Working with a Ghostwriter on a Corporate Anniversary Project

A corporate anniversary project will hardly ever appeal to a mass market audience. But when it comes to the company writing the anniversary story, it couldn’t be more important. The owners, employees, shareholders, and clients all have a big stake in creating a continuing legacy of excellence. 

An anniversary book commemorates years and years of history, hard work, and success. And it doesn’t have to be dull recitation of what happened in what year. For best results
(unless you happen to work in the publishing or journalism industries), I recommend hiring a ghostwriter.

The ghostwriter will work with you to learn the history and the atmosphere the company. You’ll discuss the past, present, and future; where the company has been and where it’s going; and what you want the book to cover. For many ghostwriters, a corporate anniversary project is much like writing a nonfiction book; it entails a lot of research and a fair number of interviews, leading to a drafting process as they create your manuscript.

However, a lot of ghostwriting projects stem from a single author, and in a corporate anniversary book, that is rarely the case (unless the writer is working from the perspective of the CEO or another executive). It is important to choose the point of view, the tone, and the style of the book you want and discuss this with your ghostwriter early on.

One thing to have in mind is keeping the book “committee” simple. By this, I mean that there is no need to have every member of your organization review the drafts of the book and give feedback—that would drive the ghostwriter crazy! Instead, pick out a small but strong team. You’ll want someone with an eye for good writing, a company-history buff, and one or two other people invested in the project. That way, neither the company nor the ghostwriter will be overwhelmed.

To prepare for a corporate anniversary project (or any ghostwriting project), be sure to have your materials at the ready, as well as a strong vision for your book. The more information you can give the ghostwriter, the more likely you are to end up with the product that you want.

I’d suggest treating a corporate anniversary project much like any other ghostwriting endeavor. The subject of the book does not matter, but the content certainly does, and it is important to put your best foot forward in writing. Look through the previous blogs on this site to get a good idea of ghostwriter “best practices,” and, as always, focus on choosing the writer that is best for your project.

Contact the Jenkins Group and tell us about your project