Ghost Writing Secrets: How to Write
We’re going to take a temporary break from ChatGPT today. Instead of focusing on some of the tools that make my job easier, let’s focus on part of the actual job: ghostwriting. Does it sound cool? Sure, I guess. Is it actually cool? Not really. But it’s something I do, so let’s talk about it.
If you’re important enough for a newspaper to care about what you may have to say on some matter, chances are you’re also too busy to write your own opinion pieces. Which makes total sense because good, compelling, creative writing is hard, tedious work. No one actually wants to do it (anyone who says otherwise is lying) so why do it yourself when can just have someone like me to do it for you?
So, before I go back to toiling away in the shadows, I thought I’d share a few insights and three basic tips on how to be an effective ghostwriter.
Tip #1: Understand the client’s voice
This may seem obvious, but understanding the client’s voice is crucial to effective ghostwriting. The best way to do this is to research the client's previous work. As a ghostwriter, you need to be able to step into their shoes and take on their persona. If someone were to ghostwrite for me, reading my past blog posts and working to home in on my snarky, informal writing style would be a good place to start. Beyond that, it’s a good idea to actually speak with the person you’re ghostwriting for if it is at all possible. I’m not going to sit here and tell you I do that every time I write for someone else, but becoming more familiar with the person you’re writing for certainly never hurts.
Tip #2: Establish the objectives of the writing
More than just knowing the client's voice and writing style, the ghostwriter has to know the objectives of the writing. They have to understand the project's goals and the target audience. It’s a lot of work to understand all this, so the ghostwriter has to be willing to research it all and talk with the client about what goals they want to achieve with the writing. Ghostwriting this blog would be a pretty straightforward exercise because it is just an informative piece about ghostwriting, but most writing projects require some in-depth research and knowledge of the topic.
Tip #3: Build a strong relationship with the client
Building a good rapport with the client is essential. Regular communication is key. Most importantly, a good ghostwriter needs to be open to feedback and criticism. Ultimately, the words you are writing belong to someone else—sometimes it takes a few drafts for a client to reach a place of comfort with that, which is understandable. I know I wouldn’t want anyone putting words in my mouth, so always consider your client’s perspective in this relationship.
So, to recap, to be an effective ghostwriter, you need to:
Understand the client's voice and writing style.
Understand the objectives of the work.
Build a strong relationship with the client.
With that, I need to get back to the job of making other people look good. If you have questions, ask the internet. I didn’t write this, so I won’t know what you’re talking about anyway.
*Mostly ghostwritten by our talented new intern, Elaine Kutas