Bringing Your Nonfiction Book to Life: Ten Things Your Ghostwriter Needs to Make Your Manuscript Shine
September 18, 2024
Have you harbored dreams of writing a book…but found that you have too little time, or that you’re short on the necessary skills or energy?
There’s a time-honored answer to this dilemma: work with a ghostwriter.
In the world of book publishing, ghostwriters are usually unsung heroes. That’s because their names rarely appear on book covers.
Oftentimes, a book is published which you’d never know was written—partially or completely—by someone other than the named author. It may have been written by a single ghostwriter or a ghostwriting company. In either case, there’s usually no mention of the writer or company in the publication credits.
In other cases, you might see a book that credits an author as writing the book “with” someone else, as in the case of Slash, the autobiography of Guns n’ Roses’ iconic guitarist, which credits “Slash with Anthony Bozza.” Or I Am Malala, written by “Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb.”
When you, as an author, agree to collaborate with a ghostwriter, the two of you sign a contract that spells out both parties’ responsibilities. With this agreement in place, getting help with your manuscript is a perfectly legit and ethical. Ultimately, all writing is collaborative—just ask any editor.
For written works from books to speeches to articles on the internet and more, the ghostwriter has long played an important part in our literary culture.
Have you considered hiring one of these “invisible” writers? If so, how would you prepare to work with one? Do you know what a ghostwriter would need to complete your project?
Before helping you answer those questions, let’s be sure we’re clear on what a ghostwriter is.
What is a Ghostwriter?
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who produces content on behalf of another person who is credited as author. Ghostwriters are behind-the-scenes writers, and as already mentioned, in many cases their contribution is not publicly acknowledged.
Their task is to capture the voice, style, and vision of the person they’re employed to write for. They must ensure the work sounds as if it was written by the “author” rather than themselves.
So, what does a ghostwriter do?
Write and revise, of course, and also conduct research, usually beginning with client interviews.
They will also often do in-depth reading to explore the author’s subject.
Throughout the process, the ghostwriter consults with the client to be sure they’re in agreement and on track.
Ghostwriters work for all kinds of clients: authors, politicians, celebrities, and business professionals to name a few. Autobiographies, memoirs, speeches, and many other nonfiction texts are in the wheelhouse of these ghosts.
With the term well-defined, let’s look at what you should expect to provide for your own ghostwriter, should you decide to use one. Frequently, the first thing you’ll bring will be yourself, that is to say, you’ll make yourself available for an interview.
The Interview Process
Denise Renee, a book writing coach, editor, and ghostwriter, says on Quora, “When my clients hire me to ghostwrite their book, they provide me with their ideas in the form of many interview sessions. I have the interviews transcribed and use them as a basis for creating the first draft of their book.
“My client will then review the draft, we’ll discuss their desired changes, I provide the rewrites and once they are satisfied, I have the manuscript edited and proofread and they are then ready to enter the publishing phase.”
Stacy Ennis, ghostwriter for a Nobel prize winner, says in a blog that the process begins with an important initial meeting, whether as a phone call or video conference.
“The client and ghostwriter meet and see if they have the right chemistry for working together,” Ennis says. “During this conversation, the ghostwriter often asks several questions to get an overview of the project.”
Now, let’s look at a complete list of the things your ghostwriter will need from you.
Preparing Your Manuscript Project: Ten Things to Provide Your Ghostwriter
If you decide to work with a ghostwriter, you’ll be partnering with a skilled professional who will help you turn your ideas into a polished, compelling manuscript. To a large extent, the success of your collaboration hinges on how well you prepare your materials and communicate your vision.
Here’s what you need to provide to your ghostwriter to ensure that the manuscript they produce meets your expectations—and stands out in the marketplace.
1. Clear Project Goals and Objectives
Before you even start preparing materials, you must define the purpose of your manuscript.
What is it you want your book to achieve? What is it you’re trying to say to your audience?
Getting clarity on your purpose will guide your ghostwriter throughout the process.
What You Can Provide:
- A Brief Overview of Your Project: Explain the overall subject of your manuscript. Is it an historical event, your personal story, the story of your journey as a business leader?
- Your Target Audience: Describe who your ideal readers are. Understanding your audience helps the ghostwriter tailor their writing to that audience’s interests and needs. As all good writers understand, knowing who you’re talking to shapes the way you write.
- Your Desired Outcome: Outline clearly what you hope to accomplish with your project. Do you want to inspire, entertain, educate, persuade? Setting clear objectives will help guide the ghostwriter’s approach.
If you’re writing a memoir about overcoming adversity, for example, your goal might be to inspire others who face similar challenges. Your target audience could be young adults dealing with personal setbacks, or entrepreneurs looking to start a new business.
2. A Project Outline
A detailed project outline provides your ghostwriter with a roadmap for your manuscript.
It includes everything from high-level concepts to very specific details about what your book should contain.
What You Can Provide:
- A Synopsis: Write a brief summary of the manuscript’s narrative arc, main ideas, or key themes. For non-fiction, this could be a summary of the main argument or message.
- A Chapter Outline: If you have a structure in mind, provide a detailed chapter-by-chapter outline. This helps the ghostwriter understand your thinking in terms of flow and organization.
- Research Materials: Share any research you’ve already done or sources you plan to use. These may include articles, books, interviews, notes, photographs, documents, and more.
- Key Themes and Messages: Describe the central themes and messages you want to convey. This will help the ghostwriter capture your vision throughout the manuscript.
Say you’re writing a business book on leadership. The chapter outline you provide could include topics like “Effective Communication Strategies” and “Building a High-Performance Team.” You would also include any materials you’ve found for these chapters while doing your own research—books, articles, and so on.
As The Urban Writers blog points out, you can get specific with the details of the outline, right down to chapter titles, section titles, how long you want chapters to be, and more.
3. Personal Materials and Anecdotes
For some types of manuscripts, especially memoirs and autobiographies, personal materials and anecdotes are crucial.
Your stories and anecdotes (or those of a loved one) can be related to the ghostwriter in recorded interviews.
What You Can Provide:
- Personal Stories: Share important experiences, turning points, and significant moments from your life or career that you want included in the manuscript.
- Character Descriptions: If your manuscript includes real people, provide detailed descriptions of their personalities, appearances, and roles in your story.
- Visual Materials: Provide photos, letters, maps, or other documents that might help illustrate your story or provide context.
If you’re writing a memoir about your travels, provide your ghostwriter with captioned photos from your trips, along with stories about memorable experiences and people you met.
As Laura Sherman suggests on her blog, research materials for a memoir can also include diaries, personal blog content, and relevant newspaper articles.
4. Voice and Style Guidelines
Voice and style guidelines are standard in marketing writing, and they’re important in branding. The same goes for you and your brand: Your voice and style make your manuscript unique.
There are some specific things you can give your ghostwriter to help them consistently “sound like you” and infuse a manuscript with your personality.
What You Can Provide:
- Examples of Your Own Writing: Share previous writings, blog posts, or any other documents that showcase your style and voice.
- Voice Preferences: Describe the tone you want to your ghostwriter—is it formal, conversational, humorous, or inspirational?
- Sample Texts: Provide excerpts from books or articles you’ve read that reflect the style or tone you’re aiming for. As Stephen King has said, all great writers read a lot, so be sure to do the same!
If you prefer a conversational tone, provide sample blog posts or articles you or others have written and describe how you want the manuscript to have a similar feel. Ghostwriters who are skilled interviewers can also pick up your voice and style as they interview you and run with it.
5. Detailed Character and Setting Descriptions
Writing a nonfiction book can be a lot like writing a novel—both rely on similar elements.
Like fiction projects, nonfiction manuscripts need detailed character and setting descriptions to create a believable and engaging narrative.
What You Can Provide:
- Character Profiles: Offer detailed descriptions of your characters, including their back stories, motivations, and relationships.
- Character Development: Outline how your characters (and in the case of a memoir or autobiography, that includes you) evolve throughout the story.
- Setting Details: Descriptions of where your story takes place, including locations, time periods, and any unique features of the settings, will help your ghostwriter create atmosphere.
Provide detailed profiles for each character, including their physical descriptions and personality traits. Describe settings with details like historical context, geographical features, and atmosphere. These help paint the picture your story lives in.
6. Feedback on Drafts and Revisions
Throughout the writing process, feedback is crucial for refining a manuscript.
Making time to regularly offer feedback to your ghostwriter helps them keep your project on track.
What You Can Provide:
- Feedback Guidelines: Explain how you would like to give feedback in your author-ghostwriter collaboration. Do you prefer to write detailed notes on each chapter, as is most common, or do a general critical overview of the manuscript all at once?
- Revision Requests: Be specific about what you want to change or adjust in the drafts. Focus on elements like narrative development, character representation, or factual accuracy.
- Review Schedule: Set up a schedule for regular reviews and feedback sessions. The ghostwriter will appreciate your efforts and dedication to the project.
All of the above are about good communication—so very important to the ghostwriting process.
7. Legal and Contractual Documents
To ensure a smooth and professional author-ghostwriter collaboration, you’ll need to attend to legal and contractual matters.
Clarity is especially important here.
What You Can Provide:
- Contract Agreement: This is a detailed agreement outlining the scope of work, deadlines, and rights of your ghostwriter.
- Non-Disclosure Agreements: If your manuscript contains sensitive information, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) might be necessary.
- Payment Terms: Agree on payment terms, including amounts, milestones, and methods of payment.
Draft a contract that includes the information above and each party’s obligations. Draft an NDA if necessary to protect all confidential information that is shared.
8. Marketing and Promotion Plan
If you have ideas about how you want to market and promote your manuscript, share them with your ghostwriter.
It’s normal practice to include these with a proposal pitch.
Your ghostwriter knows best how to write a great pitch that incorporates promotional ideas.
What You Can Provide:
- Marketing Strategies: Outline any marketing plans you have, such as social media campaigns, book tours, or speaking engagements.
- Promotional Platforms: Share any personal websites, blogs, or social media profiles that can be used for promotion.
- Collaboration Ideas: If you plan to involve the ghostwriter in marketing efforts, discuss these opportunities upfront. They may know a lot from experience!
If you plan to launch a book tour, let your ghostwriter know so they can help craft promotional materials or suggest ideas for the tour.
9. A Sample Chapter
Sometimes, starting with a sample chapter that you’ve written can help establish the tone and direction of a manuscript.
This puts some of the writing responsibility in your court, but shows your ghostwriter, in tangible form, what you have in mind.
What You Can Provide:
- One Sample Chapter: If you’ve already started writing, provide the initial chapter (or chapters) as a reference. The ghostwriter can do the rest.
- Writing Prompts: Share any ideas or prompts that you think will help guide the ghostwriter in developing the manuscript.
Whether you have a draft chapter or just a few paragraphs of text, share what you’ve written to give your ghostwriter a starting point. Alternatively, you can ask the ghostwriter to write a sample chapter and then discuss it thoroughly.
10. Timeline and Deadlines
Scheduling your project around agreed-upon timelines and deadlines from the start helps manage expectations, ensure smooth progress, and avoid misunderstandings down the line.
What You Can Provide:
- Project Timeline: Outline proposed key milestones and deadlines for the manuscript’s completion, including drafts, revisions, and final submission.
- Your Availability: Share your availability for meetings, reviews, and feedback sessions with the ghostwriter.
Include deadlines for completion of a first draft, review phases, and final edits. Make sure to communicate about any periods of time when you will be unavailable for meetings or feedback.
Mind the Details
Publishing a book is a big dream, no doubt. It’s also a big investment. And even if you hire a ghostwriter or a ghostwriting company, you’ll still be responsible for a lot of work that’s necessary for success. You’ve got to prepare.
Preparing your manuscript for a ghostwriter involves far more than just handing over a few notes. It requires a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to communicating your ideas so your ghostwriter can bring them to life.
By providing clear goals, detailed outlines, personal insights, and feedback mechanisms, you set the stage for a successful author-ghostwriter collaboration.
The better you prepare, the smoother the writing process will be, and the closer you’ll come to achieving your goals for your manuscript.
By sticking with these guidelines, you can provide everything your invisible writer needs to create a manuscript that resonates, both with readers and your own vision. Results like those can be the true rewards of working with a ghostwriter.
