Day-to-Day Communication Tips for Working with a Ghostwriter

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!

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Five Questions to Ask a Potential Ghostwriter

During your initial interview with a potential ghostwriter, both of you will have a lot of questions. While many of those questions will pertain to your specific project, the five questions below should be asked no matter what your book is about.

Question 1: What is your availability?
Some ghostwriters work on more than one project at once, and before you even start discussing your project, you’ll want to know whether the ghostwriter can work on your timetable. Before meeting with a potential writer, draw up a rough schedule and assign dates to important pieces of the ghostwriting process such as interviewing, reviewing materials, drafting, and revising. Most writers need at least three or four months from signing on to a project to having a strong manuscript ready. In some cases, the writing process can take up to a year. Decide when you want to have the manuscript ready, and make sure that time frame works for your material, your personal schedule, and your potential ghostwriter.

Question 2: What kind of experience do you have in my field?
The more experience and education a writer has in your field, the easier it will be for the two of you to craft a book. You won’t need to constantly explain the theories, jargon, or nuances of your topic, and the writer will be able to craft your material into a well-written book that will appeal to your intended audience. If you want to create an innovative new business book, try to find a ghostwriter who has written in the business genre. I should also note that a lack of expertise can be bolstered by interest and enthusiasm. If a writer is willing to go the extra mile to learn everything about your field, direct experience may not be 100 percent necessary.

Question 3: What is your writing approach?
This is a broad question, but you will want a specific answer. It is important to learn whether your writer is very independent or whether he or she will want a great deal of input from you. Does the writer like to check in daily, weekly, or monthly? Does the writer create the entire manuscript in one go or work chapter by chapter? Does the writer like to create many drafts and many revisions? You should pair yourself with a writer whose working style meshes with yours.

Question 4: Why do you think you are a good match for this project?
While the vast majority of ghostwriters are not mercenary wordsmiths, there are a few out there who are. Just because someone can create a pretty turn of phrase does not mean you should hire him or her for your book. Ask a potential ghostwriter why he or she is interested in working with you. You should expect an answer that combines interest in your topic, a love of writing, and enthusiasm for bringing the end product to the audience. If your writer is invested in the process, he or she will be more likely to believe in your book and in you, and the book will be better for it. Even though you will compensate a writer for his or her services, your project can still be a labor of love.

Question 5: How much will it cost?
Yes, this is probably one of the most important questions you can ask. Most ghostwriters work on a project-by-project basis and do not have flat fees for their services. Each book is different, and a good ghostwriter knows that many variables can add or detract time and effort from the project. Go into the interview with a budget in mind, and see what you can do with that money. A more expensive ghostwriter is not always a better ghostwriter, but you will want to be sure to budget for quality work.

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The Value of Constructive Criticism

I’ve often heard clients say that they are afraid of or nervous about giving a ghostwriter criticism and changes. This can happen for a number of reasons: the author doesn’t want to hurt the ghostwriter’s feelings, isn’t comfortable requesting that changes be made, or doesn’t know how to explain the changes he or she would like to see. But withholding your option can have serious consequences. Your writer could continue further and further down a particular writing path that isn’t right for your project. You writer could miss important facts or information. Most importantly, you could end up not being happy with your own book.

Enter constructive criticism. Think of yourself as the editor while your ghostwriter drafts your book. All editors tell their authors that certain parts of a book need to be altered or improved. Your feedback is essential to the success of your project, and—trust me—your ghostwriter can handle making changes. Ghostwriters are professionals; they won’t scream or cry or tear out their hair if you tell them they’ve done something wrong. In fact, they expect to make revisions during the drafting process. They will take your suggestions and alter the writing until it meets your specifications. That, my friend, is a very real part of their job.

Of course, you must treat your ghostwriter with professionalism and respect. If you want to make a change, let your ghostwriter know by bringing the passage or chapter to his or her attention and explaining why it doesn’t work for you. Give specific examples of what you don’t like and equally specific suggestions for changes or new approaches. Simply saying “I don’t like this” won’t help anybody. You are the expert in your field or on your topic, and a ghostwriter is an expert writer, but only by working together can you create a book that contains the presentation and the information you want.

A final note about feedback: don’t focus solely on the negative bits. By all means mark any and all changes you would like to make, but also take note of the things your writer did well or places where he or she improved upon your original ideas. Try to figure out what you like about a particularly good section of the book, and see how you can apply it to a more problematic passage. This method will benefit everyone involved: you’ll feel like less of a downer, your writer will have a better idea of what you like, and your book will reflect all the hard work you two put into it.

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Ghostwriters and the Importance of Quick Decisions

Let's see whether this story sounds familiar to you. You have a book idea in mind, and you decide you'd like to work with a ghostwriter. You do your homework, come up with a handful of potential writers, and interview them. Then you take some time to mull things over. You get busy with work and family and a million other things. When you reach out to one of those ghostwriters a few weeks (or maybe months) later, the writer is busy and can't take on your project. Then you're stalled. Do you wait for the ghostwriter to be available again? Do you work with someone else, even if you're not sure he or she is right for your project? Do you start from scratch? Or give up entirely?

Don't despair, but do know that in the world of ghostwriting, making fast, informed decisions is necessary for success. Most ghostwriters work as independent contractors and are happy to take on an interesting project that comes their way at the right time. But with any freelancer, timing is everything. Ghostwriters aren’t expected to sit around and wait for you to hire them, and good ghostwriters get bundles of projects each month. They could sign with anyone while you are making your decision, and you may miss the window of opportunity for working with your favorite writer.

The best way to ensure that you get the ghostwriter and schedule of your dreams is to give yourself the right amount of time. Even if you won't be writing your book, creating a book takes a lot of time and effort. If you just got a big promotion, had a baby, or are booked to travel around the world, hold off on your project. You should wait until you are in a settled state and have a reasonable amount of free time before you start the ghostwriting process.

Once you're ready to start on your book, set aside time to research different ghostwriters (you can look through this blog series for tips for finding the right one). Narrow your options, and then schedule interviews with your potential writers. Think of this interview process much as you would one for a job: you should choose the most qualified, interested person in a timely manner. If you wait more than two weeks to get back to your writer, you may find that he or she is now engaged in another project.

One way to make your decision simpler is to create a checklist for your interview. Write down all of the characteristics you are looking for in your writer, e.g., available, experienced in your field, comes highly recommended, shows interest in your project, is friendly, is deadline oriented, etc. After your interview, go through and check off everything you liked about that writer and add any other thoughts or impressions that you had about him or her. When your interview process is over, go back through your notes to find the writer who is best suited to you.

After you've made your decision, get in touch with your writer. As soon as you can, you two should create a schedule and get going on the project. You'll be far more likely to get the right writer, a good schedule, and an excellent product if you remind yourself to act quickly and decisively throughout the book-making venture.

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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.

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Who Will Market Your Book Once It’s Written? You!

After you have completed your work with your ghostwriter and your editor, you may be wondering which steps to take next, especially when it comes to marketing your book. If you are working with a traditional publisher, it is likely that the publisher has a PR and marketing plan in place. However, if you are self-publishing or working with a publishing services firm, you will need to get a bit more hands-on with your marketing strategy.

You should begin to think about marketing before your book is published. But if you are running a bit behind, the good news is that you have a high-quality, well-written book to start with. Your great content should be the biggest selling point for your book. Almost anyone can publish these days, but not everyone can publish something interesting, informative, or groundbreaking.

If you are a natural-born seller, marketing your book will come easily to you. You can use social media websites (blogs, Facebook, and the like), explore options with book reviews, visit indie bookstores and set up a book tour, give out free books and discounts—the list goes on. Keep in mind that this will take a LOT of work, but if you target your market and work hard, your time and effort will pay off.

If you are more comfortable with your authorship role and less comfortable making a sale, you may consider turning to a publishing services firm for help. These companies can help you put together press releases, reach important media outlets, get started with websites and social media, and more. They have tons of experience marketing books and will guide you along a marketing path that suits your interests and your needs. In the book business, getting professional help from ghostwriters, editors, and others helps set your title apart from the rest.

Keep in mind that no matter which direction you choose to go with your marketing, you will need to be involved. With so many books in the market, every author has to fight for his or her spot with bookstores, libraries, and, most important, readers. With a book product at your fingertips, you are already a step ahead of the competition. Keep up your hard work to see your book go from some ink and paper to a desirable product for your audience.

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Working with a Ghostwriter on a Technical Subject

Working with a ghostwriter on a technical subject is not as daunting as it sounds. There are plenty of ghostwriters who are versed in advanced business, science, mathematics, and humanities. Below is a step-by-step guide to helping you work with your writer to create the technical book of your dreams.

Step One: Find the right ghostwriter. Of course, this is step one for any project, but a technical subject can be much more challenging than a memoir or an autobiography. Look for a ghostwriter who has experience and an education in your field. Gauge both the ghostwriter’s interest in your subject and his or her familiarity with the concepts you’ll be discussing. Unless your work is so groundbreaking that no one has ever heard of it, you’ll want to find a writer who is comfortable with the basics of your field.

Step Two: Choose an audience. Before you even get started on the book, you’ll need to decide who you want your readers to be. The beauty of ghostwriters is that they are chameleons, able to adapt raw materials to almost any type of book you desire. Decide whether you want your book to reach an audience of your peers, a scientific community, the general public, or another group entirely. It is important to shape the rest of the project around your intended readers.

Step Three: Create an outline. Using your materials and the advice of your writer, put together an outline of how you’d like the ghostwriter to proceed. The complexity of your outline depends on your schedule and your ghostwriter’s familiarity with your subject. Nonetheless, you’ll want to give your writer a guide through your materials to help him or her shape the book.

Step Four: Hand over your materials. As always, the more relevant material you can provide your writer, the better your book will be. Try not to overwhelm your writer with stacks of briefs, essays, and findings, but do give him or her all the materials you think are necessary to complete your book. In this stage, organization is key—using a color-coding system or something along those lines can help your writer sort through your materials and use them correctly and efficiently.

Step Five: Communicate. Be on hand via phone or e-mail to answer your ghostwriter’s questions. Technical subjects can be … well … technical, and no matter how educated your intended audience is, you want your message to be as clear and correct as possible. Help guide your writer toward the book you want and the content that best suits your topic. If the two of you work together closely, you will be more likely to have a comprehensive and well-written book.

Step Six: Revise carefully. Technical subjects often rely on data, statistics, and the work of other experts. Be sure that everything you and your writer include in the book is accurate and properly cited. Because you are the expert in your particular topic, you are the one who can give the best critiques and complete the most thorough revisions.

Contact the Jenkins Group and tell us about your project