot of fun!

Take today’s session for example… We came up with a solid strategy for her to sell several thousand books – very quickly and with little effort…

And I explained how she can get Amazon to promote her book and get it in front of tens of thousands of new eyeballs who might not see it otherwise…

And how she can get someone else to create a wave of publicity for her that will help her reach critical mass and the publicity will take on a life of its own.

When we were done talking, I started making some notes for my new ghostwriting client, because some of the things I talked about will help him as well.

And when it comes to getting publicity for your book, more is definitely better.

Which is why I think it’s a good idea if you’re shopping for  a ghostwriter, that you choose someone who’s a promotion expert too.  Not only will that save you money on having to hire a publicist – or worse, trying to do it all yourself and learning the hard way what works and what doesn’t – but why waste time reinventing the wheel?

When you start promoting your book, you’ve got a very limited window of opportunity to do it and do it right. Having a ghostwriter who understands how to promote your book and is willing to share her/his experience, ideas and resources with you is just good business.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas on this subject…

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Are You Worried Because You’re ‘Not a Writer’?

You’re very good at what you do… Maybe an expert even… And no one knows their way around your niche or industry exactly like you… But you don’t consider yourself a writer… And the thought of having to sit down in front of your computer screen and write 280 to 300 pages of text gives you the willies… And you think you’d rather have a root canal with no anesthesia than have to figure out how to organize all the information into readable, interesting sentences, paragraphs and chapters…

Working with a professional ghostwriter means you’ll create a professional, well-written manuscript – a product that you can be truly proud to put your name on.

And even if you are a writer… and you’re writing outside your particular area of expertise or genre, think of the advantage of having an experienced, published writer on your team, helping you to organize your thoughts and give you the added assistance you need to create a fabulous book that showcases you in the best possible light.

Do You Have Really Excellent Spelling and Grammar Skills?

One thing Mrs. Peterman (5^th grade English Teacher) got right when it comes to writing your book, manuscript or screenplay – spelling and grammar are vitally important.

Whether you’re writing a fiction or non-fiction book, potential agents, editors and publishers are all going to be going over your manuscript with a fine-toothed comb – and spelling and grammar errors are big No-No’s.  Simple mistakes make you look incompetent.

Hiring a professional ghostwriter means you don’t have to sweat the small stuff like commas, apostrophes and double negatives.

Do You Want to Have to Try Writing Your Book or Screenplay or Project All Alone?

It can be tough – really tough to have to sit in front of your computer every single day and, and find the time to write your book.  Many of my clients tell me they dreaded it, and many of them complained of ending up with a bad case of Writer’s Block (which I understand can be compared to having a bad case of food poisoning.)  Why put yourself through that kind of mental and emotional torture when you don’t have to?

Hiring a professional ghostwriter means your project is worked on and completed with enthusiasm, passion and sheer enjoyment – plus… when all’s said and done, you still get all the credit, adulation and praise… and why not? You deserve it!

Do You Have a Deadline or Other Time Constraints?

If you’ve got an idea for a book, a screenplay or other project and time is an issue, hiring a ghostwriter can take the pressure off you – especially if you’ve got a business to run, a family to take care of, or other things gong on in your life.  Hiring a ghostwriter also means you’ll get your project finished on time and on schedule.

Isn’t There Just Something Else You’d Rather Be Doing With Your Time Than Spending It Chained to Your Computer?

You know, one thing I’ve learned is that life is short.  And we just never know what’s going to happen.  So unless your favorite thing to do is sit down in front of your computer, staring at a blank piece of paper (or little flashing thingie on your computer screen that looks like a piece of paper)… Why waste your time doing something you don’t know how to do, and don’t want – or need to learn?

Hiring a ghostwriter means you get to do the things you want to do, and love to do, and spend more time with the people who are most important to you… And still know that your book, screenplay or project is getting done on time, and is being written the way you want it written – and it will still be your book when it’s done.

So, if you’ve still got questions about what (tedious, mind-sucking) services a ghostwriter can provide for you, and how cost-effective it really is, please feel free to send me an email and let’s set up a free half-hour consultation – there’s no cost or obligation whatsoever, and I’m happy to answer any questions you want to throw at me!

But what it boils down to is… Why NOT hire a ghostwriter for your next project?

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