Skill, Relationship, and Time
Many prospective authors assume the success of a ghostwriting project depends primarily on the talent and experience of the ghostwriter. Talent and experience certainly matter, but they don’t encompass the whole story. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that the quality of a project depends upon three things: skill, relationship, and time.
When you’re evaluating a prospective ghostwriter, ask them to demonstrate their skill. If sample work is not available on their website, ask them for examples of their work, but bear in mind that sample work, even in the same genre, does not necessarily demonstrate what a skilled ghostwriter would give you. Every author has a unique voice. If there is doubt that the person you are talking with can turn your idea into a thoroughly engaging manuscript, hire them to write a chapter, hire them as a coach for a few sessions, or ask them to critically assess a sample of your work.
Skill is the first part of the equation to evaluate. A capable ghostwriter should be able to demonstrate that they can write, organize ideas, and complete projects successfully. If they have the skill to complete your project, you’ve answered the first question.
Answering the second question is even more important.
What would it be like to work with this person?
A warm relationship is key.
If the ghostwriter has the skill to complete your project and the time to do it, assess their character and decide whether they are an agreeable candidate to write your book. An agreeable relationship between the author and ghostwriter is key to a project’s success.
Ghostwriting is unlike hiring someone to perform a one-time service. You’re choosing someone you’ll spend months talking with, thinking with, revising with, and solving problems with. The better the relationship, the easier every stage of the project becomes.
As you continue evaluating a prospective ghostwriter, pay attention to the structure of their business and how they conduct themselves in conversation.
If you like the way they talk about your project, they ask good questions, and they’re optimistic, straightforward, and realistic, that’s the way to go.
The quality of a manuscript depends upon three things: your relationship with the ghostwriter, their skill in rendering your idea on the page, and the time allotted to complete the project.
Skill allows the ghostwriter to produce the manuscript.
Relationship allows two people to work together effectively throughout the process.
Time allows the ghostwriter to understand the author deeply enough to produce a manuscript that sounds like the author’s voice.
It is possible for a ghostwriter to write a great book for an author they have not met face-to-face. If the author and ghostwriter have a great rapport, understand each other, and want to collaborate, whether the interviews are conducted in person or remotely becomes secondary.
It comes down to the relationship as a driving force in writing the book. Within the relationship, there is trust and the ability to work together to complete the body of text.
None of these three qualities can compensate entirely for the absence of another. Exceptional skill cannot rescue a poor working relationship. A wonderful relationship cannot make up for a lack of ability. And neither skill nor relationship can replace the time required to understand another person’s mind, voice, and intentions.
If I were hiring a ghostwriter for my own project, I would pull from our conversation the answer to three questions:
Are they a writer of the right skill to write my book?
Do I want to work with them?
Will we have enough time to do the job properly?
If the answer to all three is yes, I’m moving forward with them.