San Francisco Giants pitcher Brian Wilson, aka “The Beard,” is a character. He is arguably the most dynamic character in professional baseball today, and possibly all time.
At the moment, he is on my TV showing off a toy gnome created in his likeness, while exuberantly exclaiming things like “gnome-tacular,” “gnom-ians” and “Deedle deedle dee, I’m a gnome!” Gotta love a good character.
As a ghostwriter, I’ve written about many different characters. Some people might this this as an unusual way of describing the real life people I write about in business, biographical and other nonfiction books. I see it as a way of adding impact to the creative process – and it’s wicked fun!
Beards and gnomes aside, we are each one-of-a-kind characters with unique stories to tell – whether of business, of life passions, of life in general or otherwise. When writing on behalf of someone else, in my mind they become a character, the main character in the book. The people they talk about, supporting characters. Their words and information conveyed to me, the plotline. Each book tells a story and I always feel privileged to be the one who gets to tell it.
The most exciting part of the ghostwriting process for me, quite honestly, is the development phase. Just like a good novelist, this is when I figure out and flesh out the book characters, discover the story that needs to be told and brainstorm the best, most creative way to tell it. I have also been known to select a song or group of songs as my “inspiration music” for a new project.
In the world of baseball, the development phase is like the pitcher warming up in the bullpen before the game. Brian Wilson, in the same TV segment today, said that this is by far his favorite part of the game. Not the actual experience of being on the mound, pitching or successfully saving the game – but the preparation process (which, like mine, also includes music).
In the world of ghostwriting, I know that the more I prepare, and the more fun (creativity is F-U-N!) I have in development, the better, and less painfully, the actual writing process goes. And for those times when the pipelines of creativity do get clogged, I might have to track down one of those Beard gnomes and make it my imagination good luck charm. Baseball players aren’t the only superstitious characters.
 “So as a ghostwriter, do you write books for people who don’t want their name on a book cover so they use yours instead?”
Yes, that’s right, I write for mob informants in hiding. Of all the frequently asked questions I get about ghostwriting, this wins the “Bizarro World” award. (Seinfeld fans will recall this as a world of opposites.)
Q: So what DO you do then?
A: As a ghostwriter, I write books for people who want their names on a book cover but need a little help, ranging from collaboration to the whole shebang – all the words, cover to cover.
Q: Don’t you ever want to see your own name on a book cover?
A: Sometimes… although I’m so busy writing other people’s books that I’ll probably have to hire my own ghostwriter someday!
Q: What kinds of books do you ghostwrite?
A: Nonfiction, biographies, personal development, even fiction style stories. I specialize in the ultra personal and ultra creative; often taking on projects that other ghostwriters aren’t exactly lining up, quill in hand, to tackle.
Q: How do you know what to write?
A: My mom can confirm that I’ve enjoyed the art of conversation since a young age. Ghostwriting involves a series of phone conversations where as a literary therapist I extract what is needed from the client’s psyche to tell their story the way they would tell it.
Q: How do your clients edit your work, add to it, and offer suggestions?
A: I prefer Microsoft Word tracked changes but faxed hard copy edits are also acceptable. Although, based on the range of technological savvy I’ve seen, one of these days I’m fully expecting a carrier pigeon with the edits in its beak to come knocking on my office window.
Q: Can you tell me which books you’ve written?
A: No.
Q: Why not?
A: Because someone is liable to send mob informants after me.
"I hear about the aspiring author who announces that, after having written nothing longer than a grocery list during most of their adult life, is going to write the next greatest American novel in a few months."
One of my goals for 2012 is to pace myself. Because, as a bona fide, textbook Type A personality and self-diagnosed creative force of nature, when left unchecked I can easily transform into one of those sports cars that goes from 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds. Checking the list of the world’s 80 fastest cars, apparently that makes me a Porsche 911 Turbo S. The “911” irony is not lost on me. Aside from the fact that I was an EMT during my college days, responding to 911 calls, I admit that I have the tendency to see my entire things-to-do list as something that needs to be done NOW, 911, all at once, lights and sirens. But, with the help of my business coach, journaling, and blog confessions like this, I intend to ratchet my innate urgency down a couple notches this year…. down to at least the 411 level. Just as the tasks on my things-to-do list are meant to be tackled one at a time, so are habits. Have you ever, for instance, heard the story of the chronic couch potato who suddenly wakes up on January 1st and decides – “This is the year! I’m ready! I’m excited! I’m going to lose 50 pounds in a month like those Biggest Loser people and run my first triathlon by March! And I’m going to exercise at 5am six days a week to make it happen.” Cut to January 12th when, after a couple weeks of white knuckled, motivation fueled workout fumes, said potato has regrown its Scotchgard roots for about another year. The lesson here - don’t book that expedition to scale Everest if you routinely journey only as far as your mailbox. Human beings are not meant to go from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds, especially when it comes to something totally new that we’re really excited about attempting but have never actually done before. This is why I am sympathetically amused when I hear about the aspiring author who announces that, after having written nothing longer than a grocery list for most of their adult life, is going to write the next greatest American novel in a few months. And, like the overly ambitious couch potato, generally throws in the quill and inkbottle after writing that really great opening line that they’ve been thinking about for the better part of 10 years. I’m not saying that this aspiring Steinbeck isn’t capable of writing their novel. They just need to program their speedometer more sensibly – say, 0 to 60 in about a year. As a professional ghostwriter, I clearly don’t have this problem, right? My normal process is to sit in front of a blank white computer screen, set fire to the keyboard with my unending flurry of words and ideas, and voila – an instant 75,000-word book is born a month later. If you believe that, perhaps it’s time to stop sucking on those Porsche fumes and rejoin me here in reality. Going from 0 to 60 in any life pursuit or passion is a step-by-step process that takes time, patience, perseverance and as many of our clients have observed about me, a high level of organization. I have an affinity for spreadsheets and lists that many people find unusual, okay a little nutty, in your typical creative type. In order to manage the sheer volume of words and ideas that I am responsible for shepherding every day, a step-by-step approach is necessary. So yes, in some ways and in some instances, I do find myself, lead foot on the gas of my imaginary 911 Porsche, trying to get it all done at once. But even then, there’s usually a spreadsheet involved. Are you poised to write the next great American novel but quite literally don’t know where to begin? Click “Email me” at the bottom of this page for help getting started!
“Your Story Matters, tell it” are words on one of many inspirational writing-related plaques, which decorate my office. It’s so easy to forget this in the face of all the reasons we give ourselves NOT to share our story...
In the last few blogs, I’ve been focusing on the personal branding side of our firm – adding clarity, continuity, consistency, creativity and impact to your written message. Our other passion is helping you tell your story through our professional ghostwriting services.
This might mean consulting with you along the path of your manuscript-writing journey or at the next level, editing your work as you write, or the whole shebang – sharing the incredible creative experience of writing a book with you, side by side, as your own personal ghostwriter. We love to help people share their stories!
“Your Story Matters, tell it” are words on one of many inspirational writing-related plaques, which decorate my office. It’s so easy to forget this in the face of all the reasons we give ourselves NOT to share our story. The questions that plague us, like – How will I get published? Should it be a movie or a book? Are my words good enough? Who will read my story? What IS my story?
As someone who started writing stories at the age of seven and then began my professional writing career 12 years ago, I can assure you that once you discover your story (or stories – why stop with one!) and decide to write it, all the questions and doubts have a way of dissolving. When a story presents itself to me, it’s like a thin, cool mist of creativity envelops me, obscuring everything else except the words – all the beautiful words begging to be seen. This applies to both fiction and nonfiction works. All words are beautiful, even if they’re not the next ‘great American novel’.
It all starts with finding the story you are meant to tell. I find that the Socratic method, asking an incessant stream of questions until you reach the “ah-ha” moment is extremely effective. (And I don’t mean any of the questions from earlier in this blog – the self-doubt ones!)
What kinds of stories inspire you the most? Emotional memoirs, uplifting tales of triumph over adversity, quirky tales about life’s lessons, something else? Why?
What do you like to talk about the most? Personal stories from your life, a hobby or passion (are you a history buff for example?), or your specific area of professional expertise that always fires you up? Make a list and see what stands out!
Who are you writing for and why MUST you share your words with them? Is it to inspire a certain group of people, entertain, educate or another personal reason?
I hope these three questions are just the beginning of the journey to tell your story. What inspires you to tell your story? Please add a comment below and share this blog with your friends! Thank you.
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