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.
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.
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