Keeping the lines of communication open with
your ghostwriter is essential to creating the book of your dreams. Many authors
work with writers who live in different cities or states, but even if your
writer works just down the street, you’ll want to follow some best practices
for keeping in touch. Below are a handful of ways you and your writer can keep
each other up to date on the progress of your book.
E-mail: This is the fastest and easiest way for you and your writer to stay in touch. Unless you have an insanely busy schedule or an overflowing inbox, try to e-mail back and forth two or three times a week. E-mail is where you will ask simple questions and set up meetings and interviews. E-mail is also handy because you can keep a record of the entire process. This is especially important for things such as compensation discussions, important information regarding sources and materials, and any changes you want to make to the manuscript.
Status Reports: At the end of each week, your ghostwriter should send you a status report. This report can include accomplishments of the week (pages written, materials completed, etc.), goals for the coming week, and any unresolved issues that will need further attention. The report will allow you to monitor your writer’s progress and give you a chance to give feedback and guidance.
Phone Calls and In-Person Meetings: Your phone calls and in-person meetings should be used for interviews, macro-level information/material exchanges (think audiotapes), and other big-picture discussions. These contexts allow you to have an extended conversation, bounce ideas off each other, and plan the finished document. Don’t call your writer to provide him or her with minute changes to wording or grammar—a lot can get lost in translation. Direct text changes (and anything else specific that you want the writer to reference) should be sent via e-mail and backed up so you have a written record.
Texts, Instant Messages, and Skype/FaceTime Calls: Some authors and ghostwriters are moving into working in the ever-expanding fields of new media to work on projects. The three options listed above are slightly more informal methods to communicate with your writer, but if you two both like to Skype, then go for it! Just remember to use the other channels above for the conversations you need to track.
I’ve also posted other blogs on this site that discuss working with a ghostwriter long distance, as well as finding ways to work interviews and manuscript reviews into your busy schedule. Be sure to scroll through for more information!
Contact the Jenkins Group and tell us about your project
E-mail: This is the fastest and easiest way for you and your writer to stay in touch. Unless you have an insanely busy schedule or an overflowing inbox, try to e-mail back and forth two or three times a week. E-mail is where you will ask simple questions and set up meetings and interviews. E-mail is also handy because you can keep a record of the entire process. This is especially important for things such as compensation discussions, important information regarding sources and materials, and any changes you want to make to the manuscript.
Status Reports: At the end of each week, your ghostwriter should send you a status report. This report can include accomplishments of the week (pages written, materials completed, etc.), goals for the coming week, and any unresolved issues that will need further attention. The report will allow you to monitor your writer’s progress and give you a chance to give feedback and guidance.
Phone Calls and In-Person Meetings: Your phone calls and in-person meetings should be used for interviews, macro-level information/material exchanges (think audiotapes), and other big-picture discussions. These contexts allow you to have an extended conversation, bounce ideas off each other, and plan the finished document. Don’t call your writer to provide him or her with minute changes to wording or grammar—a lot can get lost in translation. Direct text changes (and anything else specific that you want the writer to reference) should be sent via e-mail and backed up so you have a written record.
Texts, Instant Messages, and Skype/FaceTime Calls: Some authors and ghostwriters are moving into working in the ever-expanding fields of new media to work on projects. The three options listed above are slightly more informal methods to communicate with your writer, but if you two both like to Skype, then go for it! Just remember to use the other channels above for the conversations you need to track.
I’ve also posted other blogs on this site that discuss working with a ghostwriter long distance, as well as finding ways to work interviews and manuscript reviews into your busy schedule. Be sure to scroll through for more information!
Contact the Jenkins Group and tell us about your project
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