A Sort-of Ghostwriting Manifesto
When I started writing for business leaders in 2008...
(Ok let’s be honest here, because if this is not honest, it is nothing. I didn’t start writing for business leaders, but I eventually started writing for that segment.)
I loved the idea of being a bridge between my client’s ideas and their audience.
It’s been was a great experience so far...
One client started his consultancy and left his 9-9 job because of the book.
Another wrote his book to share his ideas and it ended up propelling him to a leadership role.Yet another client wrote a book to share his experiences in re-building a company because no one had ever spoken about the dark edges. It gave a lot of courage to his readers and showed them a path they never knew existed.
The Good News...
Yes, let’s start with that:
It’s the Golden Age of Influence.
Creating content is a great way to grow your influence.
Everyone wants to write.
Plus, it’s far easier to publish now than it was a decade ago.
Horrible
Ideas
Horrible Idea #1
Books should be
based on templates.
Horrible Idea #2
Books are easily configured like assembly line products.
Horrible Idea #3
Books are just
visiting cards.
Fast-moving assembly line ≠ a book that inspires
The reader gets:
A cloud of similar-looking and sounding books that fail to stand out or inspire them.
And You (the author) miss out on:
Sharing your deeper insights in a way that transforms your readers into vocal advocates eager to recommend your book to many others!
Can you imagine....
Getting inspired by a visiting card?
Or Maybe...
Reading a visiting card and thinking, “wow, that’s an awesome legacy?”
Or seeing a visiting card and visualising the experience and expertise of the giver?
Ideas like these are HORRIBLE because they lead to
Blandification
Ever wonder why every book you read sounds similar to others in it's niche?
While trying to master this weird new game of influence by making writing ‘easy’ through copy-pasting and using 'never-fail templates', we created a template-guided, marvel of a process, where writing is efficient but bland.
Plus, adding AI to this mix, does not ensure depth.
AI is good at certain things- It can analyse trends, predict outcomes, and even mimic styles, but it cannot replicate authenticity.
A great book isn’t built on algorithms or templates it’s born from human connection and empathy.
An experienced ghostwriter doesn’t just fill pages with your first-level ideas; she breathes life into your words helping you create a deeper connection with your reader.
One of my first authors wanted to share his expertise in his book.
He didn’t want a book that just skimmed the surface.
We spent hours discussing his ideas and nudging out the underlying stories.
That book became the foundation of his consultancy and led to work with bigger clients.
He could leave his full-time job and live the life he wanted!
That's the power of a well-written book & the joy of ghostwriting
GHOSTWRITING is about listening to a lifetime of experiences and finding the silver thread that connects the author’s experiences with their insights because...
Curiosity & Active Listening lie at the
Centre of ghostwriting…
Curiosity leads to digging deeper
Active Listening helps in finding the connections
Together, they lead to AHA moments!
Ghostwriters like me:
hear things that are not said outright
backtrack to portions that got lost in long-winded conversations
unravel tangled narratives with more questions
In doing so, we sometimes find the missing piece of the puzzle.
Sometimes, the part we find makes all the ideas zing together- brighter and more resonant!
That’s the creative joy of ghostwriting!
How can ghostwriters use this power in a time of AI & templates?
Powering Creative Joy
1. Educate Ourselves
There is so much to learn.
Make the learning your focus NOT the noise.
One of the books I wrote for a client was in the field of Quality and as with every new niche, it introduced me to many new terms.
Of these Continuous Learning and the Plan-Do- Check-Act cycle stayed with me.
These terms solidified something that I was already doing unconsciously— learning new ideas by:
Talking to other writers
Joining writing associations
Attending writing courses
I am a part of the Association of Ghostwriters and part of a micro-community of writers.
Talking with other writers in your niche makes me feel less alone and effectively mutes the loud self-proclaimed views of AI driven efficient writing companies.
2. Share Ideas
As writers, we need to share what all goes into the writing because most people really don’t know what ALL goes into writing a book.
Many potential ghostwriting clients I speak with, think that writing their book is a matter of one or two, hour long interviews. They think that through those short meetings, I will craft a book that speaks in their voice.
In my discovery calls, I share my 4-stage Ideology Empath process which helps me structure my authors life worth of experiences into books that speaks in their voice with authority and clarity.
Later, I share the next steps as we go through the process too. Beyond talking with them, I also share my learnings through:
1. YouTube videos
2. LinkedIn Posts
3. Blogs
Sharing writing ideas helps authors understand
WHY their books need MORE than surface-level ideas and
HOW digging deep into their well of experiences can lead them to create authentic content that will make their readers
- bookmark pages,
- underline and highlight favourite lines & passages,
- and best of all- recommend their book to other readers!
3. Understand that you’re not for everyone
Ghostwriting is an easy way for leaders and experts to write their insights and amplify their voice in their niche.
Yet, as ghostwriters we need to understand that not every leader is our client.
We each bring our life-time experiences as writers.
That experience is not cheap.
My authors work with me because they understand the value I bring to their book.
I am often asked, “why do you write for others?” and honestly, I cannot understand that question.
Think about it.
How many people can write their ideas down with clarity?
Now imagine...
How many people can convert other people’s ideas into an interesting read?
How many people get an opportunity to meet experts in varied fields, interview them in-depth and become a bridge between their ideas and the world?
I love what I do.
Ghostwriting is a collaboration.
The best collaborations lead to a sharing of ideas and leveraging strengths.
My strength is writing, listening, nudging and connecting the dots.
If you’re doing it right, I believe a ghostwriting collaboration should be lots of fun and great work!
There is no blandification...
Joyful Creating
Just creativity, collaboration and a shared dream to create...
A Book that MattersBy bringing creativity back into writing, we make everything better.
Instead of ghostwriters thinking, “I need to write according to this template because my client's business or brand needs a visiting card like any other leader in their niche.”
They start by being curious and asking,“What are my client's learnings and insights and how can I make their ideas shine by leaning into their unique personality, voice, insights, and learnings?
To sum it up, the world will never stop revolving,
Change is always constant.
Yes. AI is here.
But the old rules of creativity still apply.
An ability to listen in and dig deep into unique experiences and expertise make books.
More powerful
More connected
More transformativeMake Your Story
Lean into these skills as a ghostwriter to craft a clear, compelling, focused book that infuses every chapter with your client's unique ideas and voice.
Because a book that matters...
Will be powered by personal insights.