10 Steps for Working With a Professional Ghostwriter


A professional ghostwriter will guide you through the steps of how to create a book, so that you don’t have to. The key steps include planning, execution and completion. Your job is to make decisions and communicate your vision and material to the ghostwriter. The ghostwriter for hire will write it. 


1. Determine the project purpose

  • Expand your (the author’s) platform?
  • Launch your speaking career?
  • Create new revenue streams?
  • Reach a national audience?
  • Share experience and knowledge?
  • Leave a legacy?
  • Sell book proposal to a literary agent or publisher?


2. Determine your target audience

  • Corporations?
  • Workshop and event participants?
  • Mass consumer?
  • Industry?
  • Literary agent?
  • Book publisher?


3. Determine range of products

  • Book proposal?
  • Books?
  • E-books?
  • Workbooks?
  • Web content?
  • Other?


4. Determine timelines for project

  • When is the first product targeted to launch?
  • When will future products be targeted to launch?
  • What is your availability?


5. Assess existing material

  • Speech recordings?
  • Video recordings?
  • Journals?
  • Articles?


6. Choose best style of working

  • You (the author) write alone, then have the ghostwriter organize and edit the material?
  • Speak into a digital recorder, then have the ghostwriter transcribe and edit it?
  • Do interviews with the ghostwriter, either live or via phone?
  • Combination of the above?


7. Create agreements

  • Author (you) and ghostwriter sign work agreement based on above answers
  • Author and ghostwriter agree to production schedule


8. Collect material

  • Writer compiles existing material from author
  • Author starts writing, or writer starts interviewing author


9. Write and revise

  • Writer creates first draft, asks more questions
  • Author reviews first draft, answers questions and suggests changes
  • Writer and author go back and forth until both are satisfied
  • Writer works with designer or printer for layout requirements
  • Writer does polished editing and proofreading


10. Final copy

  • Author signs off on the content
  • Writer does final proofreading
  • Writer sends final copy to designer, printer or literary agent

 

Have an idea for a book but not sure where to get started? Contact me today for a consultation.


Related Resources 

Read more about the Value of a Ghostwriter 

Read more about Hiring a Ghostwriter 

Read more about The 8 Steps of the Book Writing Process

Return to the top of the Professional Ghostwriter page

Return to AuthorBridgeMedia.com home page

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