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 gwapodcast@aol.com. 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.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
GWA # 10 - Ghostwriting 101 Part 8
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.”
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.”
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.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
GWA #8 - Ghostwriting 101 Part 6
Conducting client interviews. So, you know the old saying “when it rains it pours”? That’s definitely how I feel right now. Last Monday a hard drive on my nice new computer decided to fail. Luckily I had time to get most of my files that I hadn’t transferred over to my external hard drive. As you can probably tell from the lack of music, the intro was not one of those files. So, next week you’ll be hearing some brand new music. To cut a long story short, I didn’t get my computer back until last Friday and I had a lot of work to catch up on. So, once again I have to apologize for leaving you all hanging. Trusting that no other catastrophes are going to take place in the near future, we should be back on schedule now.
So, let’s get to business. I decided that I was trying to cram way too much into this short little podcast so I am dividing up the next topic. Today we will be talking about conducting interviews. Next week I’ll be discussing the writing process and how to take on the author’s voice.
First, let’s talk about equipment. There are three things you will absolutely need to have with you in order to conduct an interview properly: a notebook, pen, and a voice recorder. I personally use the Sony ICD-P320 but there are plenty of them out there to choose from and the prices will range from $40-$100. I like mine because it is very portable. It’s about 1 inch wide, ¾ of an inch thick, and no more than 4 inches long. But no matter what voice recorder you get, make sure it comes with an editing program that will allow you to slow the audio speed down. This will be essential for when you make transcripts of your interviews.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have both a notebook and a voice recorder. Don’t ever try to get away with just one of the two. If you just write notes you will inevitably miss something and you won’t be able to capture the emotion of the statement quick enough. And if you try to just record the conversation and not take notes, I guarantee you that one day a file will corrupt and you’ll lose an interview. It’s just how it works. So don’t tempt fate…do what I do and take shorthand notes and record the entire meeting.
If you are working with a client that you will not be meeting with in person either because of scheduling or distance, I highly recommend that you invest in a web cam. There’s no need to get anything fancy. My computer came with one already installed in the monitor, but just by doing a cursory search on amazon.com I saw several for under $30. Being able to see each other will make the experience feel more personal and it’s a nice option to offer your client.
Now that you have your equipment, it’s time to interview. There are two basic ways to handle the interviewing process. You can either be formal by using the question and answer method or you can be more casual by simply giving the author prompts and basically having a conversation. The method you use will depend on your personality, what your client is comfortable with, and the project you’re working on.
Remember that before the interviewing begins, you should have your blueprint complete. This is important because you’ll be using your outline to help you along with the questions you ask or prompts you provide. When taking the formal approach, you should be prepared to ask specific questions. If you’re going to be more casual, you have to be able to lead your client conversationally.
Let me give you an example: let’s say you’re working with a client who is having you write their autobiography and by looking at your blueprint you know that much of the book is going to focus on his childhood. If you’re going to take a more casual approach, you should begin by asking him to talk about the first thing that comes to mind when he thinks about his childhood. In this case, he begins to talk about the summers he spent at his Uncle’s cottage. Be ready to break into his stories to draw out more detail. Once you feel like you have enough information on his summers at the cottage, lead them to the next event by using your blueprint as your guide. This style of interviewing is more time consuming but I like it because the clients tend to be more relaxed and you get better information from them.
If you prefer a more formal approach, you need to make sure that your outline is very detailed. In this case, you should already know that your client spent summers at his Uncle’s cottage and therefore you should be ready with questions like: what did he do? Who was with him? What were those people like?
Of course, each project will be different. If you are working on an academic non-fiction book or a factually based newspaper article, you should definitely lean more toward the formal approach. Once you have a good amount of detail, feel free to have a more conversational tone to get more information to fill in with. However, your first priority has to be getting the facts straight.
Remember that the purpose of the interviews is to draw out information to make your job as the writer a little easier. Get as many details as possible. It’s always better to have too much information than not enough.
Also, make sure to keep a timetable of the meetings. I personally include a set amount of free meeting hours in my price, so I always make sure to write down the exact time that we begin and end. I put that information into a chart that I can give my clients at any time so they know how many free hours of meetings they have left.
I mentioned making transcripts a few minutes ago when discussing voice recorders. Now, I’ll be honest. Next to editing, making transcripts has got to be the most boring part of your job as a writer. Nevertheless, it’s necessary. You must make a transcript of every word spoken (both questions and answers) for each interview. This will aid you in taking direct quotes and incorporating them into the project. Likewise, having the phrasing you used when asking the question will be helpful when time has passed since the interview and you need a little reminder of the details. I always use my editing program to slow the audio speed down to at least half speed so that it is easier to catch every word. It will take a time or two to get used to it, but it makes your job a lot easier.
So, to sum things up: make sure you have the necessary equipment. Never go into an interview without your notebook and voice recorder. Likewise, if you work with clients who you won’t be seeing in person, consider investing in a web cam. When doing the interview, decide whether you want it to be more formal or casual. Feel free to ask your client what they are more comfortable with. This is key because when your client is relaxed, you’ll get better information out of them. Also, don’t brush off making complete transcripts. Make sure you capture every word that was spoken…you’ll regret it in the long run if you don’t.
Feel free to 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.” Along with the links, I also include a transcript of every episode, so take the time to check that out. Thank you for listening and make sure to tune in next week for the seventh episode of the Ghostwriting101 series where I will discuss the writing process and how to take on the author’s voice.
So, let’s get to business. I decided that I was trying to cram way too much into this short little podcast so I am dividing up the next topic. Today we will be talking about conducting interviews. Next week I’ll be discussing the writing process and how to take on the author’s voice.
First, let’s talk about equipment. There are three things you will absolutely need to have with you in order to conduct an interview properly: a notebook, pen, and a voice recorder. I personally use the Sony ICD-P320 but there are plenty of them out there to choose from and the prices will range from $40-$100. I like mine because it is very portable. It’s about 1 inch wide, ¾ of an inch thick, and no more than 4 inches long. But no matter what voice recorder you get, make sure it comes with an editing program that will allow you to slow the audio speed down. This will be essential for when you make transcripts of your interviews.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have both a notebook and a voice recorder. Don’t ever try to get away with just one of the two. If you just write notes you will inevitably miss something and you won’t be able to capture the emotion of the statement quick enough. And if you try to just record the conversation and not take notes, I guarantee you that one day a file will corrupt and you’ll lose an interview. It’s just how it works. So don’t tempt fate…do what I do and take shorthand notes and record the entire meeting.
If you are working with a client that you will not be meeting with in person either because of scheduling or distance, I highly recommend that you invest in a web cam. There’s no need to get anything fancy. My computer came with one already installed in the monitor, but just by doing a cursory search on amazon.com I saw several for under $30. Being able to see each other will make the experience feel more personal and it’s a nice option to offer your client.
Now that you have your equipment, it’s time to interview. There are two basic ways to handle the interviewing process. You can either be formal by using the question and answer method or you can be more casual by simply giving the author prompts and basically having a conversation. The method you use will depend on your personality, what your client is comfortable with, and the project you’re working on.
Remember that before the interviewing begins, you should have your blueprint complete. This is important because you’ll be using your outline to help you along with the questions you ask or prompts you provide. When taking the formal approach, you should be prepared to ask specific questions. If you’re going to be more casual, you have to be able to lead your client conversationally.
Let me give you an example: let’s say you’re working with a client who is having you write their autobiography and by looking at your blueprint you know that much of the book is going to focus on his childhood. If you’re going to take a more casual approach, you should begin by asking him to talk about the first thing that comes to mind when he thinks about his childhood. In this case, he begins to talk about the summers he spent at his Uncle’s cottage. Be ready to break into his stories to draw out more detail. Once you feel like you have enough information on his summers at the cottage, lead them to the next event by using your blueprint as your guide. This style of interviewing is more time consuming but I like it because the clients tend to be more relaxed and you get better information from them.
If you prefer a more formal approach, you need to make sure that your outline is very detailed. In this case, you should already know that your client spent summers at his Uncle’s cottage and therefore you should be ready with questions like: what did he do? Who was with him? What were those people like?
Of course, each project will be different. If you are working on an academic non-fiction book or a factually based newspaper article, you should definitely lean more toward the formal approach. Once you have a good amount of detail, feel free to have a more conversational tone to get more information to fill in with. However, your first priority has to be getting the facts straight.
Remember that the purpose of the interviews is to draw out information to make your job as the writer a little easier. Get as many details as possible. It’s always better to have too much information than not enough.
Also, make sure to keep a timetable of the meetings. I personally include a set amount of free meeting hours in my price, so I always make sure to write down the exact time that we begin and end. I put that information into a chart that I can give my clients at any time so they know how many free hours of meetings they have left.
I mentioned making transcripts a few minutes ago when discussing voice recorders. Now, I’ll be honest. Next to editing, making transcripts has got to be the most boring part of your job as a writer. Nevertheless, it’s necessary. You must make a transcript of every word spoken (both questions and answers) for each interview. This will aid you in taking direct quotes and incorporating them into the project. Likewise, having the phrasing you used when asking the question will be helpful when time has passed since the interview and you need a little reminder of the details. I always use my editing program to slow the audio speed down to at least half speed so that it is easier to catch every word. It will take a time or two to get used to it, but it makes your job a lot easier.
So, to sum things up: make sure you have the necessary equipment. Never go into an interview without your notebook and voice recorder. Likewise, if you work with clients who you won’t be seeing in person, consider investing in a web cam. When doing the interview, decide whether you want it to be more formal or casual. Feel free to ask your client what they are more comfortable with. This is key because when your client is relaxed, you’ll get better information out of them. Also, don’t brush off making complete transcripts. Make sure you capture every word that was spoken…you’ll regret it in the long run if you don’t.
Feel free to 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.” Along with the links, I also include a transcript of every episode, so take the time to check that out. Thank you for listening and make sure to tune in next week for the seventh episode of the Ghostwriting101 series where I will discuss the writing process and how to take on the author’s voice.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
GWA #7 - Special Episode #1
Dealing with trauma or grief. I’m taking a bit of a detour from the Ghostwriting 101 series this week, but we’ll be back on schedule next week with a discussion on how to conduct interviews, how to begin the writing process, and how to take on the author’s voice.
So, where do I begin? Back in April my Mom started feeling ill and she thought she just had the flu. Well, weeks went by and she was only getting worse so I finally convinced her to go to the doctor. Well, the doctor immediately sent her to the hospital and the doctors in the emergency room immediately began to prepare her for surgery. It turned out that she did not have the flu and actually had a blockage in her intestine. She ended up spending 5 days in the hospital.
She’s doing very well now and is taking it easy as that nice 5 inch incision from her belly button up heals. This was easily the most traumatic thing I have ever gone through. My Mom is not just my Mom…she’s my best friend. I knew what to expect as far as what she would be going through but I didn’t expect what would happen to me. To put it simply, my mind was just not here. I was so focused on my Mom that I forgot to eat and just did not take care of myself. I ended up losing 8 pounds over those 5 days…which is obviously not a good thing. My body went into shock both because of the stress of what was happening to my Mom and what I was doing to myself. So, needless to say I’m still recovering myself. I’m almost back to normal now. Well, physically anyway.
So, what does this have to do with ghostwriting? Well, everything really. How do you just go back to normal after experiencing something like that? How do you flip on the switch and go back to writing? I suppose it might be easier for someone who worked in a factory to simply go back to work, but for someone in a creative field…how do you do it? How do you let go of grief or trauma and allow yourself to get back to your normal life? I don’t have all the answers. But I can tell you what I’m doing right now and how it is working.
First, because we’re talking about ghostwriting here, it is important to contact all of your clients and talk to them about what is happening. Be as detailed as possible. It will help them understand your situation. Ask them for permission to take a little time to decompress. Most clients (and thankfully all of mine) will agree to give you a break. And that break is essential. Take a week if you can and just get away from everything. Take walks, sleep in, watch your favorite movies, and spend time with friends. Give yourself the time you need to relax and get your emotions and thoughts in order. If you try to get back to work right away, you’ll regret it in the long run.
I couldn’t even think about writing for the first 6 days. The thought of picking up the pieces and getting back to my life just seemed impossible. So, I allowed myself to feel that way. It may sound odd, but you need to give yourself permission to relax. Telling yourself that it’s ok to feel how you are feeling and that you are willing to take the time to restore yourself emotionally and spiritually is key (at least it was for me). On that seventh day, I felt different…well actually, I didn’t feel different and oddly enough that was different. I felt normal! I was not just able to think about writing, I wanted to think about writing! I was drawn to my computer and couldn’t wait to get back to work. I’m not exactly sure how or why it happened…it just did. That is why taking the time to relax is so important. You will know when it is time to get back to writing.
Now, there are two ways that you can get back to work once you are ready. You can either dive right in and start writing, or you can take a slower approach. You can start by doing some of the smaller or menial tasks that go along with your writing. For example, you can finish a blueprint or outline, do some research, or even edit some work you have completed.
I personally dove right in and started to write but then took a step back and did some background work. It felt good to get a little of each done. I recommend that you at least try to start to write, but don’t force it. If it doesn’t feel right or things aren’t flowing the way they usually do, take a step back and find something else to do related to your project.
If you decide to start slowly and begin with the background work, don’t let yourself get away with that for too long. I’d say give it a day or two and then at least try to write. It may take a while to really get back into the groove, but the attempts are important. The longer you stay away from writing, the harder it will be to get into it again.
Grief and trauma are extremely personal and everyone reacts to them differently. If you do go through a tough situation, make sure to give yourself the time you need to let go of the stress and relax. Talk to your clients about what you’re going through and ask for a little time to get things in order. Remember that because you work in a creative field, you need your mind and emotions to be in tip-top shape in order to do your job.
I hope that you found these thoughts to be useful. And I want to thank you for sticking with me and being so patient! I was expecting subscribership to drop a lot since I was gone so long, so I was pleased to see only a couple of people left.
Feel free to 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, www.ghostwriters-anonymous.com. Click on the tab that says “Ghostwriters Anonymous podcast.” Along with the links, I also include a transcript of every episode, so take the time to check that out. Thank you for listening and make sure to tune in next week for the sixth episode of the Ghostwriting101 series where I will discuss how to conduct interviews, how to start writing, and the most important thing every ghostwriter must learn – how to take on the author’s voice.
So, where do I begin? Back in April my Mom started feeling ill and she thought she just had the flu. Well, weeks went by and she was only getting worse so I finally convinced her to go to the doctor. Well, the doctor immediately sent her to the hospital and the doctors in the emergency room immediately began to prepare her for surgery. It turned out that she did not have the flu and actually had a blockage in her intestine. She ended up spending 5 days in the hospital.
She’s doing very well now and is taking it easy as that nice 5 inch incision from her belly button up heals. This was easily the most traumatic thing I have ever gone through. My Mom is not just my Mom…she’s my best friend. I knew what to expect as far as what she would be going through but I didn’t expect what would happen to me. To put it simply, my mind was just not here. I was so focused on my Mom that I forgot to eat and just did not take care of myself. I ended up losing 8 pounds over those 5 days…which is obviously not a good thing. My body went into shock both because of the stress of what was happening to my Mom and what I was doing to myself. So, needless to say I’m still recovering myself. I’m almost back to normal now. Well, physically anyway.
So, what does this have to do with ghostwriting? Well, everything really. How do you just go back to normal after experiencing something like that? How do you flip on the switch and go back to writing? I suppose it might be easier for someone who worked in a factory to simply go back to work, but for someone in a creative field…how do you do it? How do you let go of grief or trauma and allow yourself to get back to your normal life? I don’t have all the answers. But I can tell you what I’m doing right now and how it is working.
First, because we’re talking about ghostwriting here, it is important to contact all of your clients and talk to them about what is happening. Be as detailed as possible. It will help them understand your situation. Ask them for permission to take a little time to decompress. Most clients (and thankfully all of mine) will agree to give you a break. And that break is essential. Take a week if you can and just get away from everything. Take walks, sleep in, watch your favorite movies, and spend time with friends. Give yourself the time you need to relax and get your emotions and thoughts in order. If you try to get back to work right away, you’ll regret it in the long run.
I couldn’t even think about writing for the first 6 days. The thought of picking up the pieces and getting back to my life just seemed impossible. So, I allowed myself to feel that way. It may sound odd, but you need to give yourself permission to relax. Telling yourself that it’s ok to feel how you are feeling and that you are willing to take the time to restore yourself emotionally and spiritually is key (at least it was for me). On that seventh day, I felt different…well actually, I didn’t feel different and oddly enough that was different. I felt normal! I was not just able to think about writing, I wanted to think about writing! I was drawn to my computer and couldn’t wait to get back to work. I’m not exactly sure how or why it happened…it just did. That is why taking the time to relax is so important. You will know when it is time to get back to writing.
Now, there are two ways that you can get back to work once you are ready. You can either dive right in and start writing, or you can take a slower approach. You can start by doing some of the smaller or menial tasks that go along with your writing. For example, you can finish a blueprint or outline, do some research, or even edit some work you have completed.
I personally dove right in and started to write but then took a step back and did some background work. It felt good to get a little of each done. I recommend that you at least try to start to write, but don’t force it. If it doesn’t feel right or things aren’t flowing the way they usually do, take a step back and find something else to do related to your project.
If you decide to start slowly and begin with the background work, don’t let yourself get away with that for too long. I’d say give it a day or two and then at least try to write. It may take a while to really get back into the groove, but the attempts are important. The longer you stay away from writing, the harder it will be to get into it again.
Grief and trauma are extremely personal and everyone reacts to them differently. If you do go through a tough situation, make sure to give yourself the time you need to let go of the stress and relax. Talk to your clients about what you’re going through and ask for a little time to get things in order. Remember that because you work in a creative field, you need your mind and emotions to be in tip-top shape in order to do your job.
I hope that you found these thoughts to be useful. And I want to thank you for sticking with me and being so patient! I was expecting subscribership to drop a lot since I was gone so long, so I was pleased to see only a couple of people left.
Feel free to 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, www.ghostwriters-anonymous.com. Click on the tab that says “Ghostwriters Anonymous podcast.” Along with the links, I also include a transcript of every episode, so take the time to check that out. Thank you for listening and make sure to tune in next week for the sixth episode of the Ghostwriting101 series where I will discuss how to conduct interviews, how to start writing, and the most important thing every ghostwriter must learn – how to take on the author’s voice.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
GWA #6 - Ghostwriting 101 Part 5
In today’s episode of our Ghostwriting 101 series we will be talking about the writing process. Now obviously, a topic like this can’t be covered in one podcast so I will start with a discussion on what every ghostwriter needs before beginning a book project: a blueprint.
A blueprint is basically a collection of the information you’ll need in order to work on the project. Of course the information you need will depend on how involved your client is going to be during the writing process and the genre of the book. If your client is going to stay involved, you can be much more flexible when putting together the blueprint and writing the book. However, if your client plans on having you write the rough draft completely on your own, it is essential that you gather as much information as you can.
I have three sections in my blueprints. First, I talk to my clients about the purpose of their book. Why are they are writing it? What do they want the reader to walk away knowing or understanding?
Secondly, I talk to them about their target audience. Knowing who the audience is will help you write. For example, if you are writing a nonfiction book intended for industry professionals, you should feel free to use the jargon or terminology that is used in that industry. Likewise, you can get right into the nitty-gritty of the subject without having to worry too much about introducing the ideas. However, if that non fiction book is meant for the general public, you’ll have to dumb it down a bit. Explain each idea carefully before you get into too much theory or detail. Likewise, don’t use too much jargon without explanation. The general public may not know what those industry terms mean.
For a work of fiction, I am more interested in gender and age. A story written for a twenty year old woman would be very different than a story written for a fifty year old man. Generational and gender differences will play a role in how you put the story together.
The third section has to do with the body of the text. I always put together an outline with my clients for every book project. If the client intends to stay involved during the writing process, you can be more flexible and allow for changes as you write, but if your client wants you to write the rough draft on your own you should create as detailed of an outline as you can. For a nonfiction book, start with the main points that must be covered. Then, go back and flesh those out. Add sub-points and notes wherever you can. When putting together the outline, always remember to look back to the purpose of the book. Make sure the main points come together to tell the audience what the author wants to convey.
For a work of fiction, this part of the blueprint will be different. Before you get to the outline, you must begin with putting together character sketches. This means that you should sit down with your client and talk about each main character. Discuss things like their age, gender, where they are from, their marital status, family history, what they do for a living, hobbies they have, things they enjoy, and the role the play in the story. Is this character the hero? The villain? A supportive character? An innocent bystander? Knowing these things will help you as you write.
Moreover, you need to know what these characters look like. If you can draw, feel free to add a little illustration next to your description. But even if you can’t, describe with words the character’s hair color, skin color, eye color, height, body shape, style of clothing, even how they walk and facial expressions. Being able to picture each character in your mind as you write is crucial.
After that, begin putting together the outline. Instead of talking about the main points or ideas that you’ll be writing about, for a fictional story you will need to have your client walk you through the major events that take place. What happens? Who is involved? Why does this happen? What are the consequences, both positive and negative? Get as detailed as you can. When I ghostwrite fiction, I always demand that the client stay involved during the writing process because it would just be too difficult to write a fictional story without the person who had the idea in the first place. One paragraph, heck even one sentence, can completely change the direction of the story, so I recommend that you get a detailed outline, but make sure the client continually reviews your work or even writes with you.
When working on a biography (whether the book is about your client or a third party), you basically need to combine everything together. You of course need to know the purpose of the book and the target audience. However, when it comes to the outline you’ll need both an overview of the main points that should be discussed AND an outline of the major events that take place. Basically, biographies are a combination of fiction and nonfiction. You often discuss ideas, but there is also a story involved. So, make sure to get character sketches of all the main players in the book. Have your client bring pictures if possible. You’ll need to dissect the personalities of everyone involved just as you would fictional characters.
Feel free to add to your blueprint. The purpose, audience, and outline are just the basics that every blueprint needs. What you need to do is sit down and think about the information you would want to have before you begin to write. Every project can be different. Just make sure you have your blueprint complete before you dive in and start writing. While it takes some work, I guarantee that putting together a blueprint will pay off in the long run.
Feel free to 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.” Along with the links, I also include a transcript of every episode, so take the time to check that out. Thank you for listening and make sure to tune in next week for the sixth episode of the Ghostwriting101 series where I will discuss how to conduct interviews, how to start writing, and the most important thing every ghostwriter must learn – how to take on the author’s voice.
A blueprint is basically a collection of the information you’ll need in order to work on the project. Of course the information you need will depend on how involved your client is going to be during the writing process and the genre of the book. If your client is going to stay involved, you can be much more flexible when putting together the blueprint and writing the book. However, if your client plans on having you write the rough draft completely on your own, it is essential that you gather as much information as you can.
I have three sections in my blueprints. First, I talk to my clients about the purpose of their book. Why are they are writing it? What do they want the reader to walk away knowing or understanding?
Secondly, I talk to them about their target audience. Knowing who the audience is will help you write. For example, if you are writing a nonfiction book intended for industry professionals, you should feel free to use the jargon or terminology that is used in that industry. Likewise, you can get right into the nitty-gritty of the subject without having to worry too much about introducing the ideas. However, if that non fiction book is meant for the general public, you’ll have to dumb it down a bit. Explain each idea carefully before you get into too much theory or detail. Likewise, don’t use too much jargon without explanation. The general public may not know what those industry terms mean.
For a work of fiction, I am more interested in gender and age. A story written for a twenty year old woman would be very different than a story written for a fifty year old man. Generational and gender differences will play a role in how you put the story together.
The third section has to do with the body of the text. I always put together an outline with my clients for every book project. If the client intends to stay involved during the writing process, you can be more flexible and allow for changes as you write, but if your client wants you to write the rough draft on your own you should create as detailed of an outline as you can. For a nonfiction book, start with the main points that must be covered. Then, go back and flesh those out. Add sub-points and notes wherever you can. When putting together the outline, always remember to look back to the purpose of the book. Make sure the main points come together to tell the audience what the author wants to convey.
For a work of fiction, this part of the blueprint will be different. Before you get to the outline, you must begin with putting together character sketches. This means that you should sit down with your client and talk about each main character. Discuss things like their age, gender, where they are from, their marital status, family history, what they do for a living, hobbies they have, things they enjoy, and the role the play in the story. Is this character the hero? The villain? A supportive character? An innocent bystander? Knowing these things will help you as you write.
Moreover, you need to know what these characters look like. If you can draw, feel free to add a little illustration next to your description. But even if you can’t, describe with words the character’s hair color, skin color, eye color, height, body shape, style of clothing, even how they walk and facial expressions. Being able to picture each character in your mind as you write is crucial.
After that, begin putting together the outline. Instead of talking about the main points or ideas that you’ll be writing about, for a fictional story you will need to have your client walk you through the major events that take place. What happens? Who is involved? Why does this happen? What are the consequences, both positive and negative? Get as detailed as you can. When I ghostwrite fiction, I always demand that the client stay involved during the writing process because it would just be too difficult to write a fictional story without the person who had the idea in the first place. One paragraph, heck even one sentence, can completely change the direction of the story, so I recommend that you get a detailed outline, but make sure the client continually reviews your work or even writes with you.
When working on a biography (whether the book is about your client or a third party), you basically need to combine everything together. You of course need to know the purpose of the book and the target audience. However, when it comes to the outline you’ll need both an overview of the main points that should be discussed AND an outline of the major events that take place. Basically, biographies are a combination of fiction and nonfiction. You often discuss ideas, but there is also a story involved. So, make sure to get character sketches of all the main players in the book. Have your client bring pictures if possible. You’ll need to dissect the personalities of everyone involved just as you would fictional characters.
Feel free to add to your blueprint. The purpose, audience, and outline are just the basics that every blueprint needs. What you need to do is sit down and think about the information you would want to have before you begin to write. Every project can be different. Just make sure you have your blueprint complete before you dive in and start writing. While it takes some work, I guarantee that putting together a blueprint will pay off in the long run.
Feel free to 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.” Along with the links, I also include a transcript of every episode, so take the time to check that out. Thank you for listening and make sure to tune in next week for the sixth episode of the Ghostwriting101 series where I will discuss how to conduct interviews, how to start writing, and the most important thing every ghostwriter must learn – how to take on the author’s voice.
Friday, May 2, 2008
GWA #5 - Ghostwriting 101 Part 4
In today’s episode of our Ghostwriting 101 series we will be talking about how to promote yourself and find clients.
The first step is to find your niche. Take some time and think about the things that you love to do, the books you love to read, the television shows or movies you love to watch, etc. This will aid you in figuring out what kind of clients you should seek out. For me, I have found that my niche is Christian writers, specifically pastors. All of the writers I have worked with so far have fallen into that category. However, I also have a secondary niche because of my bachelor’s degree in politics and interest in history. Any client looking for a fiction or non-fiction book about politics or history would fit in perfectly for me. So, don’t be afraid to have several specialties.
However, you should find one main niche that you will focus most of your attention to. So, if you find yourself watching countless reruns of Law & Order, consider specializing in writing crime dramas or non-fiction criminal profiles. If you are a poet and good at rhyming, consider looking into the children’s book genre. Even something like being an outdoors enthusiast or adventure seeker can be to your advantage.
Also, instead of focusing on interests or skills that you have, you can also think about that kind of client you want to work with. Do you want to work with business people like CEOs and entrepreneurs? Or stay at home Moms that have a story to share? There are countless groups of people that you can reach out to.
So, how do you do it? Once you know what kind of writing you want to specialize in, the next step you must take is creating a website. In this day and age, it is absolutely essential that you have your own spot on the web. And no, a myspace or facebook page does not count. There are countless possible clients that will never find you if you don’t put in the time and investment needed to make a real website. Now, it doesn’t have to be as expensive or time consuming as you may think. This does not have to be some highly decorated fancy website. What you really need is a basic business card website. This means that you can simply list the services you offer, what you specialize in, your prices, and how you can be contacted. Just be sure it looks professional!
I personally use Yahoo’s Geocities (http://www.geocities.com/) because the costs are low (it’s only $8.95 a month for me to have my domain, 2,000 megabytes of storage space, and much more). What I really like about it is that I don’t have a lot of experience with html, so I use their pagebuilder program. It allows me to click and drag images and text wherever I want them, easily create links and new pages, and change the style, color, and size of the text quickly. But, there are many other programs like this out there, so do your research. You can also hire a professional to put together your website for you, but make sure you’re sitting down when they tell you how much it’s going to cost. If you go to http://www.ghostwriters-anonymous.com/ you are automatically forwarded to my professional website http://www.alainaburnett.com/, so feel free to stop by if you want to see what I have done. And of course all of the websites I mention in this podcast will be linked in the show notes.
Once you have chosen your niche and set up your website, you can begin to promote yourself! Look into websites and publications that your target audience would be interested in. When you’re first starting out, I recommend advertising on the internet because it’s much less expensive and it’s a good place to begin your marketing. For example, since I specialize in working with Christian pastors, I researched Charisma magazine, one of the most popular magazines for evangelical pastors. However, I found that the costs are a little out of my price range for now. For a third of a page it would cost me $3,475…and that’s just for one advertisement! And of course the costs go up from there. So, needless to say I’m taking my own advice and starting on the internet. Charisma magazine has a website, so I’m sure most if not all of the publications you would be interested in have websites you can advertise on as well. But, make sure to also look into websites not associated with publications. So, if you’re wishing to work with business people, look at sites like entrepreneur.com or even wallstreetjournal.com.
You should also put together free profiles on networking websites like http://www.linkedin.com/, http://www.guru.com/, and even http://www.craigslist.com/. The more you get your name out there, the better!
One means of marketing that I tested out just last month was getting a booth at a convention. Now that you know your niche and have a website you can send people to, look into conventions or gatherings that involve your target audience going on in your area. Trust me, even if you have to travel a bit it will be worth it! I was just at a conference for pastors that took place a few hours away from my home. I went in with no expectations because I had no idea if people would be interested or not, but I walked away with 15 possible projects and many more people than that took my information! I’m currently in the negotiation phase with 3 of the people I met at the conference. In this instance, it just cost $40 for the booth as well as travel expenses. I went to a local printer and had them make a professional looking banner for me to drape on my table that cost about $200 and then simply purchased inexpensive document stands and easels to set up a few books I had permission to display. Now of course every conference or convention will be different as far as costs are concerned, but I highly recommend that you tap into these opportunities. Even if you just plant the seed and don’t walk away with any projects right away, I think it will definitely pay off in the long run.
Also, reach out to fellow ghostwriters! Many times they have more clients than they can handle and would be willing to pass along a client to you. So, it definitely pays to have friends in the business!
However, I have to say that the number one way to get more clients will always be through recommendations. The projects you will work on will likely be expensive for your clients, so it is understandable that many times people trust their friends or colleagues to tell them who to turn to. So, the most important thing is for you to get your foot in the door. Once you have one client, more will come. Creating a solid client base will take some time and probably some investment on your part, but once you get started, projects will continue to come your way.
Well, that’s it for now! Feel free to 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.” Along with the links, I also include a transcript of every episode, so take the time to check that out. Thank you for listening and make sure to tune in next week for the fifth episode of the Ghostwriting101 series where I will be talking about the writing process.
The first step is to find your niche. Take some time and think about the things that you love to do, the books you love to read, the television shows or movies you love to watch, etc. This will aid you in figuring out what kind of clients you should seek out. For me, I have found that my niche is Christian writers, specifically pastors. All of the writers I have worked with so far have fallen into that category. However, I also have a secondary niche because of my bachelor’s degree in politics and interest in history. Any client looking for a fiction or non-fiction book about politics or history would fit in perfectly for me. So, don’t be afraid to have several specialties.
However, you should find one main niche that you will focus most of your attention to. So, if you find yourself watching countless reruns of Law & Order, consider specializing in writing crime dramas or non-fiction criminal profiles. If you are a poet and good at rhyming, consider looking into the children’s book genre. Even something like being an outdoors enthusiast or adventure seeker can be to your advantage.
Also, instead of focusing on interests or skills that you have, you can also think about that kind of client you want to work with. Do you want to work with business people like CEOs and entrepreneurs? Or stay at home Moms that have a story to share? There are countless groups of people that you can reach out to.
So, how do you do it? Once you know what kind of writing you want to specialize in, the next step you must take is creating a website. In this day and age, it is absolutely essential that you have your own spot on the web. And no, a myspace or facebook page does not count. There are countless possible clients that will never find you if you don’t put in the time and investment needed to make a real website. Now, it doesn’t have to be as expensive or time consuming as you may think. This does not have to be some highly decorated fancy website. What you really need is a basic business card website. This means that you can simply list the services you offer, what you specialize in, your prices, and how you can be contacted. Just be sure it looks professional!
I personally use Yahoo’s Geocities (http://www.geocities.com/) because the costs are low (it’s only $8.95 a month for me to have my domain, 2,000 megabytes of storage space, and much more). What I really like about it is that I don’t have a lot of experience with html, so I use their pagebuilder program. It allows me to click and drag images and text wherever I want them, easily create links and new pages, and change the style, color, and size of the text quickly. But, there are many other programs like this out there, so do your research. You can also hire a professional to put together your website for you, but make sure you’re sitting down when they tell you how much it’s going to cost. If you go to http://www.ghostwriters-anonymous.com/ you are automatically forwarded to my professional website http://www.alainaburnett.com/, so feel free to stop by if you want to see what I have done. And of course all of the websites I mention in this podcast will be linked in the show notes.
Once you have chosen your niche and set up your website, you can begin to promote yourself! Look into websites and publications that your target audience would be interested in. When you’re first starting out, I recommend advertising on the internet because it’s much less expensive and it’s a good place to begin your marketing. For example, since I specialize in working with Christian pastors, I researched Charisma magazine, one of the most popular magazines for evangelical pastors. However, I found that the costs are a little out of my price range for now. For a third of a page it would cost me $3,475…and that’s just for one advertisement! And of course the costs go up from there. So, needless to say I’m taking my own advice and starting on the internet. Charisma magazine has a website, so I’m sure most if not all of the publications you would be interested in have websites you can advertise on as well. But, make sure to also look into websites not associated with publications. So, if you’re wishing to work with business people, look at sites like entrepreneur.com or even wallstreetjournal.com.
You should also put together free profiles on networking websites like http://www.linkedin.com/, http://www.guru.com/, and even http://www.craigslist.com/. The more you get your name out there, the better!
One means of marketing that I tested out just last month was getting a booth at a convention. Now that you know your niche and have a website you can send people to, look into conventions or gatherings that involve your target audience going on in your area. Trust me, even if you have to travel a bit it will be worth it! I was just at a conference for pastors that took place a few hours away from my home. I went in with no expectations because I had no idea if people would be interested or not, but I walked away with 15 possible projects and many more people than that took my information! I’m currently in the negotiation phase with 3 of the people I met at the conference. In this instance, it just cost $40 for the booth as well as travel expenses. I went to a local printer and had them make a professional looking banner for me to drape on my table that cost about $200 and then simply purchased inexpensive document stands and easels to set up a few books I had permission to display. Now of course every conference or convention will be different as far as costs are concerned, but I highly recommend that you tap into these opportunities. Even if you just plant the seed and don’t walk away with any projects right away, I think it will definitely pay off in the long run.
Also, reach out to fellow ghostwriters! Many times they have more clients than they can handle and would be willing to pass along a client to you. So, it definitely pays to have friends in the business!
However, I have to say that the number one way to get more clients will always be through recommendations. The projects you will work on will likely be expensive for your clients, so it is understandable that many times people trust their friends or colleagues to tell them who to turn to. So, the most important thing is for you to get your foot in the door. Once you have one client, more will come. Creating a solid client base will take some time and probably some investment on your part, but once you get started, projects will continue to come your way.
Well, that’s it for now! Feel free to 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.” Along with the links, I also include a transcript of every episode, so take the time to check that out. Thank you for listening and make sure to tune in next week for the fifth episode of the Ghostwriting101 series where I will be talking about the writing process.
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