How to work with a ghostwriter and still get a book you’re proud of and sounds like you can be a challenge for many would-be authors. You may not want to write your own book, but will it still feel like your book? And, is it ethical or still your book to do so?
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In the world of non-fiction publishing, ghostwriting is far more common than most people realize. Some of the most influential books of our time weren’t actually written by their ‘authors.’ Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time,” Lee Iacocca’s autobiography, and Jack Welch’s “Straight from the Gut” are just a few examples of bestsellers crafted with the help of skilled ghostwriters. The list is so long you wouldn’t want to read it!
At Book Launchers, about 30% of the books we help authors publish are written by one of our writers. Due to confidentiality, we don’t disclose which books were written by a writer and which ones were drafted by the author directly. But, it really doesn’t matter who works with a ghostwriter versus who sits at the keyboard typing – what matters is the content, context, and connection that is created with the reader.
Whether you’re considering hiring a ghostwriter or working with our team at Book Launchers, understanding the process can save you time, money, and potential frustration. Here’s what you need to know to work with a ghostwriter on your book project and succeed.
The Foundation of Every Book Project (working with a ghostwriter or not)
Before diving into the writing process, it’s crucial to establish a solid foundation for your book. At Book Launchers, all projects start with three key elements:
- The Hook: A clear statement that captures what your book is about, the problem it solves for the reader, and how it will impact their life.
- Ideal Reader: Identifying your target audience and their specific needs.
- Book Outline: A comprehensive roadmap for your book, detailing its structure and content.
Crafting the Perfect Hook
Your book’s hook is more than just a summary—it’s the spine of your entire project. A strong hook should address:
- The book’s topic
- The reader’s problem related to this topic
- How the book will solve this problem
- The long-term impact on the reader’s life
For example, consider the hook for “Un-Glued: The Secret Science of Stem Cells that Dissolve the Effects of Sugar” by Dr. Richard P. Jacoby. It clearly outlines the problem (sugar-related diseases), the solution (stem cell science), and the target audience (those struggling with diabetes, inflammatory diseases, or sugar addiction).
Identifying Your Ideal Reader
Understanding your audience is crucial for both writing and marketing your book. It’s best if you aren’t thinking about your reader as a demographical profile. Think about the emotions, hopes, and dreams of your reader. Consider:
- Who will benefit most from your book?
- What specific problems or questions do they have?
- How will your book change their life?
To help identify your reader, some great strategies can assist:
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Creating a Comprehensive Outline
Your outline serves as a roadmap for the entire writing process. It should include:
- Main topics and subtopics
- Key stories or case studies
- Research or data to be included
- Your signature processes or methodologies
There are some fantastic tools to speed up the process of outlining a book now too. This video below outlines how to use AI to outline a book, including our favorite outlining tool, Dibbly Create.
How to Work with a Ghostwriter and Love the Outcome
A great ghostwriter will help you build out what your hook is for your reader. They will also develop the outline for your book. However, having some clarity on these pieces before you engage with a writer does set you up for an easier time hiring and communicating with your ghostwriter. It allows them to focus on the story and content you will be communicating, versus figuring out what the heck you’re writing about in the first place!
Once you have your foundation in place, it’s time to collaborate with your ghostwriter. If you need to find one, here are some tips to help you find a ghostwriter to work with on your book project. This partnership is crucial to creating a book that truly represents your ideas and voice. Here’s an in-depth look at how to make the most of this relationship, and effectively work with your ghostwriter:
1. Establish Clear Communication Channels
Regular, open communication is the cornerstone of a successful ghostwriting project. Here’s how to ensure smooth communication:
- Set Up Weekly Meetings: Schedule consistent weekly meetings with your ghostwriter. These can be via video call, phone, or in person.
- Use Multiple Communication Methods: Supplement meetings with email exchanges, voice notes, or even text messages for quick updates or ideas.
- Be Responsive: Try to respond to your ghostwriter’s questions or requests for clarification promptly to keep the project moving forward. Nothing kills momentum more than a writer waiting for a reply for weeks and weeks!
2. Provide Rich, Detailed Information
The more information you can give your ghostwriter, the better they can capture your voice and ideas:
- Share Personal Stories: Anecdotes and personal experiences add depth and authenticity to your book.
- Offer Examples and Case Studies: These help illustrate your points and make your content more engaging.
- Discuss Your Thought Process: Explain not just what you think, but why you think it. This helps the ghostwriter understand your perspective.
Remember, thier job is to write a great book. While you may not need to know these details, here are some things you can offer your writer to help them do their job more effecively:
3. Be Prepared for Interviews
Interview sessions are often the primary way ghostwriters gather information beyond drawing for content you’ve already written. Make the most of these sessions:
- Review the Outline Before Each Meeting: This helps you stay focused on the relevant topics for that session. If they have sent you material they have written, read that material before your meeting. Expect to discuss what you liked and what you would like to see improved going forward. This feedback is vital to ensuring your writer doesn’t write a book you aren’t happy with at the end.
- Prepare Notes or Talking Points: Jot down key ideas you want to cover in each chapter. The more prepared you come with ideas of what to share, the more the writer can focus on drawing out the story versus figuring out what the story is.
- Be Open to Follow-up Questions: Your ghostwriter may need to dig deeper into certain topics to fully understand and articulate your ideas. This can be emotional at times. It’s ok to say you need to save certain emotional pieces for another time or day, but know that what makes you emotional is likely to be the pieces that connect to your reader, so you will have to go there at some point in your journey. It just doesn’t have to be the first time the writer asks for that story or detail.
4. Provide Timely and Constructive Feedback
Your input on the ghostwriter’s work is crucial for shaping the book:
- Read Drafts Promptly: Aim to review chapters as soon as you receive them. See the above comments on providing feedback. The number of times an author we have worked with was afraid to give feedback or just didn’t read what the writer had written was shocking. It is the advantage of working with a company like Book Launchers when you hire a ghostwriter though. You can tell us the feedback and we can liase with the writer if you ever feel uncomfortable.
- Be Specific in Your Feedback: Instead of saying “this doesn’t sound right,” try “When discussing my approach to leadership, please emphasize the importance of empathy.” Give specific examples of what you would like changed if you can. This allows the writer to improve efficiently and effectively and give you a book you’re proud of.
- Balance Criticism with Praise: Let your ghostwriter know what’s working well, not just what needs improvement. They are humans and it always feels good to know your hard work is appreciated even when there are areas to improve.
- Be Open to Suggestions: Remember that your ghostwriter brings valuable writing and structuring expertise to the table. Lean on the writer for input. It’s your book – and always remember that – but this is an objective experienced third party who have value to offer if you’re open to it.
5. Respect the Process and Timeline
Ghostwriting is an iterative process that takes time:
- Be Patient: Understand that producing high-quality content takes time and multiple revisions. The first time something hits the paper is never the best. If you want to see the work the minute it’s written down you can expect to see something that isn’t even close to it’s best version. Giving things time to marinate and develop does allow for the best possible work product.
- Stick to Scheduled Meetings: Consistency helps maintain momentum. If you need to reschedule, provide as much notice as possible. A writer needs to get to know you to capture your voice and write your book, and there’s no other way to do that effectively than meeting up on a regular schedule.
- Meet Agreed-Upon Deadlines: If you’re supposed to review a chapter by a certain date, try your best to meet that deadline to keep the project on track. You expect that of your writer, so it’s fair that you’re accountable to them as well.
6. Be Clear About Your Goals
Help your ghostwriter understand the bigger picture. While we focus on this at Book Launchers by incorporating marketing into the early phases of the writing work, if you are doing it on your own you must do this. It’s important to share what you’re trying to achieve with your book project with your writer. Specifically:
- Discuss Your Objectives: Whether it’s establishing thought leadership, supporting your speaking career, or growing your business, make sure your ghostwriter understands your goals.
- Talk About Your Audience: Discuss who you’re trying to reach and what you want them to take away from the book. This is important because your book is always going to be specific to the reader and what the reader will take out of it. It’s also important to identify if the reader and the buyer are not the same person all the time.
- Share Your Vision: Describe how you see the book being used or received once it’s published.
What if there is an issue while working with your ghostwriter?
If issues arise during the ghostwriting process, address them quickly. Sometimes the issue is something the writer can adjust. Sometimes it’s an indicator that it’s not a good fit to work together on the project. Either way it’s really important to find this out as early on in your book project as possible. Rewriting a book can be more painful than having a hard conversation that leads to getting exactly what you want from the relationship.
- Communicate Concerns Early: If you feel the project is going off track, discuss this with your ghostwriter or project manager as soon as possible.
- Be Open to Adjustments: Sometimes, the initial plan may need tweaking as the project evolves. This isn’t your fault or your writers fault, this is how creative pursuits go. It’s rare that a book ever develops exactly as you plan on day one so it’s normal for a plan to evolve. Be ok with taking a project where it needs to go to be the best it can be.
Enjoy the Process of working with your writer.
Writing a book is a significant achievement. Try to enjoy the journey. Even if you’re not sitting at the keyboard, you’ve still had to work hard to communicate the message to the writer so they can bring it to life. Be sure to:
- Celebrate Milestones: Completing an outline, finishing a chapter, or reaching the halfway point are all worth acknowledging. Celebrate yourself but also celebrate and thank your writer.
- Learn from the Experience: Working with a ghostwriter can teach you a lot about writing, structuring ideas, and even your own subject matter. Many Book Launchers authors report that the experience has helped them become better communicators in their life and business.
- Look Forward to the End Result: Picture the reader and how their life will be impacted when they read your book. Envision what it feels like when you get your first five star review. Imagine how it feels to step on stage and be introduced as an author. These pictures will help you get through the bumps in the road that you are sure to hit!
The Importance of Collaboration
Remember, working with a ghostwriter is a collaborative process. While they’re doing the heavy lifting of writing, your input and involvement are crucial to creating a book that truly represents your ideas and voice.
At Book Launchers, we pride ourselves on matching authors with the right writers and guiding the entire process from concept to published book. Whether you’re looking to establish yourself as a thought leader, grow your business, or share your expertise with the world, a well-written book can be a powerful tool.
Ready to start your book journey? Visit www.booklaunchers.com/apply to set up a call with our team and learn how we can help bring your book to life.
