It's a way to tackle what might seem like an enormous job - actually sitting down and writing your own book - without the actual sitting down and writing part.
Although if you want to sit down, you absolutely can! The whole process is kind of like magic - remember the fairy tale about Rumpelstiltskin, who spun straw into gold for the Princess while she slept? Well, that's what ghostwriters do.
Except instead of straw, we use your ideas, your knowledge and your personality.
And instead of gold, you get a book.
Yes, you'd rather have the gold, but we're not that good.
And, okay, it doesn't happen overnight.
But in most cases, it happens a lot faster than you might think.
Of course, a lot of people are still confused as to exactly how this whole ghostwriting thing works.
And you might be one of them.
You might not be sure what you need to do, or what we do, or how we do it.
You might not know how to use a ghostwriter.
Well luckily, as professional ghostwriters, we definitely know the drill.
So right here, right now, we'll tell you how to work with a ghostwriter - and the seven simple steps to getting your own book written.
Why 7? Because 6 isn't enough and 8 is too many...
Step 1 - Target Your Audience Before you start writing a book, it's a good idea to figure out who it's for.
Your clients? Potential clients? Fellow professionals in your field? The general public? If you know who you want to reach, great! Just let your ghostwriter know the target audience, and he or she will tailor your book to them.
If you're not sure who your book should be for, it's not a big deal.
Your ghostwriter will talk to you about who you are, what you do and what you know, and together you can decide on the audience that will give you the most bang for your buck.
(Note: In this area, it's good to find a ghostwriter with some kind of marketing background - they can help you find an appealing, marketable approach and target it to your audience.
) Step 2 - Find Your Hook...
and Your Book Now that you've decided who your book is for, it should be a lot easier to decide what it should be about.
It's important to be specific.
Why? Say you're an employment lawyer.
You could write a book that's simply about Employment Law, which will pretty much cover everything there is to know about your field.
But who would really want to read a book like that? At least, besides people who are studying to become employment lawyers? It may establish you as an expert, but you're not going to get much bang for your buck.
So what happens if you use a specific "hook" to make your book more interesting? You can target employers by writing a book detailing How to Give Someone the Axe without Getting Sued.
Or you can target employees with the tempting proposition of 10 (almost) Foolproof Ways to Sue Your Boss and Never Need to Work Again.
The great thing about working with a ghostwriter is, once your audience is targeted, he or she can help you find the right hook.
You don't have to do this on your own - remember, that's what the ghostwriter is for! Step 3 - Build Your Structure An architect can't build without a blueprint...
and you shouldn't write a book without a structure.
Just start writing without knowing where you're going, and you're bound to ramble all over the place without going anywhere.
Luckily, ghostwriters know all about the different ways to structure a book and can help you choose the one that works best for you.
These include:
- The list format, which lends itself to quick, call-to-action type information like 99 Ways to Feel Beautiful or The Top 10 Tax Secrets You Never Heard...
and How to Use Them. - The time-sensitive format, which is a great way to take the reader through an educational process from start to finish.
This includes ideas like Jump Start your Small Business in 30 Days and 6 Weeks to a Better Body. - The traditional, chapter book format, which explains a concept thoroughly, with each chapter dedicated to an idea.
Traditional titles might include How to Turn a Foreclosed Home into Cold, Hard Cash, or The Millionaire Dentist - How to Get More From Your Practice Than You Ever Thought Possible
Or you can just leave it to your ghostwriter to come up with an outline.
Either way, before the actual writing starts, your ghostwriter will give you a breakdown of how your book will be structured and what is going to be included in each area.
Once you're happy with it, it's time to move.
Step 4 - Set the Tone Who do you want to be in your book? A trusted friend? A professional expert? A salesperson with a killer offer? Do you want to be funny, touching, or in your face? By talking with your ghostwriter, you can decide exactly who you want to be.
You can be yourself, or you can be someone else entirely.
You can highlight aspects of your personality while downplaying others.
However you communicate with your ghostwriter - even if it's only via email - he or she will get a sense of who you are.
Together, you can decide how much of your personality goes on the page, and how to bring that personality to life.
Think of it as you...
only better! Step 5 - Get the Facts You are an expert in whatever you do for a reason.
You know things that other people don't.
That's why you're writing a book -- to share those things you know with your readers, so that whenever they think of your field, they think of you.
Of course, chances are your ghostwriter is NOT an expert in your field.
There are some exceptions, of course.
But in most cases, if your ghostwriter is going to make you sound like the brilliant person you undoubtedly are, he (or she) needs to know what you know - at least while he (or she) is writing your book! So how do you share your extensive knowledge with your ghostwriter? The answer is simple -- however it works best for you.
You can email notes, articles, power points, transcripts, even teleconferences.
This works especially well if your subject matter is complicated or really specific.
You can also be interviewed via phone or email, which works really well for personal stories or books that don't rely on a lot of hard facts.
Or, your ghostwriter can do the research for you.
Although, depending on the extent of the research, this may cost a little more.
L Your ghostwriter will work it out with you to make sure he or she gets all the information necessary to write a great book.
Step 6 - Watch the Magic Happen Now comes the easy part.
YOU sit back and relax, while your ghostwriter brings your book to life.
Your ghostwriter will likely contact you regularly, to send you chapters or sections to look at, and to ask for any extra information or clarification he or she needs to write the best book possible.
How long does it take? Depending on your ghostwriter's schedule and speed, you can get through 25 or more pages a week.
Which means your book could be finished in less than two months! Step 7 - Polish Your Masterpiece As your ghostwriter sends you chapters, you'll want to look them over to make sure you are sounding like the expert you want to be.
Don't be afraid to ask for changes - after all, this is supposed to be YOUR book reflecting YOU.
But please, be gentle! Your ghostwriter has feelings too.
If you're not a confident editor, have a friend or trusted colleague read through the book to make sure everything is a-ok.
And then...
You're basically done.
You've written your own book - in just seven easy steps.
CONGRATULATIONS!