Sometimes, you have a great idea, but you don’t have the capacity or the capability to get it done. Luckily, if your great idea is a book, you can hire a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter works closely with you to bring your book ideas to life. Whether you have an idea for a best-selling novel, want to capture your legacy in an autobiography, or are ready to share your professional expertise with the world, a ghostwriter can help your book ideas become reality.
When you work with a ghostwriter, they learn your vision, your writing tone, and your point of view. So, you work very closely throughout the process. Choosing the right ghostwriter is very important because they must have both the specific skills for the subject and a deep connection with you and your material. If you’ve never worked with a ghostwriter, here are some tips to find your perfect match:
1. Build A Vision Board
Vision boarding is a strategy where you create a visual representation of your book idea. Vision boards are very helpful as they clarify your ideas and give details that are a source of inspiration and motivation. Book vision boards can be as simple as a Word document with your notes to a full-color deck that details everything you want to cover. Your writing plan may cover the following:
Book thesis, themes, and core messages
For fiction: Character descriptions, setting, and plot structure
For nonfiction: Key points, research, and data
Mood and tone
Target audience
Goals of publication
Marketing ideas
Inspiration quotes or materials that inspire the work
Cover ideas
A visual board is a place to collect all of the details that you are considering including in a book. It is a helpful point of reference throughout the project.
2. Work With An Agency
There are a lot of freelance ghostwriters on the market. Unfortunately, it can be tough to wade through them all to find the right one. If you don’t have time to write your book, likely, you don’t have time to go on the hunt for a ghostwriter. A ghostwriting agency takes care of everything. We find you ghostwriter candidates who have the knowledge, background, and personality that are a match for your project. We simply make things faster and easier.
3. Get A Writing Sample
Before working with any writer, always get a sample of their writing work. When reviewing samples, read the sample carefully and take notes. First, look for basic things like grammatical errors and formatting issues. Then, assess the content for tone and style to determine if it is a fit. Finally, ask yourself whose work did I most enjoy reading? Once you have reviewed the samples, you can line up interviews to pick the right fit.
4. Understand The Ghostwriting Process
The process usually starts with an in-depth interview between you and the author so they can better understand the needs of the project. Next, the author will do in-depth research into the subject matter. Once they’ve gathered all the necessary information, they will outline the book from start to finish. Together, you will review the outline to make sure that it fits the content and structure you imagined. Once you approve your book outline, your ghostwriter will start writing the first draft.
The first draft is the part of the process that takes the longest. Now, every ghostwriter approaches the draft process differently. However, in most cases, they will present the first half of the book to ensure tone, subject matter, and content match your vision. Once that is approved, they will finalize the draft. The draft will then move to the most important step: Editing. Editing includes proofreading to catch grammar and spelling errors and content editing to make sure that every word of your book is perfect. After the editing process, the book then moves to publishing. Whether you are working with a publisher or self-publishing, your ghostwriting will support you until the book hits the shelves.
5. Outline Agreement
Every book is different, so the ghostwriting process is different every time. The way to keep everyone on track during the process is to outline a transparent ghostwriting agreement. The agreement should include:
The price, payment terms, and, if applicable, royalties
Deliverable details, including length, word count, and number of revisions
Agreement termination rules
Make sure that any agreement you write with a ghostwriter protects your rights. You should retain 100% of all rights to your book. Do not ever give a ghostwriter rights to your book. Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are typically not required as part of the ghostwriting process. Still, they can be included in the contract as needed to protect intellectual property or other sensitive information.
Finding the right ghostwriter is tough, but the ghostwriting process is easy and fun. If you’re ready to write your bestseller, Borrowed Pen can help. We have an extensive pool of experienced ghostwriters across genres. We’ll match you with the perfect fit for your book. Shoot us a request for a proposal and tell us a little about your project, and we’ll get started right away finding your ghostwriter match.
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