Editor, Ghostwriter, or Writing Coach: Which Kind of Writing Help Do You Need?

The term “nonfiction” covers a lot of literary ground. It encompasses a spectrum of topics from the highly technical and objective to the highly emotional and subjective. From guidebooks and reference books to thought leadership, personal and family history, and more.

Regardless of nonfiction type and author experience level, writing a book is never a one-person job. All nonfiction writers need some kind of professional writing help from others.

In general, these “others” will be classified either as editors, ghostwriters, or writing coaches.

Let’s look at these three types of professionals, at what their work entails, and how they each contribute to moving books forward. As you read their descriptions introspectively, ponder which types of writing assistance you need.

Types of Book Editors and Why Writers Need Them

All nonfiction book authors need editors.

A book editor makes or proposes changes they see as necessary to improve your manuscript. There are several types of editors and, although their jobs overlap somewhat, your book will likely need more than one type on its journey from conception to publication.

Whether one or several editors work on your book, the main types of editing services it will probably undergo are as follows:

Developmental editing

Developmental editing happens when a specialized editor looks at your book as a whole—at whether it accomplishes what it sets out to accomplish for its intended audience. And at what kind of mark it makes on its genre.

Developmental editors ensure that your book’s structure and overall message are cohesive.

They suggest changes, which you make decisions about and tackle when you’re in agreement. One or more of these suggestion/change cycles might be needed to get your book into optimal shape for submission to a publisher.

Content editing

Content editing involves confirming that your copy is complete, factually correct, and suitable for its planned audience.

Content editors show where your concepts need further explanation or more information. They also point out inconsistencies, places where your voice isn’t infused, overused phrases, dull passages, and more.

These book editors want to be sure your narrative flows smoothly and logically between chapters and sections, so they may sometimes rearrange material within chapters. Or they may decide that something from one chapter belongs in another or that you really don’t need a particular chapter.

Line editing

Line editing, as the name implies, is done by an editor who goes through your finished manuscript line by line and paragraph by paragraph.

The tasks of line editors include reducing unnecessary wordiness and repetition, eliminating passive voice, shortening monstrously long sentences, and ensuring clarity.

Although there is a touch of overlap between content and line editing, content editing generally takes more of a high-level overview and line editing a much closer look at details.

Traditional copyediting

Traditional copyediting addresses and corrects spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and other mandatory “technical” details.

Copyeditors typically work on finished manuscripts.

Your book should follow the style sheet (typically MLA, AP, APA, or Chicago) that your chosen publisher prefers. A copyeditor ensures that it does.

A Cautionary Note About Good Editing

Publishers do employ their own editors, but if your manuscript arrives too rough and unedited, a publisher may quickly return it to you.

When to Hire a Nonfiction Book Ghostwriter

Hiring a ghostwriter makes sense if you’ve got a story to tell but don’t like writing, aren’t confident about writing a book, or don’t have time to write.

When you hire a ghostwriter, you hire an invisible writer to create your book’s content for you. It is a completely ethical process because the ghostwriter will use your ideas, experiences, and views.

A ghostwriter may be the optimal choice for authors of memoirs, autobiographies, family or business histories, expert or thought leadership books, and guidebooks or reference books. In short, for any non-writer who wants to author a nonfiction book.

You get all the credit as author and retain all rights to the book.

Ghostwriter Qualifications

Since you’ll be named as author for all the world to see, you’ll want to hire an experienced nonfiction ghostwriter who understands how to write in your voice rather than their own.

This behind-the-scenes scribe must also be skilled at research, concepting, and outlining. And, because mutual understanding is so vital to ghostwriting, they must have excellent communication skills and be responsive to your questions.

The Process

A ghostwriter works with you, “downloading” information and ideas from your brain through discussions, interviews, your notes, photos, and more before beginning to write.

Your ghostwriter will typically meet with you, either in person or online, to get acquainted and talk over your book-to-be. Besides its content, you’ll discuss things like format, what is and isn’t your voice, point of view, types of graphics you want, and publishing options.

When you begin working together, you’ll discuss your book’s structure, chapter topics, and its key messages and takeaways.

As writing proceeds, you’ll likely receive a chapter at a time to review and give feedback on. Your ghostwriter will make any changes you feel are necessary, while ensuring your book flows smoothly and logically.

Once completed, your manuscript will go through a final review, edit, and proofreading before publication. (A ghostwriter with established contacts can probably get you into print faster.)

Ghostwriters write proposals, too.

For many nonfiction authors, the prospect of writing a book proposal for a publisher is intimidating. If you’re one of those authors, a ghostwriter may be just the “proposer” you need to catch a publisher’s eye. These writers know how to present ideas intriguingly and professionally to the right companies.

What a Nonfiction Coach Can Do for a Book Writer

A writing coach assists you upfront and throughout the writing of your book. Although the jobs of a writing coach and a ghostwriter overlap a bit, a writing coach’s role is more limited. A coach will typically help with your book’s concept and title, help you create an outline, and help you write a proposal for a publisher.

They will also be available for direction and encouragement as you write.

Whereas an editor works with a completed manuscript, a writing coach is with you during each step of the process that will finally result in a completed manuscript.

A book coach is normally there from the outset as you establish your book’s purpose, structure, and audience. (A new author, especially, is likely to need help with organizing the structure of a book.

They also work with you to set completion goals and ensure that nothing important is left out.

 As you write, they give you chapter-at-a-time advice to help you stay on message and on-voice. The advantage of this is that, if you’re veering off course at any time, the coach is there to steer you back on quickly. It’s like the difference between realizing you have a ticket to the wrong destination while at the train station versus when you’ve traveled hundreds of miles down the tracks in the wrong direction.

A nonfiction coach, because of the mutual connection you build, can offer moral support and even give career guidance. Somewhat like a sports coach, they can deliver pep talks when you’re discouraged, remind you of your goals, and keep you moving forward.

In summary, writing coaches work to grow your skills and confidence as a writer, with the goal that eventually you won’t need them!

Which kind of writing help do you need?

Having looked at the types of wordsmiths who can help make your book a finished reality, which are you leaning toward?

As you ponder that question, consider:

• Your current level of writing skill
• Your organizational talents, or lack of them
• Your desire, or lack of desire, to write
• How far you have already progressed in getting your ideas down “on paper”
• How much free time you have available to work on a book
• Your tendency to work either independently or in collaboration with others
• Your preference to publish within a given timeframe
• Your budget to get your book in print (The more help you get, the more, in general, you will pay.)

Finally, consider contacting a writing agency that offers all three types of writing help and is happy to show you prior successful projects and testimonials from satisfied clients.