Do Not Be Afraaaiiidddd of the Friendlyyyyy Ghostwriter!
Hiring a ghostwriter seems scary to some, but I promise, it’s not a nightmare! After all, you’ve had a book in your head for a long time. You already know your industry, your customers, and your challenges; why would you need someone else to write it for you? Especially a stranger?!
I hear you. It can be a tug of war for some. “Do I delegate or don’t I?” I promise you, hiring a ghostwriter isn’t “spooky” at all. In fact, I just may be the friendliest ghostwriter you’ll ever meet – ha! And you won’t have to lift a pen!
Try thinking of us as your “scribe” or “writing partner” or “book strategist. We couldn’t write the book without your expertise and experiences and those are the components that make it your book. We write for you.
Professional ghostwriters, also called collaborative writers, partner with you when you don’t like writing, writing is not your natural skill set, or you don’t have time to write. We do the heavy lifting for you: define your message and chapter components, strategize organization and flow, draft the chapters, and work with you to do the edits. You are involved the entire time, but you don’t need to consume your schedule to get your book done.
When I advise authors, they feel more comfortable when they know the FAQs. Keep in mind, each ghostwriter works differently.
7 Common Questions About Ghostwriters
- Will it sound like me?
You’ve probably heard that skilled ghostwriters are exceptional at capturing your voice, language, and prose. But the best ghostwriters find a way to connect with your heart. I know you have a unique message to give. I know you want to inspire others. Together, we find a way to convey that feels authentic to you. Your readers will be empowered by your unique message and the extreme value you offer in your book. - Will my readers be disappointed that I didn’t “write it.”
You THOUGHT it. You SAID it. It’s all YOUR content. You WROTE it. Consider us as your scribe. Ghostwriters are the “tool” you work with to get it out of your head and onto the pages. After my Strategy Phase is complete, we start chapter development. A ghost can’t develop chapters without you, so it’s 100% your original work. That is, if you didn’t copy it from someone else and didn’t use AI to generate the majority of the content. Copyright Rules for Using AI. - Where do I begin?
We start at the beginning! Through interviews and document reviews, we are puzzle masters. My authors are relieved when they hand, email, or ship their collection of drafts, research, content, videos, binders, and more to narrow down the information relevant to the current book. We organize your thoughts and your outline. When you find your best-fit ghostwriter, you’ll be in good hands! - Do I have to share everything?
As the author, you get to choose how much and how little you share. At the beginning, most of my authors share their entire journey. As we talk through it, you’ll have a better feel of which stories, names, and lessons to keep in the book. Personally, I enjoy starting with everything, so we don’t miss anything. Most of the time, we find golden nuggets that wouldn’t exist if we didn’t start from the beginning. - How do I get it all out of my head?
Each author works differently, and I like to be flexible so we find the most comfortable option.
- Traditionally, I curate the majority of your story through recorded interview transcripts.
- Some authors just want to download everything into a recording without an interview.
- Some authors work better through writing a very sloppy first draft than talking about it.
- Who owns the IP and Copyright?
YOU* will own your content. All of the content is original to YOU. You probably already know that many famous authors use ghostwriters – and here’s why their audience doesn’t care: because it’s all YOU. It’s your essence they want. Ghostwriters free you of the burdens of time, energy, frustration, and writing. You will be closely involved throughout the entire Book Writing Journey. While I’m drafting your chapters, you are living your life, running your business, spending time with family, or taking care of yourself!
*Note: Be sure your ghosts and publishers do not maintain ownership of your IP or copyright unless you want them to have it.
- Whose name is on the byline?
YOURS. Your name is the only byline on the book, unless you co-author with someone. If you find you are relying on your ghostwriter to do a lot of the research and work and want to give them credit, they can be added as a “with” line… So, “Cindy Dawn with Casper the Friendly Ghost.” This is a rare arrangement, though. If you wish, Ghosts can be recognized in your acknowledgement section of your book with the title as “book strategist,” “editor,” etc.
Let’s Get Writing!
Do you have any other questions about your Book Writing Journey? Send them to Cindy@CindyDawn.com for answers or schedule a Book Chat to discuss your book! Learn more about Cindy.
