Tag: Ghostwriting

Writing an autobiography is both rewarding and challenging.

Writing a book about your own life experiences and the people who have played a part in them is a worthwhile—but sizeable—undertaking.

As with any major project, the toughest part is getting started.

When you consider your imagined book project as a whole, it can look huge, like the proverbial “elephant.” And the proverbial question “How do you eat an elephant?” applies. So does the familiar answer: “One bite at a time.”

As with any analogy, this one needs to become practical to be useful. In other words, the “bites” must become action steps that can be taken.

How to write an autobiography?

Here are some of the steps in autobiography writing:

• Determining an overarching theme for your story. What is the gist of the message you want your autobiographical work to convey? When a reader closes the back cover, what is it they’ll take away, carry with them, and in some way apply to their own situation? Nailing this down sets a trajectory for your entire project and gives it purpose.

• Thinking through the phases and highlights of your life. Time periods, locations, events, people, decisions, and rear-view perspectives. Because nobody’s recall is perfect and each person’s perspective is limited, research is part of this process. Research methods include interviewing living relatives and friends, recording their memories and yours, and gleaning information from letters, photos, public records, and reference materials. When all this information is collected, it forms the basis for written content that gels together to become your personal story.

• Developing a structure for your book. Creating an initial autobiography outline or table of contents is important to provide the “skeleton” that will be fleshed out with details and woven together to form your book’s narrative. This requires some thinking about the logical dividing lines—or turning points—within your story. If it were a miniseries for TV, at which junctures would each episode begin and end? Your answers will form the basis for your book’s structure—a flexible structure that may undergo some changes as more information and insights emerge during the project.

• Writing each chapter. Each is written to tell a piece of your story, bringing together your memories, thoughts, and reflections and those of others in your life, plus research findings. There’s some skill involved with integrating these pieces of information and making it flow as an absorbing, readable tale that conveys your theme.

• Getting one or more objective readings of your manuscript by uninvolved parties. This step can’t be overemphasized, because you need to know how a first-time reader or readers will understand the content and react to it. You, of course, are familiar with your own story, but unless they’re family members, they’re not. (And even family members have different memories or remember the same events differently.)

• Editing, proofreading, and revisions. Because you want your book to shine, to be the best it can be, it needs editing for completeness, cohesiveness, and flow. And in this process, some changes (revisions) will probably be made. This is true of every book of every genre, including biography and memoir. The same is true for proofreading to catch grammar and spelling errors (That’s not to say your quotations must use perfect grammar—no one speaks that way!).

• Having your book published/shared. How wide an audience do you want for your story? Answering that question will help lead you to the right place to have your book printed and/or shared digitally. There are self-publishing firms that can help you do both. And, if you use a ghostwriter, they may be able to connect you to one they work with.

Autobiography Versus Memoir: Not the Same, but similar

Autobiographies and memoirs have similarities. They’re both accounts of the life events, interactions, relationships, and thoughts of an individual. They also have differences, including important ones involving scope and historical accuracy.

Here, we compare and contrast the qualities of the two genres:

Autobiography	Memoir
Similarities
Written from a first-person perspective (“I”) and from the author’s point of view	Written from a first-person perspective (“I”) and from the author’s point of view
Non-fiction	Non-fiction
Retells the author’s life experiences, feelings, and thoughts	Contains some of the author’s life experiences, feelings, and thoughts
Differences
An autobiography tells the entire story of the author’s life—the mundane as well as the pivotal points	A memoir Tells a limited part of the author’s life experience—usually involving a pivotal period of time or a specific event
Is chronologically structured	Does not require a chronological structure, but its structure must be cohesive for readability
Uses verifiable facts as well as the author’s thoughts, feelings, and opinions to form the narrative	Shares memories, as the name implies, present events from more of a subjective, emotional perspective than a factual one

Using the chart above, you can decide whether the book you want to write will be an autobiography or a memoir. Ask: Do I want to tell my audience about my whole life’s journey or give insights into a particular time period or event that was part of my life? Do I want to write a chronological narrative or be freer to move around chronologically? Will my book be more factual or more feeling-oriented?

Ghostwriters: Hired Helpers Who Make You an Author

Returning for a moment to the elephant analogy and considering the size of the literary “creature” in question, you might decide your appetite for taking on a book project is not quite elephant-sized.  

You could use some help from someone who has not only the appetite but also the time and the well-honed research and writing skills to help you get your project in motion.

This is where a ghostwriting team comes in. The team does the research and writing, but you alone are named as the book’s author and will get all the credit and rights to it.  

The Writers for Hire’s ghostwriters have completed many clients’ biographical books. For example:

• An autobiography of a female Texas oil company executive that was a story of life, career, and love.  
• A grandfather’s autobiography from his depression-era childhood through marriage, family, and vocation.
• The autobiography of a German war bride that required several days of onsite interviews.
• An inspirational medical memoir of a struggle with illness and search for diagnosis through recovery.
• Other memoirs about childhood and formative years, traveling, education and career, traumatic events, addiction and recovery, historical and spiritual experiences, and more.

Why You Should Hire a Ghostwriter for Your Autobiography

You’ll want to choose a ghostwriting team you’re compatible with—one that you’ll enjoy working with for a significant amount of time, discussing your whole life. 

You have goals and questions, and a capable writing company cares about both. Its ghostwriters are glad to visit with you and spend the time needed to interview and listen carefully to you and the people who know you best.

As your theme emerges, the team can help define it and then organize a logical outline or table of contents around it.

While writing your manuscript, your ghostwriting team stays in touch and ensures all that’s important to you about every phase and aspect of your life is included. If historical research is needed to provide context for the narrative or to verify dates, it’s done as part of the job.

Your thoughts, feelings, perspectives, and reflections are also vital elements that are interwoven with the narrative.

If you request changes after your review, your writing team makes them. You always know the status of your project, and when it comes time to publish, an experienced writing company can help with that, too.

Why You Should Hire a Ghostwriter for Your Memoir

With its tighter focus on a specific event or time period, memoir writing can be somewhat intense. There’s a real advantage in having a professional ghostwriting team help you recall circumstances that may be hard to talk about. Your team can give you tips to help with recall and will always listen carefully and carefully. 

Once you’re past the recall “hump,” team members help narrow your theme, organize your sections or chapters, and do any necessary research about the time period and concurrent events, culture, or anything else that will make your book a more complete, in-depth account. 

Then comes the writing.

Throughout the process, from interviews through revisions, the communication lines stay open. Competent ghostwriters want to understand what makes this book important to you and to your audience and adopt your priorities during every phase. 

As with autobiography, a writing company with connections can help with getting your book published or distributed.

The bottom line is this: Creating an autobiographical book isn’t simple, but it may be one of the most worthwhile things you ever accomplish. 

As a business owner, you’re constantly looking for ways to increase your profitability. And to do that, you probably spend a lot of time focusing on things like increasing sales, reducing expenses, and improving employee productivity.

But did you know that hiring a ghostwriter can also improve your bottom line?

Let’s talk about the ways a ghostwriter can increase sales, cement your place as an expert, and possibly help you disrupt your industry. And then we’ll show you how to hire the right one successfully.

What is a Ghostwriter?

Not everyone writes their own content. For instance, the blog you read by your favorite industry leader may be written by a ghostwriter.

If you’re like most business people, you have a talent that makes you good at what you do. And frequently, that talent doesn’t involve writing for the public.

That’s where ghostwriters come in.

These specialists learn all they can about a topic by interviews and research, and then write books, blog posts, and all other written forms of communication in someone else’s name. They are masters at what they do, but they don’t care about recognition.

Instead, their passion is making their clients look good.

Sometimes ghostwriters work on one project, such as a book. Other times, they become part of the company team and create all of the written materials for a business.

What Can a Ghostwriter Do for My Business?

The spread of information is the foundation of most marketing campaigns. Consumers want to understand and know the companies they buy from, and savvy entrepreneurs use various forms of content to help brand their business.

That’s why most successful companies use written communication to reach the public.

And that communication comes in many forms — and each has different benefits. Here’s an idea of how today’s successful businesses use words to convey their message.

Books:

Some of the biggest brands in any industry have published books to solidify their brand in the public consciousness. For instance, the CEOs of Zappos, Starbucks, Nasty Girl, Clif Bar, and Whole Foods have all written books that help brand their business.

But many CEOs and business leaders don’t write their own books. After all, a book takes months of hard work and concentration, and typically, the people who run companies don’t have an abundance of time. Instead, they rely on ghostwriters to do the job for them.

And because the ghostwriter stays in the background, the CEO gets all the credit and benefits of the book.

Blogs:

It’s hard to imagine any successful business today that operates without a blog. Blogs are the best way to reach potential customers and let existing customers know that you’re in touch with the needs of your clients. But who has time to come up with the ideas and write blog posts a couple of times a week?

Ghostwriters, that’s who. And the great thing about hiring a ghostwriter to write your blog posts is that soon, they will become an expert in your field. And they will use all that knowledge to create blog posts that keep your customers engaged and connected with your business.

White papers and thought leadership pieces:

When you want to secure your place as a leader in the industry, writing a white paper or thought leadership piece is a great way to make your mark.

These documents are also an excellent vehicle for industry disruption. 

But for the piece to make a difference, it must be well-researched and expertly presented. Chances are the thought of taking the time to write such an impactful piece is overwhelming to most business leaders.

And that’s why they hire ghostwriters.

These writers are expert at interviewing and extracting just the right information to present it in a professionally written piece. The result is that the company who publishes the pieces receives all the acclaim — without doing any of the writing.

Request For Proposals (RFPs):

If you bid on government contracts, you’re familiar with RFPs. And if you’ve ever tried answering one of the complicated documents, you understand why so many people hire ghostwriters to do the job for them.

Those writers who specialize in RFPs have a system that not only make the process easier, but it also increases the chances of a winning bid.

Keep in mind that most ghostwriters aren’t limited to just one form of writing. But each writer probably has a specialty where they excel. And that’s why many business owners hire a writing agency that employs multiple ghostwriters.

These agencies match each project with the writer who specializes in that area. It’s a great way to ensure that the ghostwriter you hire is an expert in your field. 

How to Hire a Ghostwriter for your Company

Now that you understand the ways a ghostwriter can enhance your company brand, communicate with potential and existing customers, and establish credibility among your peers in the industry, let’s talk about how to look for and hire the right ghostwriter for your business.

You have two options when it comes to hiring a ghostwriter. You can hire a freelance ghostwriter from sites like UpWork, or you can hire a writing agency that specializes in the practice.

Freelance Ghostwriters

While it’s entirely possible to hire a quality freelance ghostwriter, you will have to do more due diligence to ensure the writer fits your needs.

Think about it: anyone can claim they’re a ghostwriter, but not everyone’s skills are up to par.

If you decide to hire a freelance ghostwriter, you can post a job on sites like UpWork, or you can run an ad on places like Craigslist, Indeed, or FlexJobs. If you decide to go this route, be sure to adhere to the following steps to avoid hiring a ghostwriter who won’t deliver the content you want.

Ghostwriting Agencies

You can increase your chances of success by hiring a ghostwriting agency.

Define Your Project

Once you determine where you will hire your ghostwriter, it’s time to begin preparing for the interviews.

Your first in the preparation process is to define your project. Start by stating what you need the ghostwriter to write.

Is it a book? How many pages do you anticipate it will be? Will you make yourself available for interviews once a week? A few times a week? If you’re hiring a ghostwriter to write blog posts, how many will they write? Is it a one-time post, or do you want them to post to your blog several times a week?

The better you define your project, the easier it will be for the ghostwriter to give you a bid and complete the project successfully.

Experience Counts

To hire the best ghostwriter for your project, you need to ask about their experience. You should hire a ghostwriter who has experience writing the types of content that your project demands.

For example, if you want to hire a ghostwriter to write a book, the writer you choose should have experience writing books. And if you want to hire a ghostwriter for your corporate blog, the chosen writer should have plenty of experience writing blogs.

Ask for References

The ghostwriters you interview will all have past clients they can use as references.

Ask the writer to provide information for references you can call. Ask for a minimum of three, and then call or email them and ask some questions.

You can ask if the writer met their deadlines, how many revisions they required once the content was submitted, and how easy it was to work with the writer. In other words, did they take criticism to heart and improve when asked, or did they fight to do things their way, even when the client protested?

One time or more?

You also need to determine whether you want to hire the ghostwriter on a one-time basis or for an extended period.

If you’re writing a book or a one-off white paper, you will probably only need the ghostwriter’s services one time. But if you plan to revamp your corporate content or hire a writer to take over your company blog, you can offer the writer a long-term gig.

Can I Sample That?

A ghostwriter is only as good as her writing samples. Every writer keeps samples to show prospective clients their voice and ability.

Keep in mind, though, that not all ghostwriters can share everything they’ve written. For many jobs, writers are under non-disclosure agreements, so sharing their work would be a breach of the contract.

To get around this, some ghostwriters keep personal samples or old work that is no longer under contract.

Every brand has a voice, so make sure you find a ghostwriter who understands and can best represent the voice of your company.

What’s Your Budget?

Ghostwriters vary in the way that they charge their clients. Some writers charge by the word, while others charge by the hour. When looking for a ghostwriter, you need to understand the billing practices of each writer you interview, so you can determine whether they fit in with your budget.

Start by assigning a budget to the task. Then, as you interview each writer, give them the parameters of the project and ask for a bid. If they charge by the word, you can easily figure out how much the project will cost. And if they charge by the hour, ask them for an estimate of the time it will take them to complete the project.

Be sure to ask about additional fees for edits or revisions.

Is English Their First Language?

The world has opened up, and writers from all around the world apply for writing jobs for an English-speaking audience. Some of these writers have great English skills, even if it’s not their native language. Others…not so much.

If you’re writing to an English-speaking audience, your best chance of success is to choose a ghostwriter who speaks English as their native language.

Set the Process in Motion

If you follow all of the above steps and find the ideal ghostwriter, you can set the project in motion. You’ll need to take a few steps to ensure the project runs smoothly and on time.

Here are the steps you should take when meeting and interviewing ghostwriters for your project. You can interview them in person if it’s convenient, but most will prefer Skype or another form of online communication.

Put It in Writing

When hiring a ghostwriter, you should create a document outlining all of your guidelines for the project. In this document, include the word count, deadlines, and editing and revision guidelines.

You can also include your brand and style guide as an attachment to this document.

For instance, do you have a font you prefer? Or logo graphics you want to include in the document?

Include your contact information to make scheduling interviews easier. Basically, include any information that will clarify your expectations and provide the ghostwriter with all they need to deliver a successful project.

Set Budget Constraints

Make sure you’re on the same page.

Communication is Key

If you establish a communication method from the start, it will make the project go smoother.

Ask the ghostwriter if they prefer to use Skype, email, text, phone, Slack, or other forms of communication.

We also suggest planning calls and/or meetings in advance, so that everyone can plan ahead and make sure to leave space in their schedules.

Set Milestones

If you’re hiring the ghostwriter for a long project such as a book, set some milestones, so they don’t go months without payment.

While many ghostwriters will require a deposit upfront (usually 50%), some will allow for payments to be made along the way.

Or if the ghostwriter is creating your corporate blog, set up a biweekly or monthly payment schedule.

Talk about Your Clients

If the ghostwriter is going to be the face of your company for all written communications—or even if they are only completing one project such as a book—they need to understand your clients. Spend some time telling them about your typical customer, their needs, and how your business fills it.

Then, to make sure the writer understands your unique selling proposition, ask them to sum it up in a sentence or two.

Finalize it

Once you’re satisfied that you’ve found the right ghostwriter, your last step is to put everything in writing, and both parties should sign the contract.

It should include start and finish dates, payment amounts and timing of payments, the number of allowable revisions, communication expectations, and contingency items. For example, what happens if halfway through the project, the ghostwriter misses the deadline because they broke their arm in a car accident?

Are You Ready to Hire a Ghostwriter?

The process of hiring a ghostwriter can be intimidating. After all, you’re entrusting someone else to put written content in front of the public with your name on it.

But if you follow the above steps and take your time to find the ideal candidate, the process will enhance your business.

“The main things I hear from people when I work with them as a ghostwriter [are] ‘I’m capable of writing this, but I don’t have the time to do it’ or ‘I can do it, but I would find it very stressful.’ Other people have many skills, but writing may not be something that comes easily to them. If you find a good ghostwriter, they should be able to capture your voice and deliver something you would’ve created if you had the time.” — Flori Meeks, Ghostwriter at The Writers For Hire

Writing doesn’t come easily for everyone. Many people have excellent ideas but find it hard to convey them effectively in words. Hiring a ghostwriter can be the best decision to simplify content creation for your company.

Some are capable of writing but just find it demanding or have no time.

Instead of struggling for hours to create one piece of content, a ghostwriter can express your voice and convey your thoughts and ideas quickly, in an easily digestible way.

If you need tons of content, seeking the help of a ghostwriting agency might be the answer to your writing woes.

What is a ghostwriter?

A ghostwriter is a professional writer who creates different materials anonymously for individuals and companies. You can hire a ghostwriter to create several kinds of content, saving yourself the time and energy to focus on other priorities.

What types of content do ghostwriters create for companies?

Creating consistent content is vital to keeping your business relevant among your competitors.

Take blogging, for example. It’s recommended for smaller businesses to post a blog at least one to four times weekly, and for larger businesses, posting multiple times a day isn’t uncommon.

Keeping up with these numbers can be quite difficult without a dedicated writer to pump out content consistently.

Some of the most common types of content ghostwriters produce for companies include:

• Marketing content. Long-form content such as blog posts and case studies are common projects for ghostwriters. They can also lend a hand in creating social media content, emails, and newsletters for your business.
• Technical writing.Many ghostwriters specialize in technical writing that requires in-depth knowledge of different industries. Requests for proposals (RFPs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), grant packages, instructional manuals, and whitepapers are simple tasks for an experienced ghostwriter.

5 Ways Hiring a Ghostwriter Can Help Your Company

1. Ghostwriters are professional writers.

Writing is a good skill for everyone to learn, but there are professional writers for a reason. Ghostwriters spend multiple hours a day writing and make a living by producing quality content. A skilled ghostwriter can easily express your ideas or the benefits of your product in a way that only a professional writer can.

2. Hiring a ghostwriter saves time and frees you to work on other things.

When you leave writing to the professionals, it frees up your time to prioritize other tasks that are more up your alley. This is especially true for leaders in large companies and C-level executives, whose workloads are often overflowing before writing is even added to the plate.

For many, simply writing one blog post can take hours—never mind an entire training manual! Hiring an experienced ghostwriter is your best option if you want to save time and still produce quality content for your business.

3. You can put content out faster when there’s a dedicated writer.

Ghostwriters specialize in delivering consistent content with a fast turnaround time. When it comes to marketing, getting quality content out as fast as possible is a must. Since a ghostwriter’s workday is dedicated to producing content, a seasoned writer should have no problem with quick, consistent deliverables.

4. A ghostwriter can collaborate with you to build your brand voice quickly.

A ghostwriter’s job is to capture your voice and articulate your ideas most effectively. Experienced ghostwriters can quickly build your brand voice because they understand the importance of marketability and how using concise, compelling content is key. You can bounce ideas off of each other, and a good ghostwriter will be able to provide feedback and recommend the best strategies for your content.

5. Ghostwriters are SEO experts.

Choosing to hire a ghostwriter for content marketing is a great way to increase your number of organic website visitors and build your online presence. Ghostwriters understand the significance of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and ranking on Google. Most important, they know the correct way to structure content, so it’s found easily online.

What makes a good client/ghostwriter relationship?

“Communication is very important,” says ghostwriter Flori Meeks. “I think for a ghostwriter, whether you’re helping somebody write a memoir or a complicated whitepaper, one of the most important things you should be doing is listening. Letting the client talk and paying close attention to their priorities, their personality, and their voice is essential; so, in the end, what you deliver meets their needs and reflects their voice. And strengthens their brand by delivering a quality product.”

A few key aspects every quality ghostwriter should have include:

• Communication skills. As in any healthy relationship, communication is key. Communication skills are a necessity for both you and your ghostwriter, as you should be able to express your thoughts, ideas, and concerns to each other effectively. Poor communication often leads to avoidable mistakes, straying from your vision, and wasted time and effort.
• Listening skills.Good listening skills are also a must. Your ghostwriter should understand your goals and vision for your company. They should also know how to ask the right questions and listen actively to your responses to produce the best product. Listening skills are also important on your part to ensure you’re providing the ghostwriter with everything they need to do their job effectively.
• Writing skills. This should go without mention. A quality ghostwriter should consistently produce concise and compelling deliverables that are engaging and free of grammatical errors.

What You Should Consider Before Hiring a Ghostwriter

“It’s also good to just spend some time talking with ghostwriters,” says Meeks. “Whether it’s the owner of the ghostwriting company or the person who will actually be doing the writing, make sure that you’re able to click, communicate well, and that they listen to you and respect your priorities.”

Before you decide to hire a ghostwriter, establish your priorities to get a better sense of what you hope to accomplish with this new relationship. You should consider key aspects, such as the type of content you’re looking for, timelines, and availability requirements.

Figure out any additional services you might need, such as editing and proofreading. Having a grasp on the desired level of experience you’d like the writer to have is essential to making the best choice for your business.

For larger projects or a need for recurring content, you may want to seek the help of a ghostwriting agency. With a ghostwriting agency, all writing, editing, and proofreading tasks are handled in-house by experienced professionals.

Be sure to research anyone you’re considering when choosing a ghostwriting agency. It’s important to spend time talking with different companies and exploring examples of their work. If you think a company is a good fit, make sure you can connect and work smoothly with the writers.

What does the process look like with a ghostwriting agency?

The ghostwriting process is similar for technical writing and content marketing, but there are a few major differences. The basic steps in the ghostwriting process include:

• Kick-off call. The kick-off call is the first step to establishing a relationship of understanding with your ghostwriter. This step usually consists of one or two meetings where the writer shares any research, ideas, questions, or concerns they may have about the proposed project. You’ll discuss the project scope, turnaround time, communication preferences, and expectations. If you’re working on a technical project, the kick-off call is the perfect time to assign a subject matter expert (SME) from your company for the writer to interview. Include the SME in the meeting if possible.
• SME interview. The ghostwriter interviews the assigned SME. They’ll come up with questions to ensure they completely understand the assignment and have all the information they need to get your point across.
• Writing plan. Once the necessary research and interviews are completed, the ghostwriting agency will devise a plan and assign writers to different tasks. They will establish a suggested outline and internal deadlines for you to approve, and then the writing begins.
• Content submission. After the writing process is complete, the ghostwriter or agency will submit the content to you for review. This is when you’ll request any revisions you want or ask any follow-up questions you have about the content.
• Final deliverable. The ghostwriter will make necessary edits based on your feedback. The content is edited and proofread against your style guide. The end result should be a concise piece of content that represents the essence of your brand and vision.

The writing process for content marketing is usually less complex with fewer people involved, depending on your necessities.

Content marketing materials may require a more creative ghostwriter with strong storytelling skills or SEO knowledge.

Final Thoughts

At first, you may not clearly understand what a ghostwriter can do for you or how the process works. If the ghostwriter explains the process early on, it can be extremely beneficial to your company and save you lots of time.

Knowing what to expect, how a ghostwriter can help, and the best ways to communicate set you and your ghostwriter up for a smooth, successful working relationship.