What does a ghostwriter need to write a book?
Before any book writing project begins, clients often ask: What do you need to write my book? In the papers this week we heard how Joe Biden’s ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer faced possible charges from the Department of Justice after destroying recordings of his conversations with the president.
Zwonitzer needed to make those recordings in order to write the book, but also, he needed to keep them safe afterwards. This episode is a reminder that ghostwriters should protect themselves with liability insurance and also keep notes and recordings whereever possible. It means a ghost can be protected from any issues or claims from individuals which arise after publication.
What else does a ghostwriter need to write a book? A contract is always sorted before work begins, setting out terms and conditions to protect both the ghost and author. What else? Well, approximately 25 hours interview time for the average length memoir ( 70k words), notebooks, pens that work, a Dictaphone, sometimes tissues, maybe coffee, definitely patience and a willingness to listen. If you have any other questions about what would be needed to tell your story, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.
Trust is a necessary part of ghosting a book for someone too. Not only must an author trust the ghostwriter to listen deeply to their story, they need to trust it can be accurately reflected on the page.
One of the most nerve-wracking parts of being a ghostwriter is showing a client the very first draft. Will they like it? Has their voice been accurately captured? The delivery of an email from a delighted author is certainly one of the most satisfying parts of the ghostwriting service. I always feel a sense of relief and satisfaction that the book is on its way to success.
But a ghost is also reliant on trusting what the author tells them. Is the author giving an original account of their story? Do they have any evidence to back up claims made? Checks and balances must be made.
Confidentiality is of course always guaranteed. Like a doctor or therapist, a professional ghostwriter confidently holds the space for an author during this precious interview time. A professional ghost offers a non-judgemental, safe space to explore ideas, experiences and narratives. This process creates authenticity. Bestselling books all plumb the depths of our human foibles, connections and communicates them clearly. That’s how readers get sucked into any narrative - through the power of effective authentic story telling.
In my experience, before I begin any book, I sit and think for a while after the first round of interviews. A story needs a little time to ‘settle’ in my mind. Where do I begin? Which of the author’s experiences jump out? Which is most impactful for a reader? What is the author’s overall goal for this book? What do I believe they are trying to say? Are there any libel issues? Sometimes a reader, an author, and publishing editor might all have slightly different expectations from a book project. The goal for a ghostwriter is to please everyone.
To reach this goal the ghostwriter needs to understand the basic libel laws alongside connecting with the emotional part of the story. Once those words re-emerge onto the page, the author can then give approval.
By the time any book is ready for publication it is likely to have been read by a small team of people. Ghostwriter, author, copy editor, proofreader and then possibly a legal team. Writing a book is a team effort. Even for fiction book written by a novelist, it will have involved many drafts, many beta readers, many editors. The romantic idea that an author sits down at a desk and beautifully types out a perfect draft from memory, ready for publication, is for the birds.
Most published books involve hour upon hour of thoughtful work, scribbled notes, ( recordings if ghosted), an understanding of libel laws and a good sprinkling of creativity. Hopefully out of this mess a page turning narrative emerges. That’s what bestsellers are made of.