A Ghostwriter is someone who does the writing in an author’s stead. There are many reasons to hire a ghostwriter:
You don’t have the time or the expertise:
Call to mind your favorite Movie or book, a masterpiece that had such storytelling creativity and valuable life lessons that you may have inculcated. If you look up the number of minds that came together to make each film and book a success, you’ll realize a lot of expertise went into the making of these gems. And now, you’re considering your book, a piece of art that someone may remember fondly if you do it right.
Doing it right does not mean tackling the writing journey alone. Yes, it is your story, but are you skilled enough to communicate your message in the most impactful voice? Writers are artists who chose the craft of writing by dedicating time to learn, improve and specialize in various industries and categories.
Would you replace your chef with your driver? Thinking, after all, it’s just cooking? The same thing goes for writing. Everyone can write, you might think, but storytelling is a muscle you build over time, as mastery is something built in dedication. If you want the best out of your story, you may want to hire a Ghostwriter to improve your storytelling delivery, or you can get a writing coach.
Parts of your story may trigger you:
Your story will not fare well if it is told in pieces or is told without emotion. Some authors recounting horrible experiences may choose to sever themselves from what they felt, writing a cold, bland piece. It is best to recount, record, or write a journal for an expert to reconstruct, giving your story a better chance at being appreciated by your readers.
But this Article is not about the reasons for choosing a Ghostwriter. It is about the things a good ghostwriter should do:
Knowing the Author’s Personality:
- The way they speak
- Values and Principles
- The author’s favorite things in the world
- Their take on important events in their lives.
All the above becomes rich material to use when working on their books, especially the prologue. A good Ghostwriter writes to one person, impersonating the author to talk with their reader. When the client or author reads each chapter, they should “feel” something, and that something should be true.
A Good Ghostwriter Listens:
Is your ghostwriter listening to what is being said and what is not being said?
• Accurate information is essential to your story; hence, recordings of debrief sessions cannot be overemphasized, and a good ghostwriter should be jotting things down during these sessions.
A Good Ghostwriter Seeks Clarity:
• Your Ghostwriter will ask unexpected questions, questions that address sublime messages the client may not have noticed in past experiences. It is fine for your ghostwriter to have a questionnaire template to follow through, but this becomes a problem when they are not asking questions that reveal important messages in your story or questions that help you reflect further.
• Good Ghostwriters are patient; they may send important questions ahead of sessions to allow clients to reflect and provide better material.
A Good Ghostwriter is not your Pastor (They don’t judge you!):
• Your Ghostwriter is like a sharp knife to cut meat. They don’t have to judge you to do their work, but they should be experienced, creative, and prolific enough to get the job done.
A Good Ghostwriter does Research & Reads Wide:
• Great writing isn’t just about your memories. It also involves fact-checking to produce accurate content, not just to ensure credibility but to create an outstanding book. Your ghostwriter will also learn about your personality and your proverbs or anecdotes to be infused into the story in a way that enhances the reading experience. A skilled writer knows how to use analogies and metaphors that people will better appreciate; all the above cannot be done with just the client’s memories.
• A good ghostwriter will do a comparative market analysis to understand what sort of style will suit the narrative, or if there is enough gap in the market to be different.
A Good Ghostwriter understands your style:
• They understand your personality and try to mirror that in writing. They should also be able to infuse your journals or reflections into the work.
My name is Racheal Asikpo. As a Memoir and Autobiography ghostwriter with a decade of experience, I am passionate about how stories impact lives and change futures. When I work with aspiring authors, I seek to immerse myself in the writing process to realize the best delivery of their voice in their story.
As a science fiction and fantasy ghostwriter, I enjoy plunging into challenges of unboxed imagination, creating thought-provoking journeys for readers.
You can learn more about me from my Linktree.
I also write episodic shorts on Medium and my Substack, you can subscribe for more!
I look forward to hearing from you.