GWA # 11 - Ghostwriting 101 Part 9

Ghostwriters Anonymous

Answering Listener’s Questions. Welcome to Ghostwriters Anonymous, the podcast for those who give a literary voice to the world. I am your host, Alaina Burnett. Today in the last episode of the Ghostwriting 101 series I will be answering your questions.
Thank you for the questions you all have sent in. All of them were great so I am including each of them in today’s broadcast. So, let’s get started!
(1) This is from Mark in San Antonio, Texas. “Can a ghostwriter also publish their own work?”
Absolutely! I have dreams of being a published author myself. Most of the people who get involved in ghostwriting have the desire to get their own voices out there. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with doing both at the same time. It’s not an easy industry to break into, so it’s a good thing to have the ability to bring in money as you work on your own projects. And it’s a blessing to be able to use your writing talents to bring in that money as you work to get your name out there!
If anything, I think it is a benefit. As with all things, practice makes perfect. The more you hone your skills the better. Likewise, by working as a ghostwriter you’ll be in the industry and you’ll learn about the publishing process. This will be good for you and your clients. It’s good for you because you’ll know what you expect as you work to get your work published. It’s also good for your clients because you’ll be better able to educate them on what the process is like because you will have gone through it yourself! Never feel that you have to put your writing aspirations aside in order to be a ghostwriter.
(2) Next up, Rebecca from Waupaca, Wisconsin. That’s just a few hours from where I am right now! Rebecca asks, “I know you said ‘don’t say yes to everything.’ If you turn a project down, how do you do it respectfully?”
This is obviously a touchy situation. What I would recommend you do first is explain why you think the project won’t work. It’s possible that your client will be open to making some alterations to their plans in order to make the project more marketable. However, if you think there’s just no chance that a publisher will be interested or there just isn’t an audience for it, say so! Say something along the lines of “I just don’t think this will work.” Or “I don’t think there is an audience for this at this time.” Even if the conversation is uncomfortable, you are showing the person respect by not just taking their money when you don’t believe they can be successful with the project. Remember, this is an integrity issue. In the end, you’ll get more business by being up front with your clients about what they want you to write.
(3) Ben from Tampa Bay, Florida asked “How do you know when you have hit your limit? I’m afraid of getting in over my head and I don’t want angry customers.”
The last thing you want to do is take on more than you can handle. Start with one project at a time and when you feel comfortable with that, go on to two at a time. Then, if you feel like you can handle more, take on a third project. Once you get to that level of activity, you’ll have to be careful about what you do. It’s possible that you’d be able to take on a small project like an article or a book that just needs to be reworded. Just take it slowly and pay close attention to how you’re handling it. Do you have to give up all or your free time to complete the projects? Do you feel like you’re rushing? If you answer yes to either of these questions, you are in dangerous territory. While I have been able to take on 3 projects with no problem, I have many friends in the business who will work on 1 project at a time. It’s all about your ability to manage your time and your comfort level creatively. Never feel like you have to work on multiple projects in order to be a successful ghostwriter.
(4) David from Chicago, Illinois asked “What do you do if the author is making choices you don’t like and they plan to publicly associate you with the project?”
This is an issue I hadn’t thought of before. Thank you for bringing it up David! I suggest that you add a clause to your contract that states that just as the client can say whether or not they want you to discuss the project publicly, you also have the right to say that you want your involvement to remain confidential. This would obviously have to be worded in a way that you could make this decision while you’re working on the project. That way, even if things seem to be starting out well, you could make the decision that you don’t want to be associated with the project all the way up to its due date (or even the date of publication if you so wish).
However, I will say that if you have concerns about the project you should talk it over with your client. And if you think that the problems are so serious that you don’t want people to know you were a part of it, it may be a good idea to walk away from the project and pay any penalties you agreed to in your contract. Never let your creative integrity be tarnished by a project.
(5) Kristen from Julian, California would like to know if ghostwriters have to be able to write in every category.
You only have to write in the genres that you want to write in. Some ghostwriters choose their target market or niche and stick with it. Others decide to keep themselves available for any subject or genre. I fall somewhere in the middle. I’ve talked before about the fact that my niche is Christian authors, and specifically pastors. However, I have worked on many secular projects and enjoyed them. You have to believe in the project in order to do your job effectively. So, if the subject of the project makes you uncomfortable for any reason, including simply a lack of knowledge of the topic, you shouldn’t take it on.
Moreover, if you want to focus on writing magazine and newspaper articles you should feel free to! Or, if you’re primarily interested in the academic non-fiction genre, put your attention there. A great example of this is a speechwriter. Most speechwriters only write, well…speeches. They don’t bounce from writing speeches to historical fiction to a book on astrophysics. That doesn’t mean that you can’t though! One of the best things about being a ghostwriter is that you never have to be bored or tied down. You can work on several projects spanning different topics or genres all at once if you like. It’s really about your comfort level.
(6) And finally Sandra from Greenville, South Carolina. She said, “I’m still uncomfortable with taking on the author’s voice. Can you talk me through how to approach this part of the job?”
I totally understand where you’re coming from. Being comfortable with taking on the author’s voice as you write really only comes with experience. What I recommend is that you change your mindset. A ghostwriter is really a hybrid of a writer and an actor. First and foremost, you need to be a good writer. That’s obvious. But in many ways you need to be an actor too. Instead of taking on a character and reciting lines written by someone else, a ghostwriter takes on a character and writes the lines! Get to know your client. Why do they want you to write about this subject? Why does it matter to them so much? Understanding your client’s motivations will help you take on their voice. Remember, you have the responsibility to take the thoughts and passions of your client and express them in written form.
Well, I hope that these answers were useful! I was really impressed with the questions you guys came up with. If any of you have questions that weren’t answered, feel free to contact me any time. I’ll either respond by email or I will answer your questions on air if I think the audience will benefit from hearing about the subject of your e-mail. You can reach me at [e-mail]. That link will be included in the show notes at the official page for the Ghostwriters Anonymous podcast, www.ghostwriters-anonymous.com. Click on the tab that says “Ghostwriters Anonymous podcast.” Thanks for listening, and tune in next time to hear my thoughts on the balancing act that many in creative fields have to perfect.