HELPING HANDS, MINDS and HEARTS

Whether a writer considers they are a novice or experienced writer, or even an expert writer, we all come to a season when the book we’re attempting to develop falls flat. The project may be the best idea on the planet, but if its completion seems to have reached a point of no return DON’T GIVE UP!

The positive impact of your book is not lost! It is simply time to join forces with a ghostwriter, a partner who can tap in to your vision and help you reach the FINISH LINE.

Finding the right ghostwriter to assist you has been likened to finding the right marriage partner. Although this writing relationship may not exist for a lifetime the connection between writer and ghostwriter must be compatible. Here are a few things to look for when discussing your project with a potential writing partner:

1. It is preferred to meet with and interview the ghostwriter in person. However, if this is not possible, telephone conversations can provide you with enough information to make your selection. I have worked with several clients long-distance—as well as neighbors—and we’ve enjoyed great success in the completion of their projects.
2. Ask for information about their past projects. If referrals are available—authors who will talk with you about their experience with this ghostwriter—this is the best resource.
   • Responsibility and Reliability are two key components in a writing partner. When talking with the referred authors, ask about the quality of the ghostwriter’s work and their ability to write in the author’s voice.
   • Your budget is important, too. Although the former clients may not choose to reveal their personal payment plan, you can ask them if they felt they received poor—fair—good—or excellent value for the amount paid.
3. As you talk about your project, listen carefully to the ghostwriter’s responses.
   • Is the ghostwriter knowledgeable about your genre of choice?
   • Does the ghostwriter hear what you are saying about the book’s topic? Characters? Plot? Setting?
   • Does the ghostwriter seem to grasp the essence of what you want to communicate to your readers?
   • Do you find it easy to talk with them—as if you are already friends?
4. As the author of your project, you have a distinct writing voice. If you have quickly established a comfortable rapport with the ghostwriter, chances are good that they will be able to identify your writing voice and use it to enhance your project. This is vital to the authenticity of your book.
5. Your writing partner must have an excellent “handle” on the English language.
   • Grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation all hold a valuable place in communicating with the Reader. However, I’m one of those people who believe that the concept of communication is the key component in the use of grammar and spelling skills. This skill must be used in maintaining the author’s voice throughout the book.
   • If you are writing a technical document for publication at the university-level of academia, you definitely need a ghostwriter who has that experience.
   • If you are writing in the genre of historical fiction, romance, mystery, science fiction, memoir, pet stories, cookbooks, etc. then the ghostwriter who loves language for its communication value is the preferred choice.

Bottom line: Harmony between author and ghostwriter is essential and produces excellence. So if you feel shackled and unable to move forward with your book project, ASK for HELP! Seek out the partnership of an excellent ghostwriter and GET THAT BOOK FINISHED!  Then GET IT PUBLISHED! The best advice I ever received was…NEVER QUIT! Because the most difficult books to produce are the ones that will make the biggest difference in the “book world.” ⚓︎

ABOUT ROYALENE DOYLE: Royalene has been writing something since before kindergarten days and continues to love the process. Through her small business—DOYLE WRITING SERVICES—she brings more than 40 years of writing experience to authors who need “just a little assistance” with completing their projects. This is a nice fit as she develops these blogs for Outskirts Press (OP) a leading self-publisher, and occasionally accepts a ghostwriting project from one of their clients. Her recent book release (with OP) titled FIREPROOF PROVERBS, A Writer’s Study of Words, is already receiving excellent reviews including several professional writer’s endorsements given on the book’s back cover.   Royalene’s writing experience grew through a wide variety of positions from Office Manager and Administrative Assistant to Teacher of Literature and Advanced Writing courses and editor/writer for an International Christian ministry. Her willingness to listen to struggling authors, learn their goals and expectations and discern their writing voice has brought many manuscripts into the published books arena.