This is a question that a lot of aspiring authors probably ask themselves… especially if they’re sitting in front of a blank screen, watching the cursor blinking mockingly at them… Or if they’re so busy running their businesses, or their medical practice and they find it difficult to actually find the time to sit down at a keyboard and create a manuscript… A full length non-fiction manuscript can take between 200 and 400 hours of work – and that’s just the writing.  It doesn’t include the background research, interviewing the client or other people, and creating the proposal (something that needs to be done even if you’re self-publishing)…

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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