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How to Work With a Ghostwriter
I have talked to many, many busy professionals who must bring in
new business and new clients. Without exception, they all know that if
they could only find the time to write a book or a series of articles,
their marketing would become much easier and faster.
But who has the time? After all, we just said we were talking about
busy professionals. Moreover, while these individuals may be very
skilled in their own fields, most of them do not have the skills to
write publishable material.
Enter the ghostwriter: a professional writer who can write your book,
articles or content for your website, for you to publish under your own
name.
But how do you get the best finished product from working with a ghostwriter? Here are a few tips that may help you out:
1. Select a writer with knowledge of your field. If a doctor needs
a ghostwriter, she should choose someone with a background in medicine.
A lawyer should choose someone like myself with a Juris Doctor degree
and experience practicing law.
You simply don't have time to bring someone up to speed if your
field of knowledge (and the topic of your book or articles) is
specialized.
2. Allow time for the writer to interview you. Let the ghostwriter
ask you questions, and get the benefit of your knowledge on the
subject. Let's say, for example, that you are an attorney who wants a
book on several high-profile cases you tried. Share how you approached
your strategy on the cases, describe the moments when the outcome was
in doubt, and reveal your personal feelings as the cases unfolded.
Don't leave these personal insights to chance, these are aspects of the
writing you must share with your writer.
3. Provide as much relevant written material as you can. For
example, when writing for a lawyer, I would like to have her briefs,
trial notes and even copies of case law that was put together in
preparation of the trial.
4. Stay in touch and be accessible. Nothing bogs a writer down
more than to have a key unanswered question that remains unanswered for
a week or more.
Remember, working with a ghostwriter is a collaboration. Both of you
have a role to play and a share of the workload. The final result will
show how well the two of you as a team worked together.
COPYRIGHT(C)2006, Charles Brown. All rights reserved.
Charles Brown is a Dallas, Texas based freelance copywriter who writes
web copy, advertisements, white papers and direct mail. Read his
"Freelance Copywriter Secrets" at dynamiccopywriting.blogspot.com or contact him at 817.715.3852 or **charbrow@gmail.com**.
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