How often do people think about writing a book about their life experience?
Carl Sagan
Research has shown that an astounding 81% of all Americans say they have a book inside of them. That’s approximately 200 million people who aspire to the literary limelight. Yet only a precious few have actually completed a book through the publishing process. But, now, with the advances in self-and-custom publishing, (with self-published titles dwarfing traditionally published works nearly 2:1), it’s easier than ever to efficiently get a book out into the market. And people do it for very different reasons.
Some public speakers and corporate executives, for example, use a book as a marketing tool that broadens their platform. It’s a tangible promotional calling card that can be made available for “back-of-the-room” sales at conferences, meetings, and speaking engagements.
Others want a book written to establish their legacy, an accurate record of their life and experience, a treasure that can be given to family, friends, and business associates. Still others, celebrities or newsmakers, want a book to set the record straight. And many authors in the self-help and Christian markets write service-oriented books to inspire and help others. Whether it’s a diet or exercise manual, or a spiritual guide, such books are hugely successful, often topping the bestseller lists.
No matter what the incentive, most people, even with compelling stories to tell, often procrastinate or become afflicted with writer’s block once they begin. After all, writing a book is a skill that requires discipline and training. Most people hardly have the time to go to work and take care of their families, much less compose a manuscript of 100,000 words. And that’s where a ghostwriter comes in.
The ghostwriter’s job is mapping out the tone, scope and structure of the book; creating a detailed storyboard outline, with chapter titles and a concise summary of each theme; then interviewing you in detailed recorded sessions, talking your book from start to finish over a period of 30-45 days, accessing your memory and drawing from you the story in all its vivid detail. And then, once the interviews are finished, the ghostwriter goes to work and does ALL the writing and editing, presenting drafts to the client as the book evolves.
Some might say, can’t I do this all myself? If you owned a Mercedes, a great car in every way, would you attempt, with no training, to service it yourself? Or would you take it to the dealer?
A ghostwriter is your book mechanic, your under-the-hood guy, recreating your life experience for others to read and appreciate.
