The Ghostwriter Respects the Author, and the Author Trusts the Ghostwriter

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I previously wrote about a ghostwriter’s need to be able to step into the client’s shoes and tell the story in the client’s voice and tone and style. To effectively do that, a ghostwriter must respect the client, the story and the information behind the story. Or the ghostwriter must decline the work.

Everyone must understand that this is a partnership, and each side must honor the other. The person’s story is important enough to them that they want it written. The ghostwriter must not mock the person or the story. 

Throughout the process, the person will have to be vulnerable, as story details that are emotionally uncomfortable will have to come out to give the story its most dramatic impact and effectiveness. The ghostwriter must understand which details are needed, then must explain why such deeply personal questions must be asked, then listen carefully and sensitively to the answers, then write it with the care and decency the information deserves.

I can’t stress the importance of trust. I once had a client who was married to a psychopath. As this was her second marriage and she mentioned her sex life, I felt it important to see if this guy was a better lover. That meant I had to ask general questions about their sex life and how it compared. She understood and answered all my questions. Fortunately, there was no difference, so I quickly decided I could stop this line of questioning and omit it from the book. She appreciated that I did not trample over that very sensitive part of her life.

Another key to respect is to know who’s the expert. Remember that having the story is one thing, but writing it is something else entirely. They require two different skill sets. The person has the story, so he/she/they are the expert. The person who wants to have a memoir ghostwritten knows the experiences, events and emotions behind the story. He/she/they know who the target audience is and what that audience will get out of reading the story, whether that’s just an emotional release or a call to take some action. 

If the person has a business story to tell, he/she/they know the target audience, the product or service, its purpose, its advantages, its benefits, and the practical and emotional details of how and why this product or service exists.

The ghostwriter needs to respect the person’s expertise. Similarly, the client should recognize that the ghostwriter is the writing expert, so they should defer to the ghostwriter on matters of organization, punctuation, grammar, style, thoroughness and dramatic impact. When the ghostwriter asks deep, probing questions to get more detail, the client should understand that the ghostwriter is doing that in service of the story, not to be salacious or voyeuristic or indecent. 

They can debate and negotiate what details are critical to the story and which can be cut. But they really need to stay in their lanes, so to speak.

The following has happened more times than I wish: A stranger contacts me and inquires about my ghostwriting. I hear him say he has written something and wants me to look at it. But make no mistake, he has the final decision. 

When I hear that, I proceed cautiously because it doesn’t sound like he understands that the work I would do for him is always going to be in service of his story. I’m never going to rewrite anything that doesn’t sound like him, but he needs to understand that he can’t control the entire project. There is give and take. He is the expert when it comes to the story; I’m the expert when it comes to writing.

Understanding that — and the trust that goes with it — is the critical first step toward working together.

Lee Barnathan

Lee Barnathan

Imagine cradling your book in your arms. See yourself thumbing through the pages, reading the words, recognizing that what’s contained therein is your story, laid out for all to see. This symbol of your life is part catharsis and part healing. Your journey is complete, and you’ve reached the people who needed to hear your story.

You have a story that just has to be told. If you don’t get it out of your head, you will regret it. You know that if people just could tap into the wisdom that's inside you, their lives would change for the better.

You’ve probably been feeling like you need to sit down and get it on paper. But you haven’t made it a priority. Maybe it’s because you hate writing or you don’t consider yourself a writer. Perhaps the thought of you dedicating hours a day to organizing and writing your story is too overwhelming when piled on top of life’s demands.

Or maybe you’re beset with terror: "What if my story isn’t interesting or compelling enough to reach a wide audience? Am I good enough to tell it? Can I make it irresistible, a must-read?"

You're not alone. The vast majority of people who have experienced what life has to offer have a story to tell that’s worthwhile, unique and compelling, but they never get to do it for a wider audience.

Why is it so hard? Why are you like the 97% of people who start their book don’t finish it? There is a world of difference between having the story in your head and being able to get it down on paper.

What most people don’t realize is that having the story and writing the story require two different skill sets.

The more worthwhile and compelling your story is, the more critical it is to have a professional writer give it the treatment it deserves so it will touch lives in the way you envision. That’s why it’s so important to partner with a specialist who’s an expert in the art of storytelling. Your story is too important to leave to an amateur.

Let's start a new project together.

Contact me so we can explore how a ghostwriter or editor can benefit you.