3 Basic Ways to Communicate Remotely

Before COVID, client and ghostwriter met face to face much more often. Now, thanks to that pesky, annoying virus, there are many more electronic and distant ways for ghostwriters to interact with clients and do the important job of telling their compelling stories.

I get 99% of my job leads from search engine optimization (SEO), which I consider remote and impersonal because a prospect looks for a ghostwriter somewhere and finds me; if it was personal, there might be some sort of personal introduction from somebody I know to the prospect or from somebody the prospect knows to me (and that’s the other 1% of job leads I get).

Despite the distance and remoteness, the basics of ghostwriting haven’t changed too much since COVID. You still need to be able to communicate effectively. That means the actual words a ghostwriter uses, ensuring everyone has the same goals and objectives, and doing everything possible to guarantee that the client has the needed support from the ghostwriter.

Three Words: Communication, communication, communication.

Whether in person or remotely by computer, the ghostwriter has to actively correspond with the client and inform of everything going on. This includes, but is not limited to, answering questions about specific processes, educating about what comes next and responding to hypothetical situations, giving process updates, and asking questions that plug gaps and fill story holes.

The Cloud-based global employee engagement platform Vantage Circle wrote in its blog, “Be mindful and extra cautious while sending any information. … Try to articulate in simple language and be clear and precise. Don’t bombard with useless information. … It saves the time and energy of both parties.”

I once had a remote client who worried that I would bail on her project once she paid me in full, since we had what turned out to be eight more months before the job was done. I told her simply, “I understand why you feel that way, but I’m looking at it this way: I want to get this done so I’m free to take on other projects.” As it was summer, I had more free time to really grind out the chapters; I wrote eight of the eventual 19 in that three-month span.

Three More Words: State Your Aims

In line with communication, ghostwriters must give clear instructions to the client, and vice versa. Everyone needs to know what is expected of them and how they will work together.

As I’ve said before, the client is the story expert; the ghostwriter is the storytelling expert.

I once had a client tell me, “(I) don’t know how to write a book; I need you to show (me) how.” That was clear, so I responded by explaining the importance of the outline, the research, the interviewing other people to flesh things out, the actual writing, and the feedback process.

I also once had a client that made it clear he wanted a certain story. Some months into the project, a close associate suggested a different story. As she spoke to me, he stood behind her and turned his body back and forth with a knowing grin on his face. It appeared he was telling me, No, don’t listen to her.

When she left, I asked him, “Did I see you do what I thought I saw you do?”

“Yes,” he responded.

“Good,” I said. “We’ll continue as we are.”

When I submitted the first draft, however, he abandoned the project, saying it didn’t speak to him. It was then I realized that I was telling the wrong version of the story. I should have been telling the associate’s version all along. But that wasn’t communicated.

Provide Support

This is admittedly one-sided. The ghostwriter needs to support the client. 

I had one remote client who had spent a decade trying to write her memoir. She showed me her work, and it was so convoluted and full of stream-of-conscious writing. She wasn’t sure if there was anything there.

I remember telling her, “Are you kidding? You have a great story there!” We just needed to break it down, simplify it, and then get out of the way because it was that compelling.

Support also can come from decreasing the distance. Thanks to Zoom, I have clients all over the country, so when they come to town, I make sure I see them. And when I travel to other parts of the country, I look them up. 

I have entertained people from New York and Florida, and I have connected with clients in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Washington, DC.

It’s very rewarding, just like ghostwriting is. And I make sure that remoteness makes no difference.

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