Formatting manuscripts and the editing process. Welcome to Ghostwriters Anonymous, the podcast for those who give a literary voice to the world. I am your host, Alaina Burnett. In today’s episode of the Ghostwriting 101 series I will be talking about the editing process.
However, before we get to that I would like to add a little “p.s.” to our discussion on the writing process. The way you format and structure your manuscript is important. I always provide two versions of a manuscript to my clients, both standardized and stylized.
The standardized version is formatted the way a publisher or agent would want to see it. There are countless websites out there that will give you all of the details (just Google “standard manuscript format”), but some of the specifics are Courier font, 12 point font size, plain 8.5x11 white paper, don’t justify the text, etc. While there are some agents and publishers that request something different like Times New Roman font, the vast majority want the manuscript in the standard format. And don’t underestimate how important it is to follow the rules! I’m not saying that you’re guaranteed to get published if you submit a proper looking manuscript. But if it’s down to two manuscripts and they only have the budget to publish one, I think any publisher will tell you they’ll give a closer look to the standardized manuscript before they consider the one on pink paper in Comic Sans font. Sorry I just have a vendetta against that font…it drives me crazy.
Anyway, a stylized manuscript would use the page size the author expects to print in (so 6x9, 5.5x8.5, etc.), and have the margins, font, and spacing that one could expect to see in a printed book. This version is not a necessary, but I use it for a few reasons. First, because I charge by the page for my ghostwriting, this stylized manuscript is the one I use for my pricing. It’s a lot easier than trying to estimate how many words would fit on the page. Secondly, it gives the author an idea of what their book could actually look like. I always tell them that if they like how it looks they should feel free to provide it to their publisher to use when typesetting.
Well, we’ve avoided it as long as we can. It’s time to talk about editing. I always laugh when I talk to friends in the writing business. It seems that everyone always hates the editing process. And in many ways it makes sense. As writers we are creative people. Once we have our ideas down on paper we want to get to the next project! We generally have no interest in sitting there for days looking for grammatical errors and whatnot. That doesn’t mean it’s not important, however. As tedious as it may be, it is a vital part of the process. Our job can’t be fun all of the time! It is called work for a reason.
I always find that I do a better job at catching mistakes when I print the manuscript and actually look at it on paper. For whatever reason when I’m reading text on a screen I can bypass something that needs to be corrected very easily. It’s funny how the mind can read what it knows is supposed to be there rather than what is actually there!
As a ghostwriter, the process is slightly different than if you were writing for yourself. The first round of editing is really just for grammatical or spelling errors. That way you can catch most if not all of those problems before you go over the text with your client. Once you have that first round finished, sit down with your client and go through the manuscript together. Some authors may prefer to take the manuscript home with them to look it over at their own pace, but if you do that make sure that if you have most if not all of the money that is due to you for the project. As trustworthy as the person may seem, you must protect yourself!
I like to edit with my client because as we go through and see things that should be altered we can bounce ideas off each other. Once you have made any changes to the phrasing or flow of the text, make sure to do a third and final round of editing. Read through it as if you a reader and not part of the project. Does everything make sense? Are there any areas that need to be explained better? Do you feel satisfied with the ending?
I always tell my clients that I am a “creative editor” rather than a “technical editor.” In fact I even put it in my contract that I suggest they have a professional editor go over the manuscript to check for any technical issues in the text we may have missed. Nothing is worse than picking up a book at the store and finding a typo (and it happens more often than you think!). Even if your client is going to be pursuing a traditional publisher who assuredly has an editorial staff, I recommend that you tell your client to have a professional editor look it over. You always want to make sure that the book is the best it can be before sending it to an agent or publisher!
Now, some writers like to divide up the editing process by looking over the text for technical issues after each chapter or section. Whether you do it while you’re still writing or when the book is complete doesn’t matter…just make sure to do it! One thing I will say is that I don’t recommend that you allow yourself to get into creative editing while you’re still writing. Doing that will slow you down and get you sidetracked. So, ignore any rephrasing that needs to be done or issues with the flow until you have finished your first draft completely.
Well, as I’m sure you noticed I was gone for a couple of weeks again. I have decided to stop saying “tune in next week” because I think I’m jinxing myself or something! A client ended up having to push up the due date for their project by a month so I have been using every spare moment I have to get the job done. So, from now on I’ll just say something like…tune in next time to hear the ninth episode of the Ghostwriting 101 series where we will do something of a capstone for the entire series. I’ll answer questions I have received from listeners and cover any little extra bits of information on all of the subjects we’ve covered. Thanks for listening! And as always, contact me with your questions or comments at any time. 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 gwapodcast@aol.com. That link will be included in the show notes at the official page for the Ghostwriters Anonymous podcast, http://www.ghostwriters-anonymous.com/. Click on the tab that says “Ghostwriters Anonymous podcast.”
Friday, July 25, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
GWA #9 - Ghostwriting 101 Part 7
Taking on the author’s voice and the writing process. Welcome to Ghostwriters Anonymous, the podcast for those who give a literary voice to the world. I am your host, Alaina Burnett. In today’s episode of the Ghostwriting 101 series I will be talking about how to take on the author’s voice and how to begin the writing process.
Now, before I go any further I want to talk about something I neglected to mention in last week’s episode on interviewing. Look at your blueprint and decide how you’re going to break up your interviews. It’s not like you’re going to have your author talk you through the entire book in one sitting, so separate the meetings by chapters, parts, or any other way that makes sense to you. Then, after each meeting make sure to make your transcript and go ahead and get writing. That way if you need more information on a certain topic, you can ask for more detail at the next meeting. You can also show your client what you have completed at each meeting so they can make sure it’s coming together the way they want it to.
Ok, on with the show. Sounding like someone else as you write is the most challenging part of being a ghostwriter. It is also the most important because most of your jobs as a ghostwriter will require you to make it appear that your client is actually the one who did the writing. So, how do you accomplish this?
The first step is to learn how to listen carefully to the way your client speaks. Do they have a more laid back conversational tone or do they speak with a vast vocabulary and have more of a stately style? What words or phrases do you catch them using often? You will need to take note of these things in order to take on their voice.
In many ways, ghostwriters must always act like fiction writers no matter what genre they are writing in. You sort of have to make your client into a character. I recommend that you put together at least a brief character sketch of your client before you begin to write. Take note of the way they speak, words and phrases they use, and even personality traits. Write down anything you think will aid you in sounding like them as you write. Keeping this character sketch with you as you work on the project will be beneficial (especially if you won’t be seeing your client until the rough draft is complete).
Don’t be surprised if it takes you some time before you really get comfortable with this. It’s almost as if we’re actors playing a role only our job is more difficult because instead of reciting the lines, we’re actually writing them. So, understand that this will take practice!
I have a bit of a homework assignment for you. I want you to take three people…let’s say your Mom, your best friend, and a celebrity like Paris Hilton. Make sure to choose three people who are vastly different. I chose Paris Hilton assuming that she’s nothing like your family and friends, but if she is then choose someone like Martha Stewart. No matter who you choose, make sure at least one of the three people is a celebrity. This is important because you won’t know most of your clients personally, so this will be more of a “real world” challenge than writing using your best friend’s voice. But do feel free to choose one or two people from your personal life.
Now, make brief character sketches of those three people. How do they speak? Are there words and phrases they use often? What are they like? Are there any personality traits that really stand out? Once you have that completed go ahead and write something using their voices. Try, for example, a journal entry. How would they describe what they experienced? Again, don’t be surprised if this takes some time. Keep trying until you’re comfortable with it. This is a great exercise because it allows you to develop this skill before you work with an actual client.
As a ghostwriter, the writing process will be different than if you were writing in your own voice. If you’re working with a client who is doing interviews with you, you’ll be able to take quotes or even entire paragraphs to fold into the text. Then you just have to expand on what you have and do some rephrasing. If you’re working with a client who simply put together the blueprint with you and is having you write the entire rough draft on your own, it will be more challenging. That’s why I always charge more for those projects! Using your blueprint and client character sketch as your guides, you have to write as if you are the author. Since you will likely not have quotes from the author to fold in, it will have to come from you. However, don’t be afraid to periodically call your client to get more detail on a subject if you don’t feel confident writing about it. Even though they don’t want to be deeply involved during the writing process, they should understand if you occasionally need a little information from them.
Regardless of the involvement of the author, if you are writing a factually based book like an academic non-fiction, you will need to do some research. Ask your client for a list of books they think you should read so that you can have at least a cursory understanding of the subject. It will be important for you to have that knowledge base as you write.
But even if you are writing a piece of fiction or an autobiography, some research may be useful. Read up on the time period, learn more about the community the story is taking place in, or get some facts about the industry the character or person worked in. Having even a small amount of background information will be very helpful as you write.
Well, it’s listener email time! I received my first question this week and I think it’s a really good one. This question was asked by Katie from Boston, Massachusetts (that’s in the United States for all of you international listeners). Katie asked “You said you are planning on talking about the writing process in your next episode so I’m hoping you can answer this question for me because it’s what always holds me back. How do you start? Is it different than how a regular author would start their work? I always struggle with how to begin.”
Thanks for the question Katie! I hope you’ll find my answer satisfactory. While beginning a project tends to be difficult for most writers, it is actually slightly easier for ghostwriters, especially if the client is staying involved in the project. However, this is still a creative process so some people may struggle from time to time (me included by the way). So, I use many of the same tricks that I use when I’m doing my own writing. I don’t always start at the beginning. The most important thing is to just get something on the screen or down on paper. So, don’t worry if you’re starting at the beginning, middle, or end.
When working with a client who is allowing you to interview them, start with the portion where you got the most detail or the best story. This will help you get in the flow of writing. If it’s not going to be the beginning of the book, only write for a little while and then try to go back and get those introductory lines started. They’re always the toughest, so once those are down you’ll be just fine.
Well, I hope you all found this information to be useful! And don’t forget about your homework assignment! Choose three people, create character sketches for them, and write a journal entry or anything you like using their voices. And of course, send me what you write if you dare! If you don’t want me to share it with the audience and just want me to check it out and maybe give you some advice, let me know.
And of course contact me with your questions or comments at any time. 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 gwapodcast@aol.com. That link will be included in the show notes at the official page for the Ghostwriters Anonymous podcast, http://www.ghostwriters-anonymous.com/. Click on the tab that says “Ghostwriters Anonymous podcast.” Thank you for listening and make sure to tune in next week for the eighth episode of the Ghostwriting101 series where I will discuss the editing process.
Now, before I go any further I want to talk about something I neglected to mention in last week’s episode on interviewing. Look at your blueprint and decide how you’re going to break up your interviews. It’s not like you’re going to have your author talk you through the entire book in one sitting, so separate the meetings by chapters, parts, or any other way that makes sense to you. Then, after each meeting make sure to make your transcript and go ahead and get writing. That way if you need more information on a certain topic, you can ask for more detail at the next meeting. You can also show your client what you have completed at each meeting so they can make sure it’s coming together the way they want it to.
Ok, on with the show. Sounding like someone else as you write is the most challenging part of being a ghostwriter. It is also the most important because most of your jobs as a ghostwriter will require you to make it appear that your client is actually the one who did the writing. So, how do you accomplish this?
The first step is to learn how to listen carefully to the way your client speaks. Do they have a more laid back conversational tone or do they speak with a vast vocabulary and have more of a stately style? What words or phrases do you catch them using often? You will need to take note of these things in order to take on their voice.
In many ways, ghostwriters must always act like fiction writers no matter what genre they are writing in. You sort of have to make your client into a character. I recommend that you put together at least a brief character sketch of your client before you begin to write. Take note of the way they speak, words and phrases they use, and even personality traits. Write down anything you think will aid you in sounding like them as you write. Keeping this character sketch with you as you work on the project will be beneficial (especially if you won’t be seeing your client until the rough draft is complete).
Don’t be surprised if it takes you some time before you really get comfortable with this. It’s almost as if we’re actors playing a role only our job is more difficult because instead of reciting the lines, we’re actually writing them. So, understand that this will take practice!
I have a bit of a homework assignment for you. I want you to take three people…let’s say your Mom, your best friend, and a celebrity like Paris Hilton. Make sure to choose three people who are vastly different. I chose Paris Hilton assuming that she’s nothing like your family and friends, but if she is then choose someone like Martha Stewart. No matter who you choose, make sure at least one of the three people is a celebrity. This is important because you won’t know most of your clients personally, so this will be more of a “real world” challenge than writing using your best friend’s voice. But do feel free to choose one or two people from your personal life.
Now, make brief character sketches of those three people. How do they speak? Are there words and phrases they use often? What are they like? Are there any personality traits that really stand out? Once you have that completed go ahead and write something using their voices. Try, for example, a journal entry. How would they describe what they experienced? Again, don’t be surprised if this takes some time. Keep trying until you’re comfortable with it. This is a great exercise because it allows you to develop this skill before you work with an actual client.
As a ghostwriter, the writing process will be different than if you were writing in your own voice. If you’re working with a client who is doing interviews with you, you’ll be able to take quotes or even entire paragraphs to fold into the text. Then you just have to expand on what you have and do some rephrasing. If you’re working with a client who simply put together the blueprint with you and is having you write the entire rough draft on your own, it will be more challenging. That’s why I always charge more for those projects! Using your blueprint and client character sketch as your guides, you have to write as if you are the author. Since you will likely not have quotes from the author to fold in, it will have to come from you. However, don’t be afraid to periodically call your client to get more detail on a subject if you don’t feel confident writing about it. Even though they don’t want to be deeply involved during the writing process, they should understand if you occasionally need a little information from them.
Regardless of the involvement of the author, if you are writing a factually based book like an academic non-fiction, you will need to do some research. Ask your client for a list of books they think you should read so that you can have at least a cursory understanding of the subject. It will be important for you to have that knowledge base as you write.
But even if you are writing a piece of fiction or an autobiography, some research may be useful. Read up on the time period, learn more about the community the story is taking place in, or get some facts about the industry the character or person worked in. Having even a small amount of background information will be very helpful as you write.
Well, it’s listener email time! I received my first question this week and I think it’s a really good one. This question was asked by Katie from Boston, Massachusetts (that’s in the United States for all of you international listeners). Katie asked “You said you are planning on talking about the writing process in your next episode so I’m hoping you can answer this question for me because it’s what always holds me back. How do you start? Is it different than how a regular author would start their work? I always struggle with how to begin.”
Thanks for the question Katie! I hope you’ll find my answer satisfactory. While beginning a project tends to be difficult for most writers, it is actually slightly easier for ghostwriters, especially if the client is staying involved in the project. However, this is still a creative process so some people may struggle from time to time (me included by the way). So, I use many of the same tricks that I use when I’m doing my own writing. I don’t always start at the beginning. The most important thing is to just get something on the screen or down on paper. So, don’t worry if you’re starting at the beginning, middle, or end.
When working with a client who is allowing you to interview them, start with the portion where you got the most detail or the best story. This will help you get in the flow of writing. If it’s not going to be the beginning of the book, only write for a little while and then try to go back and get those introductory lines started. They’re always the toughest, so once those are down you’ll be just fine.
Well, I hope you all found this information to be useful! And don’t forget about your homework assignment! Choose three people, create character sketches for them, and write a journal entry or anything you like using their voices. And of course, send me what you write if you dare! If you don’t want me to share it with the audience and just want me to check it out and maybe give you some advice, let me know.
And of course contact me with your questions or comments at any time. 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 gwapodcast@aol.com. That link will be included in the show notes at the official page for the Ghostwriters Anonymous podcast, http://www.ghostwriters-anonymous.com/. Click on the tab that says “Ghostwriters Anonymous podcast.” Thank you for listening and make sure to tune in next week for the eighth episode of the Ghostwriting101 series where I will discuss the editing process.
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