When people think of a ghostwriter they often imagine a freelancer whose only goal is to turn his client’s personal experience, idea for a novel or business secret into a bestseller. But a surprising number of individuals who approach me for writing assistance are actually stoical about the bestselling aspect. To them, whether or not my labors lead to the enviable outcome of a full-blown published work, is almost immaterial. They are content just telling their story.
This may sound a bit odd, at first. After all, why on earth bother to tell your story if no one gets to read it? In my opinion that’s exactly the mindset you need to adopt to succeed in any kind of endeavor, let alone a competitive area like writing. It’s a bit like keeping the horse before the carriage, rather than the other way around. Moreover, if the professional you hire has any ethics, he or she will make sure you understand this, because making unrealistic promises, especially to a client who happens to be psychologically vulnerable, is downright unethical.
Visions of Grandeur?
If your life hinges on achieving celebrity status or finding a pot of gold, you may be setting himself up for failure. Forget what the self-improvement coaches keep telling us: Don’t let your vision of grandeur lead you by the nose. The principal cause for failure among first-time authors is their shallow understanding of what makes a great book. All they dream about is to be bestselling authors.
Some clients of mine are so blinded by self-flattery that they feel entitled to the same humongous windfall that befell swindlers like Bernard L. Madoff, or failed but rich corporate executives like Maurice R. Greenberg. Incidentally, Greenberg now has a shot at cashing in on his failed experience at AIG, after all the tens of millions of dollars in bonuses he has received! A recent legal settlement with AIG accorded him access to the archival materials he covets for writing his memoirs.
Why should the “fat cats” walk away with the pot of gold every time, right?
There’s a word for this: ENVY (a mortal sin, even if you’re not especially religious). And cynicism can lead to a serious case of it. They are both contagious, self-serving, and will get you nowhere. While I don’t recommend a lackadaisical attitude toward your ghostwriter, envy and cynicism will devour any chance you have of publishing success. They drown, not save, those who can’t seem to keep their moral antennas securely on.
Writing about your husband the pathological liar may hold certain interest from a psychological standpoint; it may even help others in similar situations. But you should try first to confront your own personal demons. Perhaps you’ve suffered for too many years living with a man like that. What you need now, before taking another step, is to learn how you can anticipate the future before it strikes you with a vengeance. Do this before exploiting your hardships for a few silver pieces and setting yourself up for an even worse soul-battering experience.
The ghostwriter who knows this is as valuable to you as your psychotherapist, because he or she will make you demand more of yourself than the sham of fame.
Ghostwriters Do More Than Just Write for You
The ghostwriter you hire will show you how to step back from the story you want to tell, as gritty or captivating as it may be. That’s the first step. Second, he or she will be frank about the prospects of your book idea, and therefore, its relationship to that money scheme you may have been spinning in your dreams.
After this, concentrate on making your book worth reading. For this to happen, it has to be told from the heart; it must be genuine. A good professional should be able to help you achieve this. If you’re writing a book to build your business brand—fine. Making money in your line of work is perfectly legitimate. But you have to let your knowledge, expertise and passion speak for themselves. That’s how you build a brand. Remember, Hemmingway and Shakespeare didn’t set out to make a fortune, or even to be creative. They just “let it all hang out.”
The vision of glitter that you absolutely believe your story deserves will only enslave you to your basest impulses. Without properly coming to terms with your motives for telling the story, whether it’s a fiction or nonfiction, you will be lost…and, oh, so at the mercy of any unscrupulous ghostwriter that comes your way.
Anthony F. Shaker, PhD, has been ghostwriting and editing for 25 years. He is fluent in several languages, has traveled widely around the world and has written in many areas, both fiction and nonfiction. He works for individual clients and companies both large and small. To learn more about AFS Wordstead, go to www.wordstead.com. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/getting-the-best-out-of-the-ghostwriter-you-hire-1682646.html
afshaker@aol.com
